The Distance

July 1, 2000. British 21-year-old Lucie Blackman goes missing in Tokyo, sparking an international investigation — and an unyielding quest for justice.

The sidewalks of New York will never be the same, thanks to Johnny Twennies, an ace reporter who bangs out his column on an old manual typewriter and is blissfully aware that he sticks out like a sore thubm. His girlfriend is fed up because he hasn't even kissed her and the local mob wants to bump him off because he's hot on their trail. Can Johnny blow the lid off an important crime scoop, get the girl, and keep from getting himself killed?

10 amateur bakers from Japan compete in three challenges per episode, baking sweets, pastries, cakes, and bread according to a theme or to the instructions of the two judges, who are themselves professional bakers. Every episode ends with the announcement of a Star Baker, the baker who performed exceptionally well that episode, and with an unfortunate (and usually tear-filled) elimination. At the end of the show, one very talented home baker is declared the winner.