Get excited: Food Network's number one series, Food Network Star, premieres its seventh season tonight at 9 p.m. As we once again count down to more hopefuls competing for their own show (get acquainted with the new cast!), we take a look back at winners and finalists from seasons past and come to a conclusion: what happens on the Food Network stays in the Food Network. To see what we're talking about, keep reading.
All Photos Courtesy of Food Network
If the prospect of Summer ending makes you sad, remember one of the perks of Fall: new TV lineups. Not only is Bravo's Top Chef making its return on Wednesday, but Food Network's also debuting a handful of new shows this season.
When The Next Food Network Star came to a close, nearly a third of you were surprised by the outcome, and believed runner-up Jeffrey Saad should've taken top prize instead. In a less-than-unpredictable announcement, VP of Programming Bob Tuschman revealed that the Food Network has produced a mini-series of web episodes based on Jeffrey's original pilot, The Spice Smuggler.
One month from today, the network will debut Extreme Cuisine with Jeff Corwin, the network's equivalent of the Travel Channel's hit Bizarre Foods. On the first two episodes, former Animal Planet adventure host Jeff Corwin will eat rancid butter in Morocco and dive for spiny urchin in Greece. Chopped, the food channel's answer to Top Chef, also returns with a four-week championship event that features previous Chopped champions returning to compete once more for the chance to claim the ultimate title and bank another $10,000. And on Iron Chef America, chef Michael Symon battles it out in Kitchen Stadium with a handful of culinary students.
Does the network's Fall lineup sound enticing to you? What do you think of Jeffrey's return to TV? Are you hoping that he, too, will have a future at the Food Network?
Last night was the season finale of The Next Food Network Star, and I couldn't wait to tune in to find out the winner. Was it going to be the laid-back, well-spoken world traveler, Jeffrey Saad — or the resourceful, vivacious mom, Melissa d'Arabian?
In my opinion, it was obvious which contestant was more marketable, so I wasn't the least bit surprised when the winner was announced. What about you?
