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| Photo - Multivu |
return on June 2nd. Same format with having the same mentors, but I noticed this year it didn't say the winner would get a show produced by their mentor after last years ordeal. A new twist this year is an eliminated contestant will have the chance to come back for another chance at victory (sounds like the idea is taken from Top Chef). Also, viewers will get to vote again this year for the winner.
I will link to the press release, with photos of the contestants and details of the changes for the show this year below. However I wanted to take a look some of the contestants set to appear on the show. You will notice a lot of recycled talent that have appeared on the Food Network or other shows. Lets take a look:
- Rodney Henry has been on Throwdown, Chopped (Halloween episode 2011 - eliminated after first round), Paula Deen, and Down Home with the Neelys (pictured right)
- Chris Hodgson was on the Great Food Truck Race Season 2- Truck Hodge Podge (Link)
- Viet Pham competed on Extreme Chef and also defeated Bobby Flay on Iron Chef America (pictured right).
- Stacey Poon-Kinney was on Restaurant Impossible. She is the owner of The Trails in San Diego, which appeared in Season 2 of the show. I guess she wants more than $10,000 from the Food Network.
- Connie "Lovely" Jackson was on Fox's Hells Kitchen.
- Russell Jackson went against Jose Garces in Iron Chef America this season, and lost 71-62 (Link)
- Danushka Lysek appeared on 24-Hour Restaurant Battle on Food Network a few years ago (Link). Also appeared on Chopped on 7/31/2012 and was chopped after the entree round.
Recognize anyone else that I missed? Rooting for any of the the people above? Let me know in the comments.
*Nikki Dinki has also done some acting including appearing on an episode of Sopranos, but has not been on any food related shows.
*Danushka has also been on The Bachelor and Fear Factor
Video Preview of the Season:
Press Release Below (link to photos of contestants plus video):
New Roster Of Hopefuls Vie For Culinary Stardom In Season Nine Of Primetime Competition Series Food Network Star
Alton Brown, Giada De Laurentiis and Bobby Flay Return as Mentors/Judges in Season Premiere on Sunday, June 2nd at 9pm ET/PT Audience Vote Will Determine Winner, To Be Announced in Season Finale on Sunday, August 11th at 9pm E/PT
NEW YORK, April 18, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Food Network's long-running competition series Food Network Star returns for a ninth season this summer with fresh talent, intense challenges, and culinary icons Alton Brown, Giada De Laurentiis and Bobby Flay leading the charge to discover the best and brightest new faces in food television. In the one-hour season premiere on Sunday, June 2(nd) at 9pm ET/PT, the twelve contestants arrive in Los Angeles, ready to kick off the biggest audition of their lives to find out who has the personality, on-camera charisma and kitchen chops to follow in their idols' footsteps and helm their own show. In new twists, focus groups of Food Network fans will also have their say on contestant performances and one finalist will be brought back after elimination for another chance at victory. Viewers will again be able to vote online or via phone before the August 11(th) finale to determine who will win the ultimate prize: their own show on Food Network.
"Alton, Bobby and Giada are not only enduring stars, but also star-makers, so they are the ideal mentors to bring out the best in our talented cast," said Bob Tuschman, General Manager and Senior Vice President, Food Network. "These newcomers are competing to achieve their dream, and their journey is fascinating to watch."
The finalists are: Nikki Dinki (New York); Andres Guillama (Waynesville, NC); Rodney Henry (Baltimore); Chris Hodgson (Cleveland); Connie "Lovely" Jackson (Los Angeles); Russell Jackson (San Francisco); Danushka Lysek (New York); Daniela Perez-Reyes (Haleiwa, Haw.); Viet Pham (Salt Lake City); Damaris Phillips (Louisville, Ky.); Stacey Poon-Kinney (San Diego) and Chad Rosenthal (Ambler, Penn.).
Each episode before the finale features a first-round Mentor Challenge, second-round Star Challenge and an elimination determined by the selection committee, including returning judges Food Network executives Susie Fogelson and Bob Tuschman.
In the season premiere, Alton, Giada and Bobby greet the finalists and immediately kick off their life-changing Star journey. Each finalist is challenged to refine their personal point of view and film a pitch tape in the season's first Mentor Challenge, and convincingly explain why they are the best person to win their own show. In the second round Star Challenge, each contestant must prepare and present one dish to Food Network executives Susie Fogelson and Bob Tuschman and a focus group of Food Network fans.
Upcoming episodes feature a Chopped-themed mystery ingredient challenge before Chopped judge Alex Guarnaschelli; an anything-can-happen live, on-camera test with E! News co-host Terrence Jenkins; a fresh Italian-themed challenge with a twist using Buitoni(R) products; a pantry cook-off with Kellogg's(R) Special K(R) Cereals and Snacks; a Star-making screening evaluated by The Hollywood Reporter Editorial Director Janice Min and Senior Writers Gary Baum and Leslie Bruce; and guest appearances by Guy Fieri and Robert Irvine.
For more Food Network Star, fans can visit www.foodnetwork.com/star all season long for on-set video, exclusive interviews and insider blogs, behind-the-scenes footage, photo galleries, peeks into finalists' personal journals, online polls, interactive quizzes, sweepstakes and more. Launching Memorial Day Weekend, fans can vote in the "Star Summer Showdown," pitting summer recipes from Star winners and judges against recipes from Chopped. Fans can also connect with one another and the show's stars on Facebook at facebook.com/foodnetwork and on Twitter with the hashtag #FoodNetworkStar.
All season long, Food Network will offer the Food Network Star TV SYNC EXPERIENCE. Partnering with Yahoo!'s second-screen mobile application, IntoNow, Food Network is creating a custom experience that will bring fans into the world of Food Network Star like never before. This unique two screen offering will allow viewers access to exclusive content from the set including commentary, photos, exclusive video, behind the scenes details, live polls, interactive trivia and special culinary tips. Fans can download the IntoNow app from the iTunes App Store or Google Play, then sync the app with the broadcast. The experience will also work when synced with encores and when watching the episode on DVR, VOD or online streaming.
Food Network Star is produced by LEG/Triage Entertainment.
FOOD NETWORK (www.foodnetwork.com) is a unique lifestyle network, website and magazine that connects viewers to the power and joy of food. The network strives to be viewers' best friend in food and is committed to leading by teaching, inspiring and empowering through its talent and expertise. Food Network is distributed to more than 100 million U.S. households and averages more than 9.9 million unique web users monthly. Since launching in 2009, Food Network Magazine has tripled its rate base and delivers a circulation of 1.5 million. Headquartered in New York, Food Network has a growing international presence with programming in more than 150 countries, including 24 hour networks in Great Britain, India, Asia and Africa. Scripps Networks Interactive (NYSE: SNI), which also owns and operates Cooking Channel (www.cookingchanneltv.com), DIY Network (www.diynetwork.com), Great American Country (www.gactv.com), HGTV (www.hgtv.com), and Travel Channel (www.travelchannel.com), is the manager and general partner.
SOURCE Food Network