Top Chef

Monday March 19 at 9.30pm on ARENA

It’s a whole new ballgame this season on Top Chef: Texas. For the first-time ever, season nine will boast a record 29 chefs – almost double the amount of season’s past. In the most challenging season yet, some of the biggest names in food and entertainment will be featured, including Charlize Theron, Pee-wee Herman, and Patti LaBelle. This season also sees the addition of two new judges, famed chef and restaurateur Emeril Lagasse and criticallyacclaimed chef Hugh Acheson.

Curtis Stone is adding another show to his repertoire with a new show called “Around the World In 80 Plates” – this adds to him already hosting Top Chef Masters, that aired on Arena.

Culinary experts Stone and Cat Cora are to host the series that follows 12 chefs competing in a culinary race across 10 countries in 44 days. It will be like a mix between Amazing Race and Top Chef/MasterChef.

Curtis Stone is a renowned chef, best-selling author, TV personality and entrepreneur – best known here now as the face of Coles.

Born in Melbourne, Australia, Curtis left Victoria University in 1994 at the age of 18 to follow his passion for food. His strong will and love of quality cuisine led to a job cooking at The Savoy Hotel in Melbourne. Once a qualified chef, Curtis began travelling throughout Europe with his best mate. Determined to fulfill his dream of working in the world’s best restaurants, he walked into legendary Chef Marco Pierre White’s London kitchen and offered to work for free for the opportunity to learn from the three-star Michelin genius.

He is also a regular contributor on America’s number one morning program, The Today Show, where Curtis provides viewers with tips and delicious recipes to try at home.

Curtis was a contestant on Celebrity Apprentice in the USA  and in addition, Curtis took over as host of the third season of the hit show Top Chef Masters, a role he’ll revisit in the show’s fourth season in 2012.

In 2005, Chef Cat Cora made television history by becoming the first and only female Iron Chef on Food Network’s Iron Chef America.

The show debuts in the USA in May – expected here on Arena.

The Mentalist, 8.30pm, Nine
In prison for killing his nemesis, Patrick Jane must prove that the man he shot really was the elusive serial killer, Red John. Meanwhile, Lisbon urges Van Pelt to seek counseling in the aftermath of the death of her fiance, Detective Craig O’Laughlin.

Smallville, 9.30pm, ELEVEN
Lois takes a Daily Planet field reporter position in Egypt, so Clark sends Carter Hall to look after her and is assigned a new partner, Cat Grant, who hates all superheroes.

CSI: Miami, 9.30pm, Nine
With Horatio bleeding from a gunshot wound and Natalia battling to free herself from the boot of a submerged car, the other CSIs try to capture an escaped murderer before he kills again.

The Farmer Wants a Wife, 7pm, Nine
In this series final, see who six lonely farmers will choose. Prepare for tears, joy and jealousy, all in a heart-warming journey to find a wife.

Top Chef, 8.30pm, Arena
It all comes down to this. Mike Isabella and Richard Blais battle it out to come up with and implement their vision for the ultimate dining experience. Only one will earn the title that eluded them the first time around.

Pitting twelve accomplished chefs against one another is a recipe for exciting culinary-drama, and that’s exactly what Top Chef Masters dishes up when the third season premieres on Monday, September 19 at 9.30pm exclusive to Arena.

Hosted by hot Aussie chef, Curtis Stone, Top Chef Masters takes the kitchen reality format to the next level in more ways than one.

Amateurs, these contestants are not and this season they’re bringing more than just their knives to the table. All accomplished restaurateurs in their own right, the collective culinary knowledge and experience, really turns up the heat in the Top Chef kitchen.

This season’s contestants battle it out in challenges that take even these kitchen veterans out of their comfort zones.

Egos will clash when they face off in some of the most difficult challenges yet including; ‘Restaurant Wars’, where they must transform an empty space into a restaurant within a set time limit and budget, selecting and creating the name, theme, decor, and menu.

They’ll also create dishes in under 7 minutes in the ‘Quick Fire’ challenge and cook with some bizarre ingredients including crickets, beetles and scorpions, as they try and keep themselves in the race to win some cash for the charity of their choice.

Charismatic Curtis Stone, brings some Australian charm and along with his panel of judges, serve up the tough critique at tasting time. Joining Stone on the judging panel are critically acclaimed food writers and editors, James Oseland and Ruth Reichl.

Rock group Maroon 5, Mad Men actress Christina Hendricks and R&B sensation Kelis all serve as guest judges.

This week (July 24-30, 2011) saw a record amount of locally produced reality TV air on our free to air networks. So much so, many have suggested there is simply too much.

The Block, seen on Nine, now airs over 6 nights a week, and a total of four and a half hours this week, not including encore episodes. Masterchef Australia, which airs on Ten, also airs six nights a week, amounting to five hours per week of competition plus a further ninety minutes for Friday nights’ Masterclass.

On top of that. Ten opted to launch new reality competition show The Renovators during the final two weeks of Masterchef, airing after the cooking show. This week, it aired one hour per night, over five nights.

Then there is Top Design on Nine, which was extended to over ninety minutes this week, The Amazing Race Australia on Seven – a one hour offering, and Australia’s Got Talent – also on Seven – which aired for two hours this week for its second last episode of 2011.

Just these six shows alone amount to a total over 20 hours of reality competition spread over prime time every night except for Saturday*. Next week (July 31 – August 6) is set to be similar as Masterchef goes into finals week, and both Australia’s Got Talent and The Amazing Race Australia conclude for 2011 while The Renovators airs over five nights again, and The Block continues on Nine.

All amounts to an absolute smorgasbord for reality TV fans, but for those trying to keep up with all these shows, a big ask to sit through hours a night of reality. All this before you consider, that on Foxtel, there is Project Runway Australia airing on Monday nights, and Australia’s Next Top Model soon to launch its new season.

Add on all the overseas produced reality shows – both on free to air and Foxtel and it would appear reality competition formats are back in full swing. On ELEVEN you have The Biggest Loser US, and Britain’s Next Top Model while the US version of The Voice starts on GO! August 9. On Foxtel, there is Top Chef and Dating in the Dark US to name a few. 

Past next week, and there is a reprieve of sorts as The Renovators on Ten fills the timeslots vacated by Masterchef, while The Block and Top Design continue on Nine.

Still to come this year is The X Factor and Beauty and the Geek, both on Seven while Ten has Junior Masterchef set to roll out its second season from September. 

Given how well locally produced reality is rating, the situation is not likely to change any time soon. 2012 is shaping up to be another year dominated by reality with Masterchef, Australia’s Got Talent, The Amazing Race Australia and The Block all set to return for new seasons next year. 

On top of those titles are The Biggest Loser Families to air on Ten from February, The Australian version of The Voice on Nine to launch next year, Masterchef season four on Ten and My Kitchen Rules season three on Seven. And of course, there is American Idol which will air on FOX8 from January.

Who said reality competition was dead? The format just seems to go from strength to strength – seems we just can’t get enough of it.

South Park, SBS ONE, 10pm
In the season 14 final, Stan’s life is reduced to a shambles as Randy becomes addicted to the Food Network, and Sharon tries to compensate for his lack of attention by turning to the Shape Weight.

No Ordinary Family, Seven, 7.30pm
When Stephanie’s hard-to-please parents, Barbara (guest star Cybill Shepherd)and Allan Crane, pay an unexpected visit, the Powells must curb the use of their powers for fear of giving away their secret. But Barbara and Allan begin to suspect that something’s awry when they witness some strange behavior. Meanwhile, when friend Trent Stafford (Twilights Jackson Rathbone) and his parents are the victims of a home invasion, Daphne uses her abilities to help Jim try to track down the thugs responsible for the violent act.

The Big Bang Theory, Nine, 7.30pm
While Sheldon invents a three-player chess game, Bernadette uses a double date to spy on Leonard and Priya’s relationship, and Raj tries a new drug to treat his social anxiety.

Top Chef – Just Desserts,  Arena, 9.30pm
In the final tonight, 3 chefs remain and face-off in a 4 star, 4 course sweet and savoury challenge to win the prize money.

Monday, April 18, at 9.30pm on Arena

A spin-off of the popular Emmy-nominated and James Beard Award-winning Top Chef, Top Chef: Just Desserts adds celebrated pastry chef Johnny Iuzzini as Head Judge with critically acclaimed chef Hubert Keller and DailyCandy Editor-at-Large Dannielle Kyrillos rounding out the Judges’ Table. Top Chef judge Gail Simmons will serve as the host of Arena’s newest delectable delight. Each episode of Top Chef: Just Desserts holds two challenges for the pastry chefs: the first is a Quickfire test of their basic abilities and the second is a more involved Elimination Challenge designed to test the versatility and inventiveness of the pastry chefs as they take on unique culinary trials such as working with unusual and exotic ingredients or catering for a range of demanding clients.

Ep 4.

Monday, March 28, at 9.30pm on Arena

A spin-off of the popular Emmy-nominated and James Beard Award-winning Top Chef, Top Chef: Just Desserts adds celebrated pastry chef Johnny Iuzzini as Head Judge with critically acclaimed chef Hubert Keller and DailyCandy Editor-at-Large Dannielle Kyrillos rounding out the Judges’ Table. Top Chef judge Gail Simmons will serve as the host of Arena’s newest delectable delight. Each episode of Top Chef: Just Desserts holds two challenges for the pastry chefs: the first is a Quickfire test of their basic abilities and the second is a more involved Elimination Challenge designed to test the versatility and inventiveness of the pastry chefs as they take on unique culinary trials such as working with unusual and exotic ingredients or catering for a range of demanding clients.

Ep 1.

Monday, March 21, at 9.30pm on Arena

A spin-off of the popular Emmy-nominated and James Beard Award-winning Top Chef, Top Chef: Just Desserts adds celebrated pastry chef Johnny Iuzzini as Head Judge with critically acclaimed chef Hubert Keller and DailyCandy Editor-at-Large Dannielle Kyrillos rounding out the Judges’ Table. Top Chef judge Gail Simmons will serve as the host of Arena’s newest delectable delight. Each episode of Top Chef: Just Desserts holds two challenges for the pastry chefs: the first is a Quickfire test of their basic abilities and the second is a more involved Elimination Challenge designed to test the versatility and inventiveness of the pastry chefs as they take on unique culinary trials such as working with unusual and exotic ingredients or catering for a range of demanding clients.

Ep 1.

Monday, March 14 at 9.30pm on Arena

Top Chef: Masters is an American reality competition show. In it, culinary professionals will compete against each other in weekly challenges – a contrast from Top Chef, which features chefs that have been called relative “culinary amateurs”. Top Chef: Masters will unite “some of the brightest stars in the world of food, award-winning, widely-renowned chefs who will compete against each other.

Ep 10 – Finale.