Finding a Food Network Star

Food Network premieres the new season of “The Next Food Network Star” Sunday at 10 p.m. This season, 10 finalists will run the paces exercising their culinary skills, practicing screen presence and learning to do it all within a 30-minute time slot.

The previous three seasons have produced two flops and a favorite. Amy Finley, last season’s winner, did just a few episodes of “The Gourmet Next Door” before she was canceled. The first season’s winners, longtime couple of Dan Smith and Steve McDonagh were given their own program in 2005. By all accounts, “Party Line with the Hearty Boys” is still on the Food Network schedule — the show’s time slot is 4 a.m.

The second season found the network a true star, Guy Fieri. This California native now hosts three network programs and a commercial campaign. Fieri hosts “Guy’s Big Bite” cooking show, “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives” where he travels the country looking for classic dish specialties including hamburgers and pasta. Most recently, he co-hosted “Ultimate Recipe Showdown” with Marc Summers. That show gave home cooks a chance to show off their best recipes in categories that included macaroni and cheese and birthday cakes.

Good News for Emeril Junkies

Emeril Lagasse has found life after the Food Network. The celebrity chef will now produce new episodes of Emeril Live! for Fine Living Network, with new shoes appearing weeknights at 7 PM starting July 7.

A new cable network, Planet Green, will also feature programming from the longtime TV chef. “Emeril Green” will begin appearing on that network in July and features organic foods. The show is actively seeking home cooks to appear on the show with Emeril. For more details visit http://www.emerilgreencasting.blogspot.com/.

Iron chef takes on the ‘Impossible’

Michael Symon not only earned his place next to fellow Iron Chefs Bobby Flay, Mario Batali, Masaharu Morimoto, and Cat Cora, but is now also filming “Dinner: Impossible.” Original host Robert Irvine’s contract was not renewed earlier this year when media outlets discovered “embellishments” in Irvine’s resume.

When the new season of “Dinner: Impossible” airs this summer, Symon, winner of the inaugural season of “The Next Iron Chef,” takes over the show and extends it from 30 minutes to a full hour.

This week’s DVR alerts:

Saturday, May 31

• 9:30 a.m. — Jamie Oliver at Home (Food Network) - This season’s premiere
• 11 a.m. — Down Home with the Neelys (Food Network) - Blissful BBQ

Sunday, June 1

• 10 p.m. — The Next Food Network Star (Food Network) - Ten finalists start their journey to earn their own cooking show.

Tuesday, June 3

• 9 p.m. — Hell’s Kitchen (Fox) - The field continues to narrow in Gordon Ramsey’s pressure cooker of a kitchen.

Wednesday, June 4

• 10 p.m. — Top Chef (Bravo) - Part one of the competition’s finale takes place in Puerto Rico