History of Food Network Star in Timeline
Food Network Star is a reality television series that aired on the Food Network from 2005 to 2018. Produced by CBS EYEtoo Productions for the earlier seasons and Triage Entertainment for the later ones, the show featured aspiring chefs and television personalities competing for the opportunity to host their own show on the network. Before its seventh season, it was titled The Next Food Network Star. The contestants faced culinary challenges and on-screen presentation tests, judged by Food Network executives and celebrity chefs. The ultimate goal was to discover the next charismatic food personality capable of captivating a television audience.
February 2005: Taping of First Season
In February 2005, the first season of 'The Next Food Network Star' was taped.
June 5, 2005: Food Network Star Series Premiere
On June 5, 2005, Food Network Star, then known as The Next Food Network Star, premiered its first season on the Food Network in the United States.
June 2005: First Season of The Next Food Network Star
In June 2005, the first season of The Next Food Network Star, consisting of five episodes, was broadcast.
September 18, 2005: Party Line with Dan & Steve Premiere
On September 18, 2005, Dan Smith and Steve McDonagh, winners of the first season, premiered their show Party Line with Dan & Steve, later titled Party Line with The Hearty Boys.
December 2005: Season Two Taping
In December 2005, the second season of 'The Next Food Network Star' was taped.
March 2006: Season Two Airs
In March 2006, the second season of 'The Next Food Network Star' began airing.
June 2006: Surf N Turf Aired
In June 2006, Deborah Fewell, the runner-up of season one, hosted a special called Surf N Turf, which focused on food at beaches.
June 2006: Guy's Big Bite Premiere
In June 2006, Guy Fieri's show Guy's Big Bite premiered on the Food Network.
March 2007: A Lyon In the Kitchen Debut
In March 2007, Nathan Lyon, a fourth-place contestant, began hosting his series, A Lyon In the Kitchen, on the Discovery Health Channel.
April 2007: Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives Premiere
In April 2007, Guy Fieri's show Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives premiered.
June 3, 2007: Season 3 Premiere
On June 3, 2007, the third season of The Next Food Network Star began.
July 22, 2007: Amy Finley Wins Season 3
On July 22, 2007, Amy Finley was chosen by America as The Next Food Network Star.
October 14, 2007: The Gourmet Next Door Premiere
On October 14, 2007, Amy Finley's new show The Gourmet Next Door premiered.
June 1, 2008: Season Four Premiere
On June 1, 2008, Season four of The Next Food Network Star premiered.
August 3, 2008: Big Daddy's House First Aired
On August 3, 2008, Aaron McCargo Jr.'s winning show idea, Big Daddy's House, first aired.
September 14, 2008: Guy Off The Hook Premiere
On September 14, 2008, Guy Fieri's show Guy Off The Hook premiered.
January 19, 2009: Will Work for Food Debut
On January 19, 2009, Adam Gertler started hosting Will Work for Food on Food Network.
June 7, 2009: Season Five Premiere
On June 7, 2009, the fifth season of The Next Food Network Star premiered.
August 2, 2009: Melissa D'Arabian Wins Season Five
On August 2, 2009, Melissa D'Arabian was declared the winner of season five, with her show being titled Ten Dollar Dinners.
August 9, 2009: Ten Dollar Dinners Premiere
On August 9, 2009, Melissa D'Arabian's show, Ten Dollar Dinners, premiered.
August 17, 2009: Jeffrey Saad Returns in Online Videos
On August 17, 2009, Food Network announced that Jeffrey Saad would return in a series of online videos based on his pilot, now called "The Spice Smuggler."
2009: Kelsey Nixon co-hosts a web show on food2.com
In 2009, Kelsey Nixon co-hosted a web show on food2.com, a Food Network sister site aka Cooking Channel, and also appeared in the premiere of Chefs vs. City.
June 6, 2010: Season Six Premiere
On Sunday, June 6, 2010, the sixth season of the series premiered with Food Network executives Bob Tuschman and Susie Fogelson and Bobby Flay as judges. Giada De Laurentiis served as an on-set mentor.
July 17, 2010: Post-Competition Recap Show Premiere
On July 17, 2010, a post-competition recap and discussion show premiered on The Cooking Channel.
August 15, 2010: Aarti Sequeira Wins Season Six
On August 15, 2010, Aarti Sequeira was declared the winner of season six.
August 22, 2010: Aarti Party Premiere
On August 22, 2010, Aarti Sequeira's show Aarti Party premiered.
November 2010: Outrageous Food Premiere
In November 2010, the Food Network also signed runner-up Tom Pizzica to host a new show called Outrageous Food.
2010: Gertler and Nixon co-host The Next Food Network Star After Party
In 2010, Adam Gertler and Kelsey Nixon became co-hosts of The Next Food Network Star After Party, a half-hour recap/interview show following that night's episode of Star, on Cooking Channel.
2010: United Tastes of America Debuts
In November 2010, Jeffrey Saad debuted in a new show for The Cooking Channel titled United Tastes of America, which explores multiple aspects of traditional American food.
June 5, 2011: Season Seven Premiere
On June 5, 2011, the reality television series was renamed Food Network Star, dropping the word "Next", for its seventh season, which premiered on this date.
August 21, 2011: Sandwich King Premiere
On August 21, 2011, season seven winner Jeff Mauro's show Sandwich King premiered.
May 13, 2012: Season Eight Premiere
Season 8 of Food Network Star started on May 13, 2012, with a format change that divided the contestants into three five-member teams coached by Bobby Flay, Alton Brown, or Giada De Laurentiis.
July 22, 2012: Justin Warner Wins Season Eight
On July 22, 2012, Justin Warner was announced as the winner of season 8.
June 2, 2013: Season Nine Premiere
On June 2, 2013, season 9 of Food Network Star started.
August 11, 2013: Damaris Phillips Wins Season Nine
On August 11, 2013, Damaris Phillips won season 9 of Food Network Star.
October 2013: Guy's Grocery Games Debut
In October 2013, Guy Fieri's reality competition Guy's Grocery Games debuted.
2013: Kelsey's Essentials Ends
In 2013, Kelsey's Essentials, a program on kitchen and cooking basics for The Cooking Channel, completed its run.
2013: $24 in 24 and Co-Host
In Spring 2013, Jeff Mauro hosted $24 in 24, a show in which he went to several cities and ate an entire day's worth of meals on 24 dollars. Mauro became a co-host on "The Kitchen", airing Saturday mornings on Food Network.
2013: Aarti Party Ended
The last new episodes of Aarti Party aired in mid-2013.
August 10, 2014: Lenny McNab Wins Season Ten
On August 10, 2014, Lenny McNab was declared the winner of Food Network Star, decided by audience vote.
July 31, 2016: Former Contestants Reunite on Guy's Grocery Games
On July 31, 2016, four cast members from previous seasons reunited with Guy Fieri on Season 10 episode 4 of Guy’s Grocery Games.
December 2016: Guy's Big Bite Ends
In December 2016, Guy's Big Bite aired for the last time after 13 seasons.
2017: Southern and Hungry Co-Hosted
In 2017, Damaris Phillips also cohosted "Southern and Hungry" with auto racing analyst Rutledge Wood.
August 5, 2018: Food Network Star Series Finale
On August 5, 2018, Food Network Star aired its final episode, concluding its run after 14 seasons.
2018: The Bobby and Damaris Show
In 2018, Damaris Phillips began co-hosting The Bobby and Damaris Show with Bobby Flay on Food Network.
February 2024: Guy Fieri Still on Air
As of February 2024, Guy Fieri is still regularly on air at Food Network since his victory.
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