Ty Pennington (“Extreme Makeover: Home Edition”) is trading in his tool belt for a kitchen apron as host of TNT’s new series “On the Menu.”
Also, Chef Emeril Lagasse (“Emeril Live”) is signed on to be the show’s Menu Master, Turner said Wednesday.
“On the Menu” is television’s first cooking show to give viewers the chance to taste the winning dish after every episode, as well as give everyday cooks the chance to have their dish appear in dining institutions across the country, TNT boasted in a press release.
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In each episode, a group of home cooks will be challenged to create the next signature dish for that week’s selected restaurant chain, stadium concession stand, or other American food business. The amateur cooks work in conjunction with professional chefs to create their dishes, from concept to execution. A panel of judges will then determine which dish tastes the best and fits with the restaurant’s current menu offerings.
The winning dish will immediately go on the business’ menu, giving viewers at home the chance to go try the dish the next day.
The series is being produced by One Three Media, with Mark Burnett (“The Voice”) serving as executive producer. “On the Menu” is slated to air in fall 2014.
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“Ty Pennington has everything we could want in a host: immense creativity, an engaging personality, a motivational spirit and lots of down-home charm,” said David Eilenberg, senior vice president of unscripted development for TNT and TBS. “Emeril Lagasse is one of the most popular and loved chefs of our time thanks both to his high-octane cooking style and his infectious enthusiasm. We’re extremely excited to be working with Ty and Emeril on TNT’s On the Menu.”
“We love being first with new formats for our audience, and I think this one is a real winner,” said executive producer Mark Burnett. “Two TV veterans, Emeril and Ty, who have amazing energy, are coming together for a show that is all about serving up a brand new experience for the viewer. This is going to be fun to watch: Emeril and Ty in a kitchen with real people creating a dish that’s going to be on an actual menu.”