Food Network Star: Reality Television Series on Food Network

The Next Food Network Star is a reality television series produced by and aired on the Food Network in the United States that awards the winner his or her own series on the Food Network. Beginning in season seven, the title was shortened to Food Network Star.
The first season of The Next Food Network Star series was taped in February 2005, and was composed of five episodes premiering on Sundays at 9 PM in June 2005. Dan Smith and Steve McDonagh were the winners of the first season. These two Chicago area caterers host a show called Party Line with Dan & Steve, now titled Party Line with The Hearty Boys, which premiered on September 18, 2005. The runner-up, Deborah Fewell, was chosen to host a special on food at beaches, Surf N Turf, which aired in June 2006. Michael Thomas is the recurring chef on The Tyra Banks Show. Susannah Locketti has made an appearance on The Tony Danza Show, and is also an on-air chef for Publix grocery stores in the southern United States.
Food Network Star Season 7 Episode 5 (Diner's Drive-Ins and Fourth of July) airs: Sunday, July 3, 2011 at 9:00pm EDT on Food Network. Synopsis of the episode: The finalists re-create American classic dishes and perform their first cooking demo.