Brian Boitano Skates To The Food Network With New Series

(Press Release): BRIAN BOITANO STRIKES GOLD IN NEW FOOD NETWORK SERIES

‘What Would Brian Boitano Make?’ Premieres August 23rd at 1pm ET/PT

NEW YORK July 15th, 2009 Olympic figure skater Brian Boitano is more than just a champion on the ice; he also gives a winning performance in the kitchen! In the new daytime series, What Would Brian Boitano Make?, premiering Sunday, August 23rd at 1PM ET/PT, Brian demonstrates his culinary skills and talent for one-of-a-kind entertaining.

“Brian’s combination of off-the-wall humor and culinary inventiveness will be a revelation to viewers,” said Bob Tuschman, Senior Vice President, Programming and Production for Food Network. “His clever recipes, infectious enthusiasm and stylish ideas will inspire and entertain.”

With a lifelong passion for food and cooking, Brian hosts unpredictable get-togethers at his San Francisco home and creates amazing menus focusing on innovative but accessible dishes. He feeds an all-girl roller derby squad, plays matchmaker for a friend, wins over his handyman’s supper club, and plans a surprise party celebrating new motherhood. With a humorous and knowledgeable approach to cooking, Brian puts his unique spin on irresistible dishes like Chicken Paella Burgers, Pear and Almond Crostata, Crab and Avocado Crostini, and Bourbon Bacon Apple Tarts.

Few athletes have enjoyed the artistic and popular success that figure skater Brian Boitano has achieved since winning the gold medal for the United States at the 1988 Winter Olympics Games in Calgary, Canada. Brian, a three-time Olympian, has won more than 50 titles and was inducted into the World Figure Skating Hall of Fame, the U.S. Figure Skating Hall of Fame, and the National Italian-American Hall of Fame. Brian won a primetime Emmy Award for his starring role in the HBO movie Carmen on Ice. In 1997, Brian published “Boitano’s Edge: Inside the Real World of Figure Skating (Simon & Schuster). He and fellow Olympic gold medalist Katarina Witt toured North America in three successful ice shows, and he also toured with Champions On Ice for 15 years. Brian has provided expert commentary on skating shows for ABC, NBC and Turner. In 1995, Brian founded White Canvas Productions creating more than 20 specials including The Brian Boitano Skating Spectacular, which will air January 1, 2010 on NBC.

For more information, videos, and recipes visit: www.foodnetwork.com/what-would-brian-boitano-make

FOOD NETWORK (www.foodnetwork.com) is a unique lifestyle network and Web site that strives to be way more than cooking. The network is committed to exploring new and different ways to approach food – through pop culture, competition, adventure, and travel – while also expanding its repertoire of technique-based information. Food Network is distributed to more than 98 million U.S. households and averages more than 9 million unique Web site users monthly. Food Network programming is available internationally in more than 150 countries. Food Network is headquartered in New York, and maintains offices in Atlanta, Los Angeles, Chicago, Detroit and Knoxville, Tenn. Scripps Networks Interactive (NYSE: SNI), which also owns and operates HGTV (www.hgtv.com), DIY Network (www.diynetwork.com), Great American Country (www.gactv.com) and Fine Living Network (www.fineliving.com), is the manager and general partner.