After scanning a few web sites and Facebook statuses I decided to reach out to Food Network itself about the status of the last two Food Network Star winners Aarti Sequeira and Jeff Mauro.  I chatted with Krista one of the network’s PR agents.  Here’s what I asked and her response.

Is Sandwich King still in production and if so when will new episodes air?

Information regarding Sandwich King is not yet available, though you may contact us around the middle of December and we hope to have an update available.

That sounds grim right?  The ratings were extremely good.  I wonder if there are other factors at work.  Jeff hasn’t updated his web site since late August but in that post he said:

Shooting a cooking show is the most mentally taxing performance art I’ve ever attempting.  The juggling of mental and physical requirements left me exhausted at the end of the day.  One flub and you have to do another take.  As the days went on, I did get more comfortable, so hopefully, by next season (if they give one) I’ll be even better.

Til’ then, it’s back to recipe development, sandwich research (eating), and maybe a little vacation with the family.

So will there be a second season?  I have to admit that after speaking with Food Network it sure didn’t look like it.  Jeff’s dormant web site and that last post didn’t help.  So I did a little digging, talked to some other cast members from season seven and they sent me to a post by Jeff on his Facebook page just this past Saturday:

Things are really starting to move along with Sandwich King Season 2. It will be similar, but more of what worked and less of what didn’t. Regardless, it will feature amazing sandwiches and fantastic locations. I’ll keep you posted when we start shooting in December. Look for it airing sometime in January. I think I smell an Emmy..local Emmy.

Is Aarti Party still in production and if so when will new episodes air?

New episodes are not scheduled for Aarti Party as those just finished airing in September. Her show is airing on our sister network, The Cooking Channel, though an episode will air on our network on November 26th and December 3rd at 8:00am ET/PT.

Aarti remains busy and has maintained her web site as she has done for years.  It’s where she got her start.  Though Krista’s answer seemed a little vague I think the picture we get is that new episodes of Aarti Party are all but done.  Old episodes will rerun on Cooking Channel.  Aarti did announce the other day that she has a super secret new show that just started production; more on that project HERE but be forewarned, it isn’t much more.

But now we are back to an issue that has plagued Food Network Star since it’s inception – it’s inability to produce sustainable hit shows. With this revelation that means that, at the moment anyway, only three of the seven winning shows are still in production – Sandwich King, Guy’s Big Bite and Ten Dollar Dinners.

In terms of the volume of shows Big Daddy’s House had the longest run of any show except Big Bite; it was recently canceled.  I cannot understand what goes on at Chelsea Market sometimes.  Big Daddy’s House had poor ratings because, quite frankly, it was not a great show yet it got 60+ episodes while Aarti Party had solid ratings but only got 30.  I think I have a better shot at figuring out the complexities of the female mind than I do the complexities of food television but admittedly the prospects don’t look good for either.

There you have it.  Now talk amongst yourselves.  That’s what the comments section is for.