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BY JAY BOBBIN Bobby Flay helps launch another 'Food Network Star' search Bobby Flay clearly doesn't have a problem with rival TV chefs, since he's actively involved in discovering some of them. Along with fellow culinary personalities Giada De Laurentiis and Alton Brown, the celebrity cook returns as a mentor and judge when the Food Network contest "Food Network Star" starts its ninth season Sunday, June 2. Twelve new competitors will face a variety of gastronomic challenges, with viewers' votes factoring into the eventual decision of who will win his or her own Food Network show. "Giada, Alton and I all have different sensibilities in terms of what we're looking for," says multiple Emmy winner Flay. "The people I gravitate toward have a serious obsession with food; they just don't want to be on television, but they're passionate about what they do and how they live their lives every day. And if it doesn't involve food in a real, genuine way, I'm not interested." With his belief in "Food Network Star" confirmed by his continuing involvement in it, Flay reasons the show has "a two-pronged effect. It's a great show that viewers want to see; they get to root for their favorite finalists and obviously create their own opinions on who should stay and who should go. And we also get the chance to add somebody to the (Food Network host) roster, and that's what's really nice. Besides good viewership, we get a good result out of it as well." Pitting several contenders against one another is an effective way to do that, Flay says from experience. "I compete on 'Iron Chef America,' and I had a show called 'Throwdown' for five years. Food and competition seem to go hand in hand these days, but I love the fact that this isn't a train wreck show. There are some missteps because the challenges can be very difficult, but Alton and Giada and I always say, 'Man, we would never be able to get a job like this.' I give these people a lot of credit." What did you have for dinner last night? "I went to Nobu, and I had sushi." What is your next project? "I'm going to do a return engagement of (the series) 'Worst Cooks in America,' and I've been taping more 'Barbecue Addiction.' That's been keeping me busy." When was the last vacation you took – where and why? "It was actually a four-day weekend getaway in Miami with my wife (actress Stephanie March of 'Law & Order: Special Victims Unit' fame)." BEST BRITISH ADAPTATIONS Simon Cowell of "American Idol" "Three's Company" "Queer as Folk" 8 The Goshen News • TV Spotlight • June 3-9, 2013 "All in the Family" (CBS, 1971-79) Often the first program mentioned when one considers successful American series based on British shows, the saga of bigoted Archie Bunker (Carroll O'Connor) – adapted from England's "Till Death Us Do Part" – broke open the gates on numerous subjects previously considered taboo for U.S. television comedy. "Sanford and Son" (NBC, 1972-77) Redd Foxx had a big nightclub following when this Americanization of the British "Steptoe and Son" made him a television star, casting him as a junk dealer who regularly exchanged sass with his son and business partner (Demond Wilson). "Three's Company" (ABC, 1977-84) "Man About the House" was the British parent of this hugely popular sitcom about three roommates ... one a male (John Ritter, who became one of TV's top stars courtesy of the show) pretending to be gay in order to reside with two women. "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" (ABC and ABC Family, 1998-2006) Improvisation ran wild on this Drew Carey-hosted series, which will have new life on BY JAY BOBBIN The CW this summer (with Aisha Tyler taking over as host). "Queer as Folk" (Showtime, 2000-05) Several gay residents of Pittsburgh and the people in their lives were the subjects of this drama series that gave thengroundbreaking roles to such talents as Gale Harold and Hal Sparks. "American Idol" (Fox, 2002-present) No, Simon Cowell wasn't the only British factor of this show to come to America. The whole program was such a factor, since it originated in the U.K. as "Pop Idol" – and would bring stardom to such U.S. talents as Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood and Jennifer Hudson. "The Office" (NBC, 2005-13) Not just because it ended very recently, this much-praised variation on Ricky Gervais' workplace comedy will long be remembered. It brought stardom to Steve Carell as Gervais' American counterpart ... and also did well by such supporting players as John Krasinski, Rainn Wilson, Mindy Kaling and Ed Helms.

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