A new season of Bizarre Foods rolls on Travel Channel July 3, as Andrew Zimmern schleps along some of history’s most iconic routes, hearing stories and sampling fascinating grub. Zimmern said the show was initially pitched as a look not at the quirky dining spots in cities and countries, but as a close-up of historical routes that offer compelling stories and victuals.

The new season sees him try deer haggis while walking in the footsteps of William Wallace in Scotland, sampling squirrel on the escape route of the Underground Railroad, and following a Pony Express trail to Sacramento while noshing on fire-roasted duck hearts.

“The stories are so fabulous,” Zimmern said. “We meet such engaging people.”

There’s a political bent to some of the episodes, such as Scotland’s struggle with independence and a visit to the Battle of the Bulge site in Belgium. “Belgium is one of the many countries we stood with as allies for truth, justice and freedom,” said Zimmern. “In 2018 we are rejecting those allies.”

Zimmern doesn’t deny the political messages in the new season. “It’s impossible to escape what I call civic truths,” he said.

The host was pals with Anthony Bourdain, and offers up fun bits about his fellow chef and TV host, including one Travel Channel promo session when Zimmern was first starting in television. As they sat on the Brooklyn Bridge, Bourdain described television as a “vile mistress.”

“The man was a f--king symphony,” Zimmern said.

Evel Live, History’s three-hour homage to daredevil Evel Knievel, premieres July 8. Motorcycle maven Travis Pastrana will attempt three of Knievel’s jumps in Las Vegas: a leap over 52 cars, then 16 buses, and finally the fountain at Caesar’s Palace.

Pastrana said his father and uncles “pretty much worshiped Knievel,” and he was raised to obey “the Evel mentality: ‘If you say you’ll do it, do it,’ and, ‘It’s not a failure until you fail to get up.’”

Evel Live is a tribute not just to Knievel, he said, but to all the swashbucklers from the days of yore. “When men were men,” said Pastrana, “and bikes were crap.”

He admits the Vegas jumps are “very frightening,” and says each of the three has its quirks. The 52-car jump should be the easiest. The 16-bus leap, two more buses than Knievel jumped, offers the highest ramp. The Caesar’s fountain jump, meanwhile, has never been pulled off before. Knievel tried it, and ended up in a horrific crash.

“We’re pushing the limits on what can be done on this kind of motorcycle,” Pastrana said. “We’re showing that there are still guys who push the boundaries like the guys from the ’70s.”

CNN Friday will air a tribute special around Anthony Bourdain, part of a weekend programming tribute to the TV personality and host of CNN’s Parts Unknown, who died Friday.

The special, Remembering Anthony Bourdain will air tonight at 10 p.m., according to CNN, which Friday tweeted out its lineup of Bourdain tributes. On Saturday the network will air a night of Bourdain’s favorite episodes of Parts Unknown, followed by a repeat of Remembering Anthony Bourdain on Sunday.

Travel Channel on June 10 will air a 12-hour marathon of series Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations starting at 7:00 a.m. The series ran on Travel Channel from 2005 to 2012.

Bourdain, 61, died of an apparent suicide in France. 

RELATED: Entertainment Industry Mourns Loss of Anthony Bourdain 

[embed]https://twitter.com/CNNPR/status/1005121961608056832[/embed]

Industry executives and celebrities took to Twitter early Friday in reaction to the sudden death of CNN personality and world-renown chef Anthony Bourdain, who reportedly committed suicide.

CNN released a statement Friday morning confirming the death of the 61 year-old Bourdain, who hosted the network’s original series Parts Unknown – which explored various culinary dishes and cultures from around the world -- since 2013. "It is with extraordinary sadness we can confirm the death of our friend and colleague, Anthony Bourdain. His love of great adventure, new friends, fine food and drink and the remarkable stories of the world made him a unique storyteller. His talents never ceased to amaze us and we will miss him very much. Our thoughts and prayers are with his daughter and family at this incredibly difficult time."

Bourdain was in France working on an episode of Parts Unknown at the time of his death, according to CNN. Network president Jeff Zucker said in an email to employees that "Tony will be greatly missed not only for his work but also for the passion with which he did it,” the news network reported.

President Trump Friday morning extended his "heartfelt condolences" to Bourdain's family.

Prior to his stint at CNN, Bourdain hosted the Travel Channel series Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations and The Layover and before that starred in Food Network’s series A Cook’s Tour. Quickly, #RIPBourdain was trending on Twitter.

Social media exploded Friday with an outpouring of reactions to Bourdain’s death, with celebrities from Bryan Cranston to Christie Tiegen, to cable networks like TCM turning to Twitter to morn the loss of the charismatic author, chef and television personality. Here’s a sampling of Twitter postings:

Actor Bryan Cranston: 

[embed]https://twitter.com/BryanCranston/status/1005066450254561282[/embed]

ESPN personality Jemele Hill:

[embed]https://twitter.com/jemelehill/status/1005067175638503425[/embed]

TCM (Turner Classic Movies):

[embed]https://twitter.com/tcm/status/1005066004752461824[/embed]

Actress Christie Teigen:

[embed]https://twitter.com/chrissyteigen/status/1005054849057034240[/embed]

Actor George Takei:

[embed]https://twitter.com/GeorgeTakei/status/1005054865465372673[/embed]

Bourdain's death comes on the heels of the apparent suicide of fashion designer Kate Spade earlier this week.

It also comes as Netflix took some heat Wednesday from some television advocacy groups for giving a third season to its controversial original series 13 Reasons Why, which revolves around the suicide of a high school student. 

CNN will debut its new original series Christiane Amanpour: Sex & Love Around the World on March 17, network executives said.

The six-part series focuses on individuals around the world who are shaping the idea of modern love. CNN international correspondent Amanpour focuses on the shifting landscapes of intimacy, love and pleasure as men and women are pushing the boundaries on sexual satisfaction, consent and connection, said network officials.

Sex & Love Around the World is produced by Zero Point Zero with executive producers Anthony Bourdain, Lydia Tenaglia, Christopher Collins, Joe Caterini, Anna Chai, Amy Entelis and Lizzie Fox.

"I've long been an admirer of Christiane's brilliant work as a journalist, and was thrilled to have the opportunity to work with her on this project,” said Bourdain in a statement. “Between Christiane's deep and broad experience as an incisive, experienced and empathetic reporter, who has worked all over the world, her genuine passion for this project and Zero Point Zero's proven ability to execute just this type of global content, Sex and Love Around the World represents some of the best of what CNN Original Series can do."