A+E Networks said it has cooked up a multi-platform programming deal with Buddy Valastro, the celebrity chef featured in TLC’s long-running series Cake Boss.

The deal calls for Valastro and his family to create multiple new series and holiday specials that will be produced by A+E’s Six West Media in association with Valastro’s Cakehouse Media. Valastro will also be featured in a Lifetime holiday movie.

In all, more than 60 hours of original content will be coming out of the oven.

“Buddy is not only a powerhouse in the culinary world, he is an incredible talent who shares our passion to create the type of quality content that has made A+E Networks a leader in factual entertainment,” Rob Sharenow, president of programming for A+E Networks, said. “Buddy will bolster A+E Networks’ industry-leading lifestyle genre catalogue as a bona fide star with a tremendous fanbase. The fact that he is a passionate creative partner is icing on the cake.”

Cake Boss started on TLC in 2009 on TLC, featuring Valastro and his family-owned business Carlo’s Bake Shop in Hoboken, New Jersey. The show ran on TLC through 2017 and appeared on Discovery Family in 2019 and 2020.

Valastro also appeared in spinoffs, including The Next Great Baker, Kitchen Boss, Bake Your Rich and Bakery Boss. He injured his right hand in his home bowling alley in 2020 and needed two surgeries to repair it.

Valastro will serve as an executive producer on all projects. They will be produced for A+E Networks portfolio of networks and distributed worldwide by A+E.

“Our partnership with A+E is everything my family and I were looking for in a home on television — a media company with worldwide reach and distribution and thoughtful creative partners who can execute our shared vision from development to broadcast,” said Valastro. “I look forward to a long and successful collaboration with the incredible team at A+E and to bringing audiences the shows they crave, as we continue to grow as a business and a family.”  ■

Buddy Valastro: Road to Recovery, showing the star of Cake Boss recovering from a home accident involving a bowling machine, is on TLC Dec. 23. The two-hour special follows “the dramatic events as they transpired in real time with footage captured immediately after the incident,” in which Valastro’s hand was impaled by a piece of the bowling machine. “It’s a long, emotional journey, from Buddy’s multiple surgeries, to his family anxiously waiting at the hospital, to grueling physical therapy, and to his first days back at the job,” according to TLC. 

“Buddy is like family to all of us at TLC, so we are thrilled and relieved for him that he is on the road to recovery following his accident,” said Howard Lee, president and general manager, TLC. “Knowing Buddy’s determination and spirit, it’s no surprise that he would give it his all in the hopes of returning back to normal. We are proud to document his journey as part of this special.”

Food Network premiered Buddy vs. Christmas Nov. 22. It sees him go head-to-head with great non-cake artists. “Bakers vs. makers,” in TLC’s words. 

“As the Cake Boss, Buddy has mastered the creation of gigantic, life-sized, and incredibly realistic cakes. Now, viewers will be captivated as he takes on his most difficult challenge yet by competing against master builders and expert crafters – it’s cake creations vs. real build designs on Buddy vs. Christmas,” said Courtney White, president, Food Network. “Audiences will be stunned by the remarkable Christmas designs in each episode, with all their spectacular details and special effects, making each one more impressive than the last.”

TLC and Food Network are part of Discovery, Inc. 

Both programs were produced by Cakehouse Media.

Discovery has ordered up more Cake Boss for domestic and international consumption -- and Brazil is getting star Buddy Valastro's new series, Kitchen Wars, on the side.

In news originating from Discovery Networks International in London, DNI and TLC in the United States have ordered an additional 10 episodes of season eight, on top of the 20 that already were lined up to air in the States (and are currently running internationally). The programmers also ordered a 20-episode ninth season of the docuseries. And DNI said Kitchen Wars, a new competition show (13 one-hour episodes), will debut June 28 on TV Record and July 1 on Discovery Home & Health Brazil. In it, Valastro will host and judge a search for Brazil's most talented amateur cook. Cake Boss airs on DNI networks in more than 220 countries.   

“Cake Boss is a global franchise that we hope will continue to grow and ticks off all of the boxes – it’s a proven ratings winner, boasting a highly engaged fan base that absolutely adores Buddy, and it’s a property that is appealing to our distribution and ad sales partners,” Marjorie Kaplan, president of content at Discovery Networks International and a former TLC U.S. general manager, said in a release slated for later today. “The series’ signature blend of humor, drama and emotions is as authentic as Buddy’s accent, and we’re thrilled he’ll continue to be with his first television family at TLC and Discovery Networks International.”

“No matter where I go around the world, the importance of family is one value that is universal,” Valastro said in the release. “Nothing brings people together better than food, and my hope is that these new episodes of Cake Boss will continue to inspire people to want to bake and spend time with family.”

Cake Boss chronicles Valastro and his family's efforts to continue expand Carlo’s Bakery, their family business, originally in Hoboken, N.J. Valastro and his cake-making team, including his four sisters, two brothers-in-law and cousins, will return to tackle exciting new projects, while also continuing to satisfy and serve their longtime customers, Discovery said. His wife, Lisa; his children, Sofia, Buddy Jr., Marco and Carlo; and Momma also feature in the series, which first aired in 2009 and won the 2016 Kid's Choice Award (Nick) for Favorite Cooking Show.

Cake Boss's producers are High Noon Entertainment and Cakehouse Media. Kitchen Wars is a co-production between TV Record and Discovery Home & Health, produced by Endemol Shine Brasil and Cakehouse Media.

This article was updated to correct the scheduling of season 8 in the United States: it has not yet aired here. 

Discovery Networks International and TLC have baked a new deal with High Noon Entertainment and Cakehouse Media for seasons seven and eight of Cake Boss.

Through a partnership between Discovery Networks International and TLC in the United States, 40 new episodes of the docuseries, following baker Buddy Valastro and his family, will begin production in February. 

Episodes will begin to air this summer on TLC abroadand Discovery Networks International’s lifestyle brands, reaching viewers in in more than 220 countries and territories.

The TLC U.S. premiere will be announced at a later date..

“Because of Buddy’s global appeal, it is a recipe for success to have Discovery Networks International partner with TLC in the US to produce additional seasons of Cake Boss,” said Discovery Networks International president JB Perrette.  “Buddy is a fan favorite...larger than life for our international audiences, and a valued partner of ours.”

“Buddy and his family have been an important part of TLC for years, and we’ve been amazed by the Cake Bossfranchise’s global impact,” said TLC general manager Nancy Daniels. "This partnership with Discovery Networks International will ensure our fans continue to enjoy the action at Carlo’s Bakery for seasons to come."