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. 

British independent producer betty is launching a U.S. production arm and has named Discovery Networks International veteran Jon Sechrist senior vice president and head of production and development.

Sechrist will join betty later this month and will oversee its current developing production slate including The Undateables, The Food Inspectors, Obsessive Compulsive Cleaners, The Food Hospital, Kings of the Wild and Too Ugly for Love?, as well as future programs for the U.S. market and global audiences and will originate new ideas for both factual and factual entertainment shows. He will report to  betty’s co-Managing Directors, Neil Smith and Matthew Littleford, and will be based in New York.

 “Jon’s contributions to Discovery Networks International are invaluable and his expertise in the lifestyle and factual entertainment genres make him the ideal leader for betty’s U.S. operation,” Lee Bartlett, president of The Studios Group for Discovery, which oversees betty, said in a statement.

Sechrist currently serves as vice president - production and development, Discovery Networks International, and oversees the global production community to develop and produce lifestyle/factual/entertainment shows and manages content partnerships with Discovery’s U.S. portfolio including Discovery Channel, TLC, ID: Investigation Discovery, OWN, Destination America and DiscoveryLife.

His hit track record includes popular factual entertainment series Cake Boss, Sister Wives, Next Great Baker, My Naked Secret, Bizarre ER, NY Ink, BBQ Pitmasters, Body Bizarre and highly rated specials, 650 lb Virgin, Child Frozen in Time and Little Looking for Love.  Sechrist has also produced and developed popular scripted soap operas, All My Children, OneLife to Live, Noah’s Arc and festival favourite film, Were the World Mine.

Prior to joining Discovery, Sechrist worked as a programming executive at ABC Daytime and MTV Networks, where he was a key part of the creative start-up teams who launched MTV.com, MTV2 and Logo. 

“With an increasing appetite for formats it’s the perfect time for us to deliver betty's brand of quality popular factual programming to the U.S. Jon has an acute understanding of global markets and a sharp mind for what makes a hit show across lifestyle and factual, Neil Smith, managing director, betty, said in a statement.  “Having previously worked with us as a commissioner he was the perfect choice to set up our new office and we are delighted that he is joining the team.” 

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."