Junk Food Flip – Premiering Tuesday, June 2nd at 9:00pmET/6:00pmPT (COOKING CHANNEL)
Junk Food Flip hosts Nikki Dinki and Bobby Deen seek out the country’s favorite guilty pleasure foods and do their best to recreate the delicious items in a healthier way. In each episode, the team’s revamped creation then goes head-to-head against the original to see which version customers enjoy the most.
- Premiering Tuesday, June 2nd at 9:00pmET/6:00pmPT – “The Jalapeno Popper Flip” – SERIES PREMIERE!
Bobby and Nikki travel to St. Augustine, Florida, to taste the famous Jalapeno Popper Burger at Gas Full Service restaurant. This beast of a burger has two beef patties stuffed with cream cheese, cheddar cheese and jalapenos, then gets deep-fried for the ultimate decadent delight! After biting into this indulgent 1,600-calorie burger, Bobby and Nikki challenge Gas owners Ben and Lindy Loose to a food flip, where they will make a healthier version of the dish. If the people choose Bobby and Nikki’s burger, then Gas has to put it on the menu, but if Ben and Lindy win, they get bragging rights and $1,000. Will their take on the burger be delicious enough to beat the Jalapeno Popper Burger in the showdown? Or will the locals stick with the deep-fried favorite?
- Premiering Tuesday, June 9th at 9:00pmET/6:00pmPT – “The Unidentified Flipping Object”
If a tostada, taco and burrito had a baby, it would be the U.F.O. This decadent 1,500-calorie burrito is the creation of Nicholas and Robin Kimball, owners of the SoCal-inspired A1A Burrito Works Taco Shop in St. Augustine Beach, Florida. Flipping a burrito seems like an easy challenge, but Bobby and Nikki soon learn that the customers who come to A1A Burrito are not looking for just a burrito; they require calorie-laced fuel to eat before surfing, riding or running all day. Bobby and Nikki attempt to come up with something that matches the U.F.O in flavor, and becomes a healthy source of fuel for the active people who eat it. With bragging rights and cash on the line, will they successfully flip the U.F.O. or will Nicholas back up his smack talk with a winner?
- Premiering Tuesday, June 16th at 9:00pmET/6:00pmPT – “The Drunken Cubano Flip”
It is a junk food journey down South to Bobby’s home state of Georgia, to take on a legendary BBQ sandwich called ‘the Drunken Cubano’ at Southern Soul Barbeque in St. Simons Island. It is a Cuban sandwich with slow-smoked pulled pork, cheese and pickles, but Southern Soul make this sandwich even more decadent by serving it inside a bowl of creamy beer cheese soup! Nikki and Bobby challenge owners and pit-masters, Griffin and Harrison to the ultimate Junk Food Flip. They attempt to create healthier versions of the sandwich, first going head-to-head with each other in a street taste test. Nikki and Bobby finally merge their creations into a sandwich to challenge the local BBQ favorite. Will Bobby and Nikki take these pitmasters down, or are they about to get smoked?
- Premiering Tuesday, June 23rd at 9:00pmET/6:00pmPT – “The Southern Comfort Flip”
Husband and wife team, Sean and Keely Mendes of Roadside Seafood in Charleston, South Carolina have created “The Southern Comfort” – creamy lobster mac n’ cheese, four slices of crispy bacon and two fried green tomatoes between two slices of buttered Texas toast. When Bobby and Nikki taste the 1,420-calorie sandwich, they challenge Sean to a Food Flip, but Sean does not think they stand a chance. Bobby and Nikki attempt to recreate those comforting Southern flavors with two very different, but leaner recipes. Once the winning sandwich is chosen in a taste test, Bobby and Nikki join forces to create a worthy challenger. Find out if Bobby and Nikki have what it takes to take down a Charleston favorite.
- Premiering Tuesday, June 30th at 9:00pmET/6:00pmPT – “The French Toast Frankie Flip”
The “French Toast Frankie” contains roughly 80% of recommended daily calories, a fact of which “Perfectly Franks” owner Perry Cuda could not be more proud. When Bobby and Nikki roll into Summerville, South Carolina to take on this decadent dog, they think they have it easy flipping a 1,700 calorie dish, but the people of Summerville have very discerning taste buds. They love their rich, decadent food and any attempt to mess with tradition could spell certain defeat! Bobby and Nikki soon find themselves going head-to-head with a local hero in an arena filled with a hometown crowd, but they bring a strong challenger to the game. Does Bobby and Nikki’s dog have what it takes to take down this junk food heavyweight?
Craziest Restaurants in America – Premiering Wednesday, June 3rd at 10pm – SERIES PREMIERE! (FOOD NETWORK)
Craziest Restaurants in America travels coast to coast to count down the most unique, most outrageous, most outstanding, and even the most bizarre food establishments that dish out delicious meals and memorable dining experiences. From an underwater cafe to a zombie-themed bistro, these are the restaurants that leave customers saying, “Wow!”
Food Network Star – Premiering Sunday, June 7th at 9pm (FOOD NETWORK)
Long-running hit primetime series Food Network Star returns for season eleven with twelve talented hopefuls competing for the ultimate prize: their own Food Network show. Culinary superstars Giada De Laurentiis and Bobby Flay are back to host the new season with guest mentors joining the action throughout the season. Tune in to find out who possesses the personality and kitchen chops to be the next Food Network Star.
- Premiering Sunday, June 7th at 9pm – “Food Network Star Festival'” – SEASON PREMIERE!
In the season premiere, the twelve hopefuls arrive in Los Angeles and are introduced to food icons Giada and Bobby. Each finalist must produce a 30-second introductory video and make their signature dish for a food festival to be held the next day. At the festival, attended by a crowd of Food Network fans, each video is screened and their signature dish is tasted by a judging panel including Giada, Bobby, Food Network executives Susie Fogelson and Bob Tuschman, and People Deputy Editor J.D. Heyman. For one finalist, their dream ends, while the remaining eleven continue on their journey
- Premiering Sunday, June 14th at 9pm – “Savory Baking”
Knowledge and the ability to adapt are key qualities to becoming a star, and the finalists must create an inspiring dish using only ingredients and leftovers that can be found in an average family’s refrigerator then perform a camera challenge for Giada, Bobby and guest judge Melissa d’Arabian. Then the finalists use their imaginations to create a savory dish inspired by the world of desserts, with Iron Chef Alex Guarnaschelli joining Giada and Bobby at the judge’s table.
- Premiering Sunday, June 21st at 9pm – “Trendy Dinner”
Keeping up with the latest food trends is imperative, so the contestants are tasked to create and photograph trendy “tiny” foods. They are then split up into two teams for a challenge to create a five-course meal where each course corresponds with a buzzword. Sunny Anderson and Geoffrey Zakarian join the selection committee this week to decide who will be go home.
- Premiering Sunday, June 28th at 9pm – “Fourth of July Cookout”
A Food Network Star has to be able to win over a crowd – so to celebrate the Fourth of July, the finalists are split into teams to develop a cohesive menu, shop for ingredients and feed a crowd of hungry families at a holiday cookout. Guest judge Bobby Deenjoins Bobby and Giada to determine which team has the best performance, and one finalist from the lowest performing team is sent home.
Daphne Dishes – Premiering Sunday, June 7th at 11:30am – SEASON PREMIERE! (FOOD NETWORK)
Mom, wife, and home cook, Daphne Brogdon, brings a fresh, fun and humorous approach to feeding the family. Whether it is for a PTA meeting or a gals’ night in, Daphne cooks up a storm with simple recipes that will feed a crowd and bring the family together.
Outrageous Wedding Cakes – Premiering Saturday, June 13th at 9pm – SPECIAL! (FOOD NETWORK)
Here comes the cake! Wedding season is here and Food Network is serving up a second helping of extravagant, ornate, enormous and downright outrageous cakes! From six-tier masterpieces floating in midair to thousands of sugar-winged butterflies, from optical illusions to show-stopping cakes masquerading as life-size topiary swans, this all-new one-hour special will raise the bar in cake confections at weddings across the nation.
Top 5 Restaurants – Premiering Monday, June 15th at 10:30pm – SERIES PREMIERE! (FOOD NETWORK)
For the first time ever, Food Network is naming America’s top five burger spots, the ultimate five steakhouses, the best five BBQ joints and more! From pizza and ice cream to tacos and fried chicken, each episode is taking on one of America’s favorite foods and telling you exactly where to get the best. We’ll meet the makers and culinary masterminds behind these ultimate food creations as the battle for top spot is finally crowned.

Movie
No Question Mark Box Here; Super Mario Delivers a 1-Up in Theaters

If you were born in the ’80s, ’90s, or literally ANY decade after those, you know about Super Mario. A cultural phenomenon was brought to life on the big screen this last weekend. One that has not only stood the test of time but reinvented itself time and time again. This wasn’t even the first time it’s been made into a movie but, well, let’s be honest.. some of us choose not to acknowledge the LIVE action adaptation of the beloved game from 30 years ago.
It was pretty bad… But this was animation. ILLUMINATION animation at that. The Universal company that brought us Gru and his Minions, showed us the Secret Life of Pets, and gave us a reason to SING! Still, I had my reservations and even some concerns, especially when the casting was announced.
Eyebrows were raised. As big of stars as they were on paper, could they really deliver on voicing characters from a staple of our childhood? They did.
Chris Pratt and Charlie Day may not be Italian, and Jack Black may not be a King or Turtle creature from the Mushroom Kingdom, but they make the characters their own all while paying homage to the lore of a video game.
From the jump, the story reintroduces us to the brothers that just want to save Brooklyn one clogged sink at a time. We feel an instant connection and relate to these “underdogs of the plumbing world”. The movie is riddled with easter eggs, each of which tugs on the heartstrings of every generation of Mario fandom. And the soundtrack was beautifully put together to not only make us feel like we’re taking a walkthrough of the game but like an experience all its own with some familiar favorites thrown in.
Every word in the movie is pure eye candy for both those that are casual fans, and those analyzing every frame to see what they’ll catch next. Bowser’s ship, the Mushroom Kingdom, Kong’s arena, and the Rainbow Road.. They’re all meant to give us just enough of a “new” look at these amazing worlds, but stay true to how we remember them.
The movie itself moves along at the perfect pace. Although, if you don’t really know ANYTHING about the Super Mario Bros, you may have gotten a little lost and felt left behind in the green tunnel. But that’s ok! It’s an adventure of the imagination and a classic story of a boy that meets a girl and tries to save the world from a monster that wants to destroy it.
What’s funny is that you could easily say this is a story about two characters who couldn’t be more opposite if they tried, battling to win the heart of a princess. Who would’ve thought that the King of the Koopas was just trying to impress his crush?
And that song? Ohhh THAT song! It’s my new ringtone and deserves the Oscar for Best Original Song.
Back to the movie.
Universal and Illumination clearly understood the assignment. Is it missing some things or could things have been done differently or even better? Absolutely! We’re the worst critics of the things we hold nearest and dearest to our hearts. But if you’re up for going on a 90-minute adventure through amazing worlds, with awesome music, and characters that’ll make you smile and laugh, then this is the perfect movie to spring you into that warm summer feeling.
Plus there’s the whole part with karts and shells, and banana peels and oh my goodness how amazing was that?? It’s enough to make you want to stand up and cheer, then go home and destroy your friends and family on your favorite track haha.
The bottom line, it pays homage in all the right ways to the little guy with the mustache, while giving us something new and exciting. Take the kids and go see Super Mario Bros. You’ll be glad you did!
Events
Warner Bros. Discovery Home Entertainment returns to WonderCon 2023


Justice League x RWBY: Superheroes & Hunters Opening Act Saturday, March 25 at 1:30 p.m. on North 200A. Talent confirmed so far to participate in the post-screening panel is Natalie Alyn Lind (Big Sky, The Goldbergs, Gotham) as Wonder Woman/Diana Prince and longtime RWBY cast member Lindsay Jones (Camp Camp) as Ruby, Kara Eberle ( RWBY: Ice Queendom) as Weiss, Arryn Zech (Detective Now Dead) as Blake and Barbara Dunkelman (Blood Fest) as Yang – along with Jeannie Tirado (Soul, Saints Row) as Green Lantern and Tru Valentino (The Rookie, The Cuphead Show!) as a cyborg. Also attending the panel will be producer/director Kerry Shawcross (series RWBY) and writer Meghan Fitzmartin (Supernatural, Justice Society: World War II).

Warner Bros. Discovery Home Entertainment returns to WonderCon 2023 with the big screen debut from DC Animated Films: highlights this year include the world premieres of the highly anticipated Batman: The Doom That Came To Gotham and Justice League x RWBY: Superheroes & Hunters Part One the weekend of March 24-26 in Anaheim, California. Both screenings will be followed by panel discussions with actors and creators. Batman: The Doom That Came To Gotham premieres at The Arena on Friday, March 24 at 6 p.m. Tati Gabrielle (Kaleidoscope, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, Uncharted) as Kai Li Cain, Christopher Gorham (The Lincoln Lawyer, Insatiable) as Oliver Queen, David Dastmalchian (Dune, Suicide Squad, Ant-Man) as Grendon, producer/co-director Sam Liu (The Death and the Return of Superman), co-director Christopher Berkeley (Young Justice) and screenwriter Jase Ricci (Teen Titans Go! and DC Super Hero Girls: Mayhem Across the Multiverse).
Both films will have encore screenings in the Arena on Sunday, March 26. Justice League x RWBY: Super Heroes & Huntsmen, Part One will screen at 12:15pm, followed by Batman: The Doom That Came To Gotham at 2:00pm