From
NOLA.com: Celebrity guests, musical performances and audience interaction will
be among the main ingredients of Emeril Lagasse’s new cooking show for
Ion Television, the 3-year-old entertainment network affiliated with
WPXL (Channel 49) in New Orleans.
“The Emeril Lagasse Show” will air Sundays at 7 p.m. starting April
18. The housewarming party-themed premiere will feature fellow
talk-show host and business partner Martha Stewart. Singer Michelle
Williams, formerly of Destiny’s Child, also will appear and sing
“Roxie” from her hit show “Chicago.”
Every episode of the cooking/variety show will have a theme, Ion
says. Future guests will include native son and New York Giants
quarterback Eli Manning (as part of a “Sports Night” tailgating party
episode); another New Orleanian, actor Bryan Batt (“Blasts From the
Past”); Food Network chef Mario Batali (“Italian Chowdown”); Sammy
Hagar (Emeril’s Fiesta); Steve Schirippa from “The Sopranos” (“Guys
Night”); Jennie Garth and the country band Lonestar (“Emeril’s
Heartland”); CNBC anchor Maria “Money Honey” Bartiromo (“BAM for your
Buck”); and Tim Gunn and former “American Idol” finalist Bo Bice (“Do
It Yourself”).
Further emphasizing the variety-show trappings, Lagasse will have a
house band, Dave Koz and the Kozmos. Audience members will be invited
to cook on stage and compete to win prizes in “The Big Bam Box.”