[July 01, 2011] The Fayetteville Observer, N.C., Jessica Banov column Tweet Jun 30, 2011 (The Fayetteville Observer - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- "EXTREME CHEF" Extreme shows are the way to go. This is "Top Chef" with a "Survivor"-infused twist. We got a taste of this in the "Top Chef: All Stars" series when the chefs had to swim for their fish. This takes it to a whole new level. In each episode, a whopping three "extreme" challenges will be featured. Chefs will have to complete tasks such as swimming across a lake for ingredients, get ingredients from a frozen block of ice or, even more tricky, from a bucket of rattlesnakes. In other words, it's not just how you prepare the food. It's how you get it and how you maintain a sense of cool in the kitchen -- even if that kitchen is on a deserted island. The show will be hosted by Marsh Mokhtari, who the Food Network says is a U.K.-based "adventure seeker." The winner gets $10,000. 10 p.m. Food Network "WILFRED" What did you think of "Wilfred," which premiered last week? I was prepared not to buy the main premise: that a guy could befriend a mischievous man in a dogsuit, who everyone else thinks is a dog. Yet somehow it worked, thanks to a convincing performance by Elijah Wood. FX reports that 2.6 million people watched the premiere, making it the highest-rated comedy premiere in the network's history. 10 p.m. I've heard good things, too, about "Louie," which follows at 10:30 p.m. Let me know your thoughts on either at [email protected]. TV TIDBITS In case you were worried, Randy Jackson and Steven Tyler will be back as "American Idol" judges, EW.com reports. Jennifer Lopez has yet to commit to another year behind the table. Here are more details about the tour with the eight finalists from "The Voice." It's a small tour with six stops in major metropolitan areas: Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Chicago, Boston, New York and Wallingford, Conn. Go to LiveNation.com for more. "Survivor" host Jeff Probst has a good explanation why he won't be replacing Regis Philbin on "Live with Regis and Kelly." CBS has announced that the Emmy winner will host his own one-hour daytime talk show in fall 2012. "True Blood" scored big ratings for its premiere, HBO reports, with 5.4 million viewers. Add 1 million viewers for the 11 p.m. showing, and HBO has another winning premiere. To see more of The Fayetteville Observer, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.fayettevillenc.com/. Copyright (c) 2011, The Fayetteville Observer, N.C. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For more information about the content services offered by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services (MCT), visit www.mctinfoservices.com. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]