Monday, May 16, 2011

Food Network splits with Diners, Drive-ins and Dives producer

Breaking news: According to a lawsuit filed on Friday 5/13/11, with the U.S. District Court, District of Minnesota, David Page, producer of Diners, Drive-ins and Dives, alleges that the Food Network is failing "to provide the services of [Guy Fieri] and failing to make payments required by the Contract."

The suit further states that The Food Network would not comply with its contractual obligations and would not allow Page to produce the Series after Season 12, airing now.

According to bizjournals.com, "Page Productions said in its lawsuit that the Food Network signed on for 39 more episodes over three seasons in 2007 and agreed to retain and pay host Guy Fieri separately from the show's budget."

Click here for more.

We'll update this post as more information becomes available.

*Updates*
6/6/11 [Food Network] shall have to and including July 5, 2011 to answer or otherwise respond to [Page Production's] Complaint ... Signed by Magistrate Judge Janie S. Mayeron (source)

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Pending a Food Network response to the lawsuit (required by June 8, 2011), previously scheduled premiere episodes of Diners, Drive-ins and Dives are on hold after May 23, 2011, replaced by rerun episodes. See Foodnetwork.com's schedules:
Monday, May 30, 2011
Monday, June 6
Monday, June 13

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"Food Network has not yet responded to the federal lawsuit in court, but said in a statement that it looks 'forward to continuing to work with Guy Fieri to produce future original episodes of his popular show Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.'"

Read more: Food Network: Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives to continue without Plymouth creator | Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal

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According to Guy Fieri's publicist, "This is a legal matter between Food Network & Page Productions, and Guy has no comment."

Executive Producer David Page said the production company has cut staff and turned to litigation "as a last resort."

To read the legal complaint and jury demand, click here.

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8/30/11 - David Page responds to suit and counter suit. StarTribune.com.

And, Page puts the '67 Camaro up for auction. Bidding ends Nov. 5, 2011. Click here for more.

9/2/11 - Page Productions' message to Fans of Triple D. Click here to read.

Related Posts:
Interview with David Page, 2009
Food Network Local, map of featured restaurants
190 Diners, Drive-ins and Dives ... and counting ....

*5/21/11 Updated title of post, previously "Food Network may cancel Diners, Drive-ins and Dives"

Unrelated, although absent from NBC's recently announced Fall line-up, we have not been notified that "Minute to Win It" has been canceled. At the time of this writing, M2WI is neither cancelled nor renewed, yet.

20 comments:

EATnLISTEN said...

DDD is one of my fav shows I hope it is not cancelled!

Bill G said...

DDD can't be cancelled that is the best show on tv. get great recipe's and get to see all the great places all over that you could go to and get that great food...

Paul in Detroit said...

I read the suit on the link you provided, Dora. Of course, it's only one side, but sounds like Food Network wants the show without having to pay Guy? Will be interested to see how this plays out!

My thoughts and prayers go out to the employees of Page Productions, who may have lost their jobs in the meantime.

Marni said...

Nooooo! C'mon Food Network, don't make this huuggeeeee mistake!

Unknown said...

Oh please do not cancel.

Anonymous said...

Take off the contests. This is a fun show to watch!

ct said...

One of the few shows I watch on Food Network since they went to idiotic staged food fights and 'reality' cooking contests. Show is entertaining and has sooo many good food tips. Please don't cancel.

ct

Boclairltd said...

OMG, FOOD NETWORK! you CANNOT cancel this show!! Please!

Lexie said...

Triple D is one of the best show ever. While some shows on Food Network feature Italian, Spanish, Indian, or French (not that I'm saying any of these shows are bad), Triple D shows true American food from dozens of different perspectives. And who doesn't love hearing about Flavortown? Don't cancel the show!!!

Unknown said...

Please don't leave us to Adam Richman and MVF!!!

Anonymous said...

Food Network do not be fools and cancel the best show you have!! Do you realize what a lost it would be to your network? Step up and do the right thing.

Tom Concord said...

Dora, I gotta say. If Guy moves forward with DDD without Page Productions? I lose ALOT of respect for him. Page made the show, and the show made Guy's career. Just sayin'

Love your blog

jock said...

triple d has just got to go on so food network do the right thing and make sure ddd stays please.

Anonymous said...

Guy is the reason I watch the Food Network.

leslee said...

Triple D is one of the best shows on TV right now and has been for a long time. In this stupid reality TV age we live in this show is live from everywhere and anywhere all of the time. And of course as soon as a show like Triple D gets going and it is popular then all of the greed comes out about whom is not getting what they think they deserve. Well, I would like to know what the FN thinks that the fans deserve. Go ahead and cancel I promise I won't watch any other FN shows at all.

Anonymous said...

thank god! fieri is as entertaining as a slug

Stuart Reb Donald said...

Food Network have worked out their issues with Page Productions which as it turned out was some fairly Hugo Chavez like dictatorship from Page's CEO David Page. He has been banned from contact with anyone or anything to do with Triple D. More on the outcome here: http://wannabetvchef.com/?p=6333

Dora said...

Stuart, thank you for your comment. But the link you provided does not provide any more on the outcome than we already knew. Wrong url? Thanks.

Anonymous said...

How many camaro's has Guy used? He has used 67&68's wing glass that easy, red and silver rally wheels, red & black rear end finish panels, automatic,& stick shift. ROB HUBBARD , KY

Dora said...

Anon, to my knowledge, three: the '67, the '68 and the borrowed Camaro in Alaska