Florence
Lifetime's joining the TV foodie fray, picking up the pilot "Search for the Greatest American Recipe."
Celeb chef Tyler Florence is hosting the project, which comes from ITV Studios and Parade Publications (the company behind the Sunday newspaper insert).
Pilot, which starts production on Sunday in Los Angeles, will follow Florence as he travels to seven regions of the country to find unique homegrown recipes. Regional finalists would then compete in a cooking competition that would lead to the winning "Greatest American Recipe."
Florence will also serve as one of the show's judges.
As part of the partnership between ITV and Parade, the magazine's website will create additional content from the show, launching companion blogs, recipe databases and other features.
ITV Studios prexy-CEO Paul Buccieri and Parade president-publisher Randy Siegel struck the deal.
Florence, a familiar TV face thanks to his various Food Network programs, is opening his first signature restaurant, the Empire Plush Room in San Francisco's Hotel Vertigo, later this year.
Contact Michael Schneider at
mike.schneider@variety.com