TLC ORDERS NEW SERIES 'CRAVING COMFORT'

TLC today announced that it has ordered the new series CRAVING COMFORT (wt), which explores the obsessions, triumphs, and secrets behind some of America's favorite comfort foods. The series is produced by True Entertainment, and has already begun shooting. TLC has ordered eight half-hour episodes.

Hosted by chef Art Smith, each episode of CRAVING COMFORT will travel the country, exploring variations of the simple, sumptuous dishes that everyone craves. Not just a cooking series, CRAVING COMFORT is about the experience shared with favorite foods, and the stories they embody. Each episode will focus on one specific comfort food - from fried chicken to apple pie - and uncovers three different tales that reveal the passion behind the plate.

"CRAVING COMFORT celebrates the great personal stories behind America's classic comfort foods. Art Smith's passion for great food and its ability to bring people together makes him the perfect host for this journey," said Nancy Daniels, SVP of Production & Development, TLC.

Art Smith is a two-time James Beard Award-winner and bestselling cookbook author, who has devoted his life to bringing back the symbolism and meaning of the "kitchen table" in the family home, and is a believer that food should unite families and friends through the sharing of meals.

In addition to hosting CRAVING COMFORT, Art continues his role as specialty chef for many of Oprah Winfrey's most talked-about events, and runs his restaurant, Table Fifty-Two, serving locally-sourced and seasonal home cooking inspired by his family's farm on the Florida-Georgia border. He also recently opened the Washington DC-based restaurant Art and Soul.

The chef devotes much time to community service through his nonprofit organization Common Threads that teaches low-income children to cook wholesome and affordable meals as a way to prevent childhood obesity and reverse the trend of generations of non-cookers, while celebrating the things people all over the world have in common.

CRAVING COMFORT adds to TLC's slate of food programming, joining fan-favorite CAKE BOSS, currently airing its second season, ULTIMATE CAKE OFF, currently in production on its second season, and the upcoming BBQ PITMASTERS, which premieres December 3.

True Entertainment, an Endemol company, was founded by Glenda Hersh and Steven Weinstock.

TLC.com helps make this holiday season stress free with family friendly recipes, entertaining tips and helpful planning tools - all at www.tlcccooking.com