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[11/01/12 - 09:57 AM]
Batter Up! 13 New Contestants Compete to Be TLC's "Next Great Baker"
The 10-episode season kicks off with a special 90-minute premiere on Monday, November 26 at 9:00/8:00c.
[via press release from TLC]

BATTER UP! 13 New Contestants Compete to Be TLC'S "NEXT GREAT BAKER"

Season 3 Premieres Monday, November 26 at 9pm ET/PT

The heat is on - Buddy "Cake Boss" Valastro has selected a brand-new "bakers dozen" of aspiring pastry chefs to mix it up in the third season of TLC's hit competition show NEXT GREAT BAKER. The 13 crafty cake artists are each after the sweet prize of $100,000, a feature in Redbook Magazine, and a chance to work side-by-side with Buddy and his team at Carlo's Bakery.

The 10-episode season kicks off with a special 90-minute premiere on Monday, November 26 at 9pm ET/PT. The series' second season, which crowned Marissa Lopez as the winner, was watched by an average of 1.7M viewers.

This season, Buddy and his family welcome special guests to judges the challenges, including Mario Lopez & Courtney Mazza, Lou Ferrigno, Peter Billingsley (A Christmas Story), Holly Madison, and Joey Fatone, among others.

"Each season brings out stronger contestants and I think this is the best batch yet. The challenges are tougher, the judges more critical, and the reward as sweet as ever," said Buddy Valastro.

This season's contestants include:

Letty Alvarez - Miami, FL 41 years old; Owner/Operator of LA Sweets

James S. Brown - Lexington, KY (previously from Chicago, IL) 41 years old; Owner of Brown's Bakery

Paul Christopher Conti - Long Beach Island, NJ (originally from Staten Island, NY) 30 years old; currently unemployed

Chad Durkin - Philadelphia, PA (previously from Hackensack, NJ and Toms River, NJ) 28 years old; Owner of CAD Culinary consulting and wedding cakes

Gretel-Ann Fischer - Colchester, VT 35 years old; Owner of Cupp's, a bakery/café in Winooski, Vermont

Peter Gray - East Longmeadow, MA 21 years old; Runs cake decorating business Pete's Sweets

Ashley Lauren Holt - Louisville, KY 24 years old; Pastry Chef at The Louisville Country Club, also runs cake business Sugar Monster Sweets

Jen Kwapinski - San Jose, CA (previously from Columbus, NE) 32 years old; Owner of Jen's Cakes

Chris Luna - Roseville, CA (originally from Pollock Pines, CA) *Chris was the America's Choice selection 29 years old; Currently a Sales Executive, and an amateur baker

Melissa Payne - Chesterfield, VA 33 years old; Owner of Couture Cake Creations, co-owner of Sweets Couture

Jess Reyling - Peoria, IL (originally from Chillicothe, IL) 30 years old; Stay at Home Mom

Emme Tyler - Los Angeles, CA 30 years old; Owner of Skinny Batches

William Garrett Wallace - Waverly,TN 36 years old; Cake artist at Fabulous Baker Boy

The series fan site can be found at http://tlc.com/nextgreatbaker.

NEXT GREAT BAKER is produced for TLC by High Noon Entertainment.





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· CAKE BOSS (DFC)
· NEXT GREAT BAKER, THE (TLC)




[10/06/25 - 02:01 PM]
Video: NBC Releases Official Trailer, Key Art, and First Look Images for "Happy's Place"
Season two premieres Friday, November 7 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on NBC and will be available the next day on Peacock.

[10/06/25 - 11:29 AM]
Oliver Hudson Hosts New Magnolia Network Series, "Gingerbread Land: The Biggest Little Holiday Competition"
Hosted by Oliver Hudson and executive produced by Chip and Joanna Gaines, top bakers face off in the biggest little gingerbread competition ever imagined.

[10/06/25 - 11:02 AM]
"Downey Wrote That" Set for Oct. 17 Debut on Peacock
The hourlong film explores the sketches, contributions and enduring influence of one of the most impactful comedy writers in the history of "Saturday Night Live."
[10/06/25 - 11:01 AM]
Prime Video Announces "Hazbin Hotel: Live on Broadway" Musical Event Ahead of Season Two Premiere
Hosted by series lead Erika Henningsen, the live concert event will take place on October 20, at New York's historic Majestic Theater.
[10/06/25 - 10:30 AM]
Amazon MGM Studios Has Ordered a Second Season of "Ballard"
The series, starring Maggie Q as Detective Renée Ballard, will continue to bring the work of New York Times best-selling author, Michael Connelly's beloved character to screen exclusively on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide.
[10/06/25 - 10:04 AM]
ESPN Sets Multiple MLB Wild Card Series Viewership Records
ESPN networks averaged 4,625,000 viewers across 11 games, making it the most-watched Wild Card Series ever under the current format.

[10/06/25 - 09:25 AM]
Paramount+ Sets Straight to Series Order for A24's Legal Thriller "Discretion" Starring and Executive Produced by Oscar and Emmy Winner Nicole Kidman and Emmy and Golden Globe Nominee Elle Fanning
Produced by A24, the eight episode drama series will begin production in 2026 and launch on Paramount+.

[10/06/25 - 09:16 AM]
"One Shot with Ed Sheeran" - A Music Experience Directed by Emmy Award Winner Philip Barantini, A Fulwell Entertainment Production, Coming to Netflix November 21
The multi-Grammy Award winner will take viewers on a mesmerizing journey, during one afternoon, in real time, as he travels the streets of New York City, performing his greatest hits, captured in a single take.
[10/06/25 - 09:01 AM]
Cozy Up with Cherished Disney Films When Freeform's "30 Days of Disney" Returns This November
Last November's event reached nearly 25 million viewers.
[10/06/25 - 09:00 AM]
Jason Aldean, Lainey Wilson and Bailey Zimmerman to Headline "New Year's Eve Live: Nashville's Big Bash," Live from Downtown Nashville, on CBS and Paramount+
Plus: gospel music legend CeCe Winans will bring her powerhouse vocals to the night's festivities alongside the acclaimed Fisk Jubilee Singers, adding a soulful note to the star-studded lineup that Music City locals and visitors can enjoy for free at Bicentennial Park's main stage.
[10/06/25 - 08:42 AM]
Hulu and American High Announces Comedy Film "Never Change!"
In 2005 the graduating class of North Meadows High School had their senior year cut short due to a disastrous tornado that wrecked half the school. Now in their mid 30s they're being forced to return home and finish high school once and for all.
[10/06/25 - 08:21 AM]
Roku Serves Up New Romantic Comedy "Chef's Kiss" Starring Adrienne Bailon-Houghton and Produced by Jaggi Entertainment
"Chef's Kiss" follows Lauren Navarro (Bailon-Houghton), an ambitious American marketing executive tasked with revitalizing a family-run pasta sauce brand.
[10/06/25 - 08:11 AM]
"Sidelined 2: Intercepted" Scores Premiere Date!
This Thanksgiving, Tubi delivers the ultimate doubleheader: the premiere of "Sidelined 2: Intercepted," and a free 4K live stream of the NFC North showdown between the Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers as part of the NFL's "John Madden Thanksgiving Celebration."
[10/06/25 - 08:07 AM]
Video: Paramount+ Releases Official Trailer and New Images for New Comedy Series "Crutch," Starring Tracy Morgan
Produced by CBS Studios, all eight episodes of the series will be available to stream exclusively on Paramount+ at launch Monday, November 3.

[10/06/25 - 08:06 AM]
Multiple Grammy Award Winner Lenny Kravitz to Star in "Sunday Night Basketball" Show Open, Debuting Feb. 1, 2026, on NBC and Peacock
"I have been a fan of basketball and the NBA since I was a kid," said Kravitz. "I am happy to be invited to take part with NBC Sports and the NBA, and I celebrate their support of sports, music, and culture. I am looking forward to this special moment."