Ian Smith News

n the two-hour series premiere,of ABC's THE TASTE entitled "Auditions Part 1," the pressure is on when Anthony Bourdain, Nigella Lawson, Ludovic Lefebvre and Brian Malarkey put 29 professional chefs and home cooks through their first grueling round of blind taste tests -- in which just a single spoonful will decide whether or not they make it past the audition phase and into the competition. Get a sneak peek below!

Following its acclaimed premiere at the 2012 Edinburgh Fringe Festival and a sell out performance at the Bush Theatre as part of their RADAR festival in the Autumn, Anne Chmelewsky's comic operetta starring fast rising soprano Clare Presland comes to Kings Place this January.

Talk Show Listings For Today, January 16

Talk Show Listings For Wednesday, January 16

The Other Place, the new play starring Laurie Metcalf, plays Manhattan Theatre Club's Samuel J. Friedman Theatre (261 West 47th Street). The Other Place opens tonight, January 10. The Other Place stars Laurie Metcalf ('Roseanne,' November), Daniel Stern ('The Wonder Years,' Diner), Zoe Perry (Broadway debut), and John Schiappa (Assassins, Take Me Out). Check out photos of the stars onstage below!

Directors Guild of America President Taylor Hackford today announced the DGA's nominees for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Television and Commercials for the year 2012.

The Cinema Audio Society has announced its nominees for the 49th Annual CAS Awards for Outstanding Achievement in Sound Mixing for 2012 in six categories.

One blind spoonful could change everything on ABC's all-new alternative series, "THE TASTE, an exhilarating one-hour cooking competition that puts 16 culinary competitors - from pro chefs to home cooks -- to the fire with four of the world's most notable masters of the food world who will judge their creations based on a blind taste test.

Ian Smith (BBC2 Popatron) introduces Brenda Gilhooly (aka Gayle Tuesday), Sara Pascoe (Live at the Apollo), Romesh Ranganathan, Sanderson Jones, Pat Cahill and more quality comedians and maybe some special guests, who unleash 'brilliant new comedic gems to delight comedy aficionados.'

THE OTHER PLACE, the new play starring Laurie Metcalf, is now in previews at Manhattan Theatre Club's Samuel J. Friedman Theatre (261 West 47th Street). THE OTHER PLACE will open Thursday, January 10. THE OTHER PLACE stars Laurie Metcalf ('Roseanne,' November), Daniel Stern ('The Wonder Years,' Diner), Zoe Perry (Broadway debut), and John Schiappa (Assassins, Take Me Out). Get a first look at the stars onstage in the photos below!

One blind spoonful could change everything, on the all new alternative series, THE TASTE, premiering with a two-hour show TUESDAY, JANUARY 22 (8:00-10:00 p.m., ET; the show moves to its regular 8:00-9:00 p.m. time period on January 29), on The ABC Television Network.

Famed culinary experts Ludo Lefebvre and Brian Malarkey are confirmed to join no-holds-barred chef Anthony Bourdain and British food star Nigella Lawson as Mentors on eight episodes of ABC's innovative new cooking competition show, THE TASTE.

ABC announced midseason premiere dates for new dramas "Red Widow" and "Zero Hour" today, along with new comedies "How to Live with Your Parents (for the Rest of Your Life)" and "Family Tools," and new alternative series "The Taste" and "Celebrity Diving."

SPACE on Ryder Farm announces its inaugural benefit - SPACE in the City - set for Monday, December 3rd from 7-10pm at Ars Nova loft at 511 W. 54th Street in New York City. The event will feature artist performance and readings from theater artists including Gabriel Ebert (4,000 Miles, Brief Encounter), Adam Rapp (Through the Yellow Hour, Red Light Winter), Teddy Bergman (Peter and the Starcatcher), Damon Daunno (Brief Encounter) and Grace McLean (www.gracemclean.com).

Famed culinary experts Ludo Lefebvre and Brian Malarkey are confirmed to join no-holds-barred chef Anthony Bourdain and British food star Nigella Lawson as Mentors on eight episodes of ABC's innovative new cooking competition show, "The Taste." Bourdain and Lawson are also executive producers. The new one-hour alternative series from Kinetic Content will premiere in 2013 on the ABC Television Network.

The Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA), a non-profit trade association, and Lexus once again challenged emerging designers to develop proposals for a sustainable clothing or accessory line with the environment in mind. At an event at MADE Fashion Week last night in New York, attended by many well-known designers and fashion insiders interested in supporting emerging and eco-friendly designers, the winners of the CFDA/Lexus Eco-Fashion Challenge were revealed. The three winners of this year's challenge are Pamela Love, Victoria Bartlett, and Melissa Joy Manning.

Beginning tonight, August 20, 11pm ET, TV One will premiere the second season of the soulful and provocative series Verses & Flow. Produced by Lexus, this series will highlight compelling performances of poetry and music. Hosted by multi-talented actor Omari Hardwick, widely known for his roles in For Colored Girls, CSI: Miami and upcoming film Sparkle, the new season will touch on many cultural, political and social topics affecting the world today. 'Life as a poet and actor truly became full circle as I stood on stage as host of Verses &Flow, and lived in both of these outfits,' said Hardwick, 'It was one of the best experiences of my professional life.' Verses & Flow was filmed at the historical Belasco Theater in Downtown Los Angeles, California.

Beginning Monday, August 20, 11pm ET, TV One will premiere the second season of the soulful and provocative series Verses & Flow. Produced by Lexus, this series will highlight compelling performances of poetry and music. Hosted by multi-talented actor Omari Hardwick, widely known for his roles in For Colored Girls, CSI: Miami and upcoming film Sparkle, the new season will touch on many cultural, political and social topics affecting the world today. 'Life as a poet and actor truly became full circle as I stood on stage as host of Verses &Flow, and lived in both of these outfits,' said Hardwick, 'It was one of the best experiences of my professional life.' Verses & Flow was filmed at the historical Belasco Theater in Downtown Los Angeles, California.

|the claque| announced today that it will bring its new cutting edge serial comedy to The Tank every Saturday in August. Using the rarely executed serial format- an episodic theater event that can stand alone or as a 'sitcom' style performance, |the claque| hopes to break barriers and engage audiences in a new way that will continue to solidify the company as 'your favorite arts and performance conglomerate.'