The HISTORY(R) Channel is feeding viewers appetites with season two of its hit nonfiction series “The Food That Built America,” premiering a special sneak preview on Tuesday, February 9 at 10PM ET/PT before moving to its regular timeslot on Sundays at 9PM ET/PT, and returning series “Modern Marvels” now hosted by food author and culinary entrepreneur Adam Richman, airing on Sunday, February 21st at 10PM ET/PT. This season of “The Food That Built America” tells the fascinating history behind the titans who fought their way to the top of the food chain and bites into the rivalries between some of food’s biggest and most beloved brands such as Pizza Hut, Oreo, Kraft, McDonalds, Cheetos and more. The fifteen-episode series includes expert commentary from celebrity chefs, food writers, and entrepreneurs such as Adam Richman, Marcus Samuelsson and Rza.
In “Modern Marvels” Adam Richman travels the country to behemoth factory lines and locally-owned shops going behind-the-scenes of iconic brands and giving an inside look into how our favorite foods such as cookies, cheese and ice cream are made.
“As a longtime fan of The HISTORY(R) Channel, I’m thrilled to partner with the network on not one, but two terrific series. I’m excited to take viewers on a culinary journey through history, pulling back the veil to show how and why certain brands and foods that we know, and love came to be,” said Richman. “The insider stories about these legendary entrepreneurs and technical culinary wizards who keep pushing the envelope are a fascinating part of the American story, and I’m delighted to guide the audience through it all.”
Coming off the heels of a successful season one, which reached 18.8 million total viewers*, season two of “The Food That Built America” is serving up a new group of bold pioneers behind America’s most iconic food empires. For generations of Americans, food titans such as Herman Lay, James Kraft, and the McDonald brothers have been household names. However, before they became titans, they were brilliant – sometimes ruthless – visionaries who revolutionized the food and changed the culinary landscape of America forever. Through dramatic recreations, fascinating facts, anecdotes, and expert commentary, season two delves into their unbelievable stories of grit, innovation, and determination. The series also leans into America’s nostalgia with food by highlighting the product inspiration and numerous trials, triumphs, and tribulations endured by these entrepreneurs whose unrelenting innovation ultimately helped them come out on top.
The episode “Pizza Wars,” airing on Tuesday, February 9 at 10PM ET/PT, tells the stories of the first franchises who boldly introduced pizza to America – Pizza Hut and Dominos. Episode two “The Chocolate Rush,” airing on Valentine’s Day, Sunday, February 14th at 10PM ET/PT, satisfies viewers’ sweet tooth with an indulgence into the chocolate empires of titans Milton Hershey and Harry Burnett Reese, whose tiny inventions evolved America’s love for chocolate forever.
“Modern Marvels” follows host Richman around the country as he finds out everything there is to know about the making of some of America’s favorite foods from chocolate, to cheese and ice cream. Exploring the behind-the-scenes processes of popular foods, and the inspiration behind each product, the series presents the how, why, and where of numerous products, supplemented by archival footage, engaging expert interviews, and on-site visits. From behemoth factory lines using expertly choreographed machines that create thousands of products a minute to smaller, locally-owned shops that rely on hands-on hard work and entrepreneurial know-how to make their merchandise, American ingenuity comes in all sizes.
The premiere episode “Cookies” explores the origins, creation, and all there is to know about one of America’s favorite go-to sweet treats.
Additionally, in February, The HISTORY(R) Channel will launch its original podcast “The Food That Built America,” produced in partnership with OZY Media, to accompany the series. The complementary podcast illuminates the gripping dramas and technological breakthroughs of the titans who invented, innovated and propagated the industries upon which our country is built. Audiences can subscribe to The HISTORY Channel Original podcast “The Food That Built America” at www.HISTORY.com/podcasts and everywhere podcasts are available.
“The Food That Built America” is produced for The HISTORY(R) Channel by Lucky 8. Kim Woodard, Greg Henry, Isaac Holub, George Kralovansky, and Yoshi Stone serve as executive producers for Lucky 8. Jim Pasquarella and Mary E. Donahue serve as executive producers for The HISTORY(R) Channel.
“Modern Marvels,” originally created by television-industry veteran Bruce Nash, is produced for The HISTORY(R) Channel by the Six West MediaTM group. Steve Ascher, Kristy Sabat, Matthew Pearl, and Matthew Braley are executive producers for the Six West MediaTM group. Jim Pasquarella and Mary E. Donahue serve as executive producers for The HISTORY(R) Channel.
A+E Networks holds worldwide distribution rights for both “The Food That Built America” and “Modern Marvels.”
