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When Michael Symon was offered the gig to host popular cable television series "Dinner: Impossible," viewers knew that the winner of "Food Network's Next Iron Chef" was taking over for a disgraced chef.
What they didn't know was that Symon would be a temporary replacement. Food Network officials announced that former series host Robert Irvine will be returning to "Dinner Impossible." Irvine has been rehired to film six new episodes for the series, to be aired sometime
in March 2009.
A resume apparently laced with a variety of exaggerations and false assertions led to Irvine's removal by the network as series host. In an article published last February in the St. Petersburg (Fla.) Times, reporter Ben Montgomery refuted various Irvine claims - among them, that he helped bake the cake for the fairytale wedding of Prince Charles and Princess Diana, held the title of Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order and that his friend, Queen Elizabeth II, had given him a castle.In a statement to the media, a Food Network spokeswoman explained what led to Irvine's return to the show.
"Our audience has continued to demonstrate its interest in and support for Robert," said network spokeswoman Carrie Welch. "He has taken responsibility and made a conscious effort to clear the air, rebuild the relationship with Food Network and apologize for the earlier inaccuracies."
Symon said that he knew from the start that his assignment would be temporary. In a telephone interview from Anguilla, where he is attending the wedding of his agent Scott Feldman, Symon explained that the terms of his agreement required that he not reveal the duration of his contract for the show.
"Right from the get-go, we knew Robert was probably going to come back and do the show - but we couldn't say that," Symon said. "There was a lot going on with him that he needed to clear up. They [Food Network] told me, 'You're the only one who can do it, keep up that level.' "
"We didn't 'lose' [the show]," Symon added. "I knew going in that there was a 95 percent chance that he'd be coming back. We really want to keep this brand alive. So we came in, rocked out the 10 shows, and moved on."
He believes his future with Food Network is secure, he adds.
"I'll have parts on 'The Next Food Network Star' this coming year, and the year after that they're doing another run of 'Next Iron Chef' and I'll play a major part in that," Symon said.
"And then we're working on the next series."
By "next series," Symon means one of at least two concepts he says Food Network is currently developing for him, adding he isn't at liberty to project exactly what form a new show will take.
"It will be a show that's very reflective of me," he said. " 'Dinner: Impossible' was a show created for Robert. Personally, I would love to do a show that highlights farmers a bit, cooks with them and shows what they produce and all that they do - not necessarily a behind-the-counter cooking show show. Something of that ilk."
Thus far, Symon said that his agreement with the network is oral, not contractual.
"Food Network has been so good with me, I have no doubts about their words. And the way they've dealt with Robert's situation says a ton about the network, and the people who run it. He got into some hot water, they gave him some time clear it up, and didn't hang him out to dry. They've always treated me the same way.
"I'm not disappointed at all. We're thrilled with the show we did."
Michael Symon talked to cleveland.com's Denise Polverine at last week's Fabulous Food Show. Near the end of the interview, he talked about "Dinner: Impossible" -- before it was revealed he would soon be off the show.