Renewals round-up: “Layover,” “Fish Tank Kings,” “Still Standing”

September 28, 2012 by Kelly Anderson

The Layover

U.S. cable networks are renewing their investments in fish tanks, food paradises, secretly pregnant women, and more, while multiple territories have re-upped Still Standing.

In the U.S., Travel Channel will air a second season of The Layover with Anthony Bourdain (pictured), from Zero Point Zero. The series will see Anthony Bourdain visiting Chicago, Atlanta, Dublin, New Orleans, Paris, Philadelphia, Sao Paolo, Seattle, Taipei and Toronto. In each location, he has a limited amount of time to experience its cuisine, explore cultures, and mingle with locals.

Season two’s hour-long episode, which visits Chicago, airs on November 19 at 9 p.m. EST/PST.

In addition, the network will release a new version of the “Travel Channel Layover Guide with Anthony Bourdain” iPad and iPhone app, to coincide with the second season launch, which will feature all the cities from season two added to the app.

Travel Channel is also bringing back Food Paradise, set to broadcast on October 3 at 10 p.m. EST/PST, with an episode named “Bacon Paradise 2: Another Slab!” The series compiles all the must-see spots across the country to have a one-of-a-kind dining experience.

Over at Nat Geo WILD, Fish Tank Kings will return for a second season in 2013.

Produced by Sharp Entertainment, the series follows the Florida-based aquarium specialists at Living Color. The second season will boast even more exotic fish, drama and extreme fish tank builds.

Discovery Channel in the U.S. will premiere the second season of Alaska: The Last Frontier on October 2 at 9 p.m. EST/PST, following the Kilcher family as they survive the brutal Alaskan winters. The series is produced by Discovery Studios.

On Discovery Channel’s sister network, Discovery Fit & Health, season two of Secretly Pregnant from Gigantic! Productions will premiere on October 11 at 10 p.m. EST/PST.

Each episode of the series features two women who are hiding a pregnancy, and delves into their stories for doing so, from fearing rejection to severe health implications.

Meanwhile, Project Runway spin-off Project Runway All Stars will return for a second outing on Lifetime, with a new host, supermodel Carolyn Murphy, and an airdate of October 25 at 9 p.m. EST/PST.

Thirteen designers from past seasons of Project Runway have another shot at being the winning designer in this Bunim/Murray Productions series.

Judges Isaac Mizrahi and Georgina Chapman and mentor Joanna Coles return to the series, along with new guest judges, including Katie Holmes, Kylie Minogue, Diane von Furstenberg, Jason Wu, Margherita Missoni, Charlotte Ronson, Rafe Totengco and Elie Tahari. There will also be appearances from Karl Lagerfeld and the House of Valentino.

Designers for the season include Wendy Pepper, Andrae Gonzalo, Kayne Gillaspie, Uli Herzner, Suede (not to be confused with the UK band of the same name), Althea Harper, Emilio Sosa, Peach Carr, Casanova, Ivy Higa, Anthony Ryan Auld, Laura Kathleen and Joshua McKinley.

International game show format Still Standing has also racked up a number of renewals in various territories, including a third season for Hungary’s M1, to be produced by Show & Game.

The Armoza Formats title, which was created by July-August Productions, will also see a second season in China, on broadcaster Jiangsu, which has ordered 26 episodes to run immediately after the final broadcast of season one.

Still Standing will also have a season two in Brazil, on Bandeirantes. The new season will feature 34 episodes.

Tags: Alaska: The Last Frontier, Discovery Channel, Discovery Fit & Health, Fish Tank Kings, Food Paradise, Nat Geo Wild, Project Runway All Stars, Renewals round-up, Secretly Pregnant, Still Standing, The Layover with Anthony Bourdain, Travel Channel