Playing with Fire (TV series)

Playing with Fire
Anna Boiardi, Candice Kumai, Derek Koch, Julie Elkind, Daniel Koch (from left)
Genre	Documentary
Starring	Anna Boiardi Candice Kumai Daniel Koch Derek Koch Julie Elkind
Country of origin	United States
No. of seasons	1
No. of episodes	6
Production
Executive producer(s)	Bruce David Klein Joseph Eardly Lorri Leighton
Running time	40 to 43 minutes
Production company(s)	Atlas Media Corporation
Release
Original network	E!
Picture format	480i (SDTV) 1080i (HDTV)
Original release	March 17 – April 26, 2013
External links
Website
Production website

Playing with Fire is an American reality documentary television series on E! and premiered on March 17, 2013.^[1][2]

Premise

The series chronicles the personal and professional lives of five chefs, stars and taste-makers who have risen to the top of New York's culinary world.^[3][4][5]

Cast

Main

• Anna Boiardi — Boiardi is an Italian-born, New York socialite. She is the great niece of the founder of Chef Boyardee, her father being the nephew of the Chef. Within the series, Boiardi's new business venture which brings traditional Italian cuisine to today's modern kitchens is shown plus her home life as being a wife and a mother.^[6]
• Candice Kumai — Kumai participated in the first season of Top Chef, sat on the judging panel of Iron Chef America and hosted Cook Yourself Thin.^[6]
• Daniel and Derek Koch — The Koch brothers' first career choice was modeling until the duo opened their boutique and hospitality company, Dual Groupe. They also own restaurant-and-nightclub TOY, French-inspired restaurant Chateau Cherbuliez and are known for their Day & Night brunch parties.^[6][7][8]
• Julie Elkind —Elkind is a pastry chef and an accomplished kick-boxer who was voted to onto Zagat's list of 30 Under 30 Hot Chefs in New York in April 2012.^[9] Her struggle to find her biological mother and taking her relationship with her boyfriend, Kyle, are shown in the series.^[5]

Guest Appearances

• Jennifer Esposito —Esposito was diagnosed with Celiac disease five years ago, she is shown as she opens her gluten-free bakery, Jennifer’s Way, and partners with Anna Boiardi to instruct a cooking class featuring gluten-free Italian meals.^[10][11] Despite the series even starting, E! is working with Esposito to possibly have her own spin-off series which documents the day-to-day operations at her bakery now that it's open.^[12]
• Todd English^[2]

Episodes

No.	Title	Original air date	U.S. viewers (millions)
1	"I Come First, You Come Second"	March 17, 2013	0.35[13]
2	"If We Lose This Restaurant, You Lose Me"	March 24, 2013	0.36[14]
3	"I Only Use Half of My Brain Half of the Time"	April 5, 2013	0.13[15]
Note: First episode to air at the series' new time slot on Fridays at 8:00 PM ET/PT.[16]
4	"Keep Your D... in Your Pants"	April 12, 2013	0.17[17]
5	"Give It Up for the Loser!"	April 19, 2013	0.05[18]
6	"Three's a Crowd"	April 26, 2013	0.13[19]

References

1. Bibel, Sara (March 6, 2013). "'Playing With Fire' to Premiere Sunday, March 17 on E!". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved March 17, 2013.
2. "E! Turns Up the Heat on New York's Culinary Scene When "Playing with Fire" Debuts Sunday, March 17 at 10:00PM ET/PT". The Futon Critic. March 6, 2013. Retrieved March 17, 2013.
3. O'Connell, Michael (January 7, 2013). "E! Orders Ryan Lochte Reality Series, Culinary Foray 'Playing With Fire'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved March 17, 2013.
4. Bibel, Sara (January 7, 2013). "New E! Reality Series 'Playing With Fire' Features Stars of New York's Culinary World". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved March 17, 2013.
5. "E! Serves Up New Series "Playing with Fire" Going Inside the Spicy Professional and Personal Lives of The Chefs, Stars and Tastemakers Who Make Up New Year's Culinary World". The Futon Critic. January 7, 2013. Retrieved March 17, 2013.
6. "Meet the Cast of E!'s Playing with Fire". TV Guide. Retrieved March 17, 2013.
7. Montini, Madelina (February 7, 2011). "Derek & Daniel Koch's "Day & Night" Brunch Makes Vanity Fair". Joonbug. Retrieved March 17, 2013.
8. Vilensky, Mike (June 4, 2012). "Meatpacking District Gets New Playground". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved March 17, 2013.
9. Squires, Kathleen (April 23, 2012). "30 Under 30: NYC's Hottest Up-and-Comers". Zagat. Retrieved March 17, 2013.
10. Lee, Ashley (March 12, 2013). "Jennifer Esposito Talks Post-'Blue Bloods' Career as a Gluten-Free Baker". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved March 17, 2013.
11. Adams, Jefferson (November 9, 2012). "Actress Jennifer Esposito Emerging as Advocate for Celiac Disease Awareness". Celiac.com. Retrieved March 17, 2013.
12. Andreeva, Nellie (March 12, 2013). "Jennifer Esposito To Topline E! Reality Pilot". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved March 17, 2013.
13. "Sunday's Cable Ratings: "The Walking Dead" Leads Demos, "The Bible" Tops Viewers". The Futon Critic. March 20, 2013.
14. "Sunday's Cable Ratings: "Walking Dead" Dominates Demos, Edges "Bible" in Viewers". The Futon Critic. March 26, 2013.
15. "Friday's Cable Ratings: Disney Originals Lead Viewers, "Smackdown" Tops Demos". The Futon Critic. April 8, 2013.
16. "A Brand New Episode of E!'s Reality Series "Playing with Fire" Sizzles on Friday Nights at 8:00 PM ET/PT". The Futon Critic. April 4, 2013.
17. "Friday's Cable Ratings: "WWE Smackdown," "Spartacus" Finale Top Originals". The Futon Critic. April 15, 2013.
18. "Friday's Cable Ratings: "Sons of Guns," "WWE Smackdown" Top Demos". The Futon Critic. April 22, 2013.
19. "Friday's Cable Ratings: ESPN Tops Charts with NBA Playoffs, NFL Draft". The Futon Critic. April 29, 2013.