Casting Call

Food Network and Spike TV talent search: Austin chefs and tattoo artists wanted for hit shows

Calling all experienced chefs and tattoo artists: Food Network and Spike TV are looking for Austin talent to star in the hit reality shows Food Network Star and Ink Masters.

Food Network will head to Austin on November 8 in search of local chefs with "creative and unique food perspective[s]" who want to compete on Food Network Star for their very own cooking series.

The casting call will be held at the Hilton Garden Inn downtown from 10 am - 1 pm; interested talent should bring a photo, a resume and whatever you think it takes to be a star, of course. Those that can't make it to the casting call can submit a video audition until November 25.

If you're a master of ink and needle rather than spoon and spatula, Spike TV will host an open casting call for Ink Masters for local tattoo experts the following day.

Tattoo artists can attend the casting call at the Hilton Garden Inn on November 9 from 10 am - 1 pm or submit a three-minute video on the Spike TV website by December 12. Artists with the right skills and attitude will compete on the show for $100,000 cash and big bragging rights. Love ink? Spike TV is also seeking "Human Canvases" to get tattooed on the show.

In addition, Food Network is holding online casting calls for shows such as Beat Bobby Flay and Chopped. Peruse the entire list of online casting calls here — your 15 minutes of fame awaits.

The Food Network will be hosting an open casting call here in Austin looking for the next Food Network Star.

Courtesy of Food Network

The Food Network will be hosting an open casting call here in Austin looking for the next Food Network Star.

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Meet at the Moontower

John Waters, Aziz Ansari among added headliners for 2025 Moontower fest

Photo by Greg Gorman

John Waters is one of the longest-reigning comedy greats attending the festival.

Austin's main annual dose of comedy has been prescribed: Moontower Comedy Festival is returning April 9-19, and just the first wave of talent includes more than 100 performers across 10 venues. Now a second wave of talent has been announced for the festival's 13th year.

Attendees will see shows and stand-up showcases, live podcasts, sketch comedy, musical comedy, and more. There are also parties and other special events tying everything together.

New headliners in the second wave include:

Aziz Ansari, creator of the series Master of None and actor behind the whimsical, sometimes whiny Parks and Recreation character Tom Haverford.
Pete Holmes, star of HBO's Crashing and host of the You Made It Weird podcast, who is specifically bringing his Feelin' It Tour to Moontower.
Hank Azaria, the voice behind Simpsons characters like Moe Szyslak, Chief Wiggum, Superintendent Chalmers, and who will be playing with his EZ Street Band.
John Waters, known lovingly as the "Pope of Trash," having directed movies like Pink Flamingos and Hairspray. He's bringing a new show for his Moontower debut.
Tiffany Haddish, author of The Last Black Unicorn, known for standup comedy, and a breakout role in Girls Trip.
Zarna Garg, known for addressing the Indian diaspora as a self-proclaimed "overbearing Indian auntie," who is bringing her Practical People Win tour.

A bit more insight on some of the headliners:

Adam Ray parodies (and dresses up as) the famous talk show host Dr. Phil on Dr. Phil Live. He also interviews celebrity guests and uses audience interaction to get the crowd going.
Handsome Pod Livefeatures Tig Notaro, Fortune Feimster, and Mae Martin — all big-name comedians in their own rights — and answer questions from friends about really any topic imaginable.
Atsuko Okatsuka's HBO special The Intruder has been lauded by The New York Times as the Best Debut of 2022, the same year she was named one of Variety's Top 10 Comics to Watch.
Joey “Coco” Diaz, bestselling author of Tremendous: The Life of a Comedy Savage, brings his storytelling skills to the stage.

Although there are tons of very famous performers on the lineup, there's also local talent: a press release lists Liza Splatt, Andrew Murphy, Ashley Sharma, Avery Moore, Brett VerVoort, Chris Tellez, Colton Dowling, Danny Goodwin, Doug Mellard, Dylan Carlino, Genivive Clinton, "and many more."

Badges (starting at $150) are available now at moontowercomedyfest.com. A promotion called the Bestie Badge offers $25 off of every badge to those who buy two or more. Badges can also be purchased at the Paramount Theatre box office or by calling (512) 474-1221. Like any festival lineup, this one is subject to change.