A Heaping Helping of America.
Published: July 30, 2017
By: Carol Muse Evans
The family entertainment network INSP has renewed Birmingham native Taylor Hicks’ popular TV show, “State Plate,” and released the states to be included in late 2017 shows, according to Doug Butts, senior vice president of programming at INSP.
If you haven’t seen “State Plate,” you are missing a fun and educational treat with the lovable host Taylor Hicks, former “American Idol” winner and platinum-selling entertainer. In each episode, Hicks takes viewers on a culinary tour of a particular state, choosing items that are iconic to the region and the state, explaining how the food is grown or made, often demonstrating and of course, sampling.
He visits farms, ranches, markets, festivals and other locales to uncover stories and legends behind unique food traditions to that particular state. Why is Georgia known for peaches? Wisconsin for cheese? Alabama for peanuts? You’ll find some expected items, and some unexpected ones, and Hicks shows you and tastes every item for you.
“This is my first true hosting job,” Hicks says. “I’ve been in and out of TV, but this is a regular gig, and it’s educational for me and the viewer.” Each episode is a half-hour long and includes an appetizer, entrée, two sides and a dessert.
“While it is a TV show,” Hicks adds, “it is also being packaged as an educational liberal arts program. I’ve really learned to respect the small amount of farmers who hold up the food supply in our country. They truly do put a lot of this food on the tables across the county, and we have to take care of the farmers who give us the foods we love.”
Currently, you can view “State Plate” in Alabama Fridays at 6 p.m. On Spectrum, it is channel 252 or 74; on Dish Network, 259; on Direct TV 364 and AT&T 564, but this is subject to change. Check out the website to be certain of the time and channel in your area, and even view past episodes online at http://www.insp.com/shows/state-plate/ or visit http://www.stateplatetv.com.
The show was a Cynopsis TV Awards winner for 2017 Best Reality Series (Travel). The show is Parents Television Council approved.
Coming in the 2017 season of the show is Alabama, Mississippi, New York, South Dakota, and eight more states. And for Hicks fans, he has a new album coming out soon and will be touring again. Learn more about it at http://www.taylorhicks.com. He also is slated to perform August 26 at the Oxford Performing Arts Center in Oxford, Alabama.
Carol Muse Evans is publisher of Birmingham Parent and loves “State Plate.”