This June, VIVA premieres Season 2 of the original series Fearless in the Kitchen hosted by Christine Cushing. Also, Sunday night films are all based on true stories this month, including the premiere of The Great Debaters, an inspiring film starring Oscar®-winner Denzel Washington, and the CIA thriller The Good Shepherd starring Oscar-winners Matt Damon, Robert De Niro and Angelina Jolie.
FEARLESS IN THE KITCHEN – SEASON 2 PREMIERE
Produced by Fusion Television in association with VIVA, Season 2 of Fearless in the Kitchen returns for 13 new half-hour episodes this June as celebrity chef Christine Cushing transforms individuals who are hopeless in the kitchen through a series of culinary challenges with a light-hearted approach. In the end, the once hapless cook must put their new-found skills to the test and face their ultimate fear – preparing an edible meal for their toughest critics – their no-holds-barred family and friends. Cushing will coach and encourage the participants – who this season include Toronto’s 102.1 the Edge on-air personality Todd Shapiro from The Dean Blundell Show, and the host of W Network’s How to Look Good Naked Canada – as they work to become confident cooks.
In the first episode of the season, premiering Saturday, June 5 at 7:30 p.m. ET, viewers are introduced to the loveable but hapless Max, whose idea of gourmet cooking is adding ground beef to a box of macaroni and cheese. In order to help him prove to his kitchen whiz fiancée that he can hold his own in the kitchen, Christine teaches Max how to make a homemade version of his boxed staple for his kids. Later, he must impress hungry Valentine’s Day diners at a fancy restaurant before facing his ultimate challenge – cooking a tex-mex feast for his skeptical family and picky kids.
THE CLOSER
Viewers who missed it the first time around can catch this critically acclaimed series from the beginning, when Season 1 of The Closer premieres Tuesday, June 15 at 9 p.m. on VIVA, airing every Monday-Thursday at 9 p.m. Starring Golden Globe® winner Kyra Sedgwick as Deputy Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson, who uses her CIA training to close high profile cases, extracting confessions when nobody else can. Sedgwick’s steel-fist-in-velvet-glove portrayal of the tough-talking cop won her the Golden Globe® for best actress in a drama series as well as Screen Actors Guild and Emmy® nominations in the same category.
HISTORICAL HEARSAY SUNDAY MOVIES
Sunday night movies in June focus on past events that shook up and shaped the world.
Norma Rae (1979) airs Sunday, June 6 at 6:30 p.m.
The Great Debaters (2008) premieres Sunday, June 6 at 9 p.m.
The Hours (2002) premieres Sunday, June 13 at 6:30 p.m.
Breach (2007) airs Sunday, June 13 at 9 p.m.
The Cat’s Meow (2002) premieres Sunday, June 20 at 6:30 p.m.
The Good Shepherd (2006) airs Sunday, June 20 at 9 p.m.
Shakespeare in Love (1998) airs Sunday, June 27 at 6 p.m.
The White Countess (2005) premieres Sunday, June 27 at 9 p.m.
FRIDAY NIGHT MOVIE OF THE WEEK
This June, VIVA’s Friday night movies range from mysterious to romantic.
Northanger Abbey (2006) airs Friday, June 4 at 8 p.m.
Wicked Minds (2002) airs Friday, June 11 at 8 p.m.
Mansfield Park (2007) airs Friday, June 18 at 8 p.m.
Deception (2003) airs Friday, June 25 at 8 p.m.
All times ET.
