Although Guy Fieri was a successful restaurateur with television experience, he initially had no interest in appearing on the Food Network. Friends had to convince Fieri to send in a tape for the “Food Network Star” reality show in 2006, which searched for the network’s next host. “And so I delay it enough so that the expiration of entering it happens,” he recalled about his audition tape on “The Moment” podcast (via Foodbeast). Fieri even tried to sabotage his own audition by being over-the-top. “I was trying to make it so that nobody would actually take it,” he said.
When reminiscing on “Today” in 2021, Fieri joked that he still believed his friends only wanted to see him get on TV to fail. The “Guy’s Grocery Games” host had no expectations. “Never anticipated at all ever, ever, ever, ever that I was gonna win this thing, he told the talk show. Fieri went on to win Season 2 of “Food Network Star,” which catapulted his career.
Once he was given a shot by the Food Network, Fieri decided he owed it to both himself and his family to work exceptionally hard. “When I did win I thought, ‘Wow, if I’m gonna get this opportunity I shouldn’t squander it,'” he told “Today.” Fieri was able to parlay that reality show win into immense success. “I say, ‘I dream big. I couldn’t have ever dreamed this big,'” he said. Later, he was able to return the favor to other would-be restaurateurs.
Nicki
