In a recent at-home accident, “Cake Boss” Buddy Valastro of Carlo’s Bakery impaled his right hand and was rushed into emergency surgery. Following multiple surgeries, Valastro is on the road to recovery with physical therapy and returning to his job.
That struggle will be documented in a new holiday special on TLC. The network’s two-hour special following Valastro’s road to recovery will premiere on Wednesday, December 23 at 9 pm ET, looking at the dramatic events as they transpired in real time with footage captured immediately after the incident.
“Buddy is like family to all of us at TLC, so we are thrilled and relieved for him that he is on the road to recovery following his accident,” says Howard Lee, president and general manager, TLC. “Knowing Buddy’s determination and spirit, it’s no surprise that he would give it his all in the hopes of returning back to normal. We are proud to document his journey as part of this special.”
In addition to that special, Valastro will appear in a new Christmas-themed competition on Food Network. He’ll go head-to-head with the greatest non-cake artists on Buddy vs. Christmas, premiering on Sunday, November 22 at 10 pm ET.
In four episodes this holiday season, Valastro and his team of bakers go up against an award-winning scenic designer, a glassblower, an animatronics expert and a Lego builder. With only 24 hours to capture the spirit of the holidays with their creations, the one that rises to the top with their elaborate design will be crowned winner. The series was filmed before Valastro’s accident, so these were some of the last cakes he constructed.
“As the Cake Boss, Buddy has mastered the creation of gigantic, life-sized, and incredibly realistic cakes,” says Courtney White, president, Food Network. “Now, viewers will be captivated as he takes on his most difficult challenge yet by competing against master builders and expert crafters – it’s cake creations vs. real build designs on Buddy vs. Christmas. Audiences will be stunned by the remarkable Christmas designs in each episode, with all their spectacular details and special effects, making each one more impressive than the last.”