Food Network splits with Diners, Drive-ins and Dives producer

Breaking news: According to a lawsuit filed on Friday 5/13/11, with the U.S. District Court, District of Minnesota, David Page, producer of Diners, Drive-ins and Dives, alleges that the Food Network is failing "to provide the services of [Guy Fieri] and failing to make payments required by the Contract."

The suit further states that The Food Network would not comply with its contractual obligations and would not allow Page to produce the Series after Season 12, airing now.

According to bizjournals.com, "Page Productions said in its lawsuit that the Food Network signed on for 39 more episodes over three seasons in 2007 and agreed to retain and pay host Guy Fieri separately from the show's budget."

Click here for more.

We'll update this post as more information becomes available.

*Updates*
6/6/11 [Food Network] shall have to and including July 5, 2011 to answer or otherwise respond to [Page Production's] Complaint ... Signed by Magistrate Judge Janie S. Mayeron (source)

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Pending a Food Network response to the lawsuit (required by June 8, 2011), previously scheduled premiere episodes of Diners, Drive-ins and Dives are on hold after May 23, 2011, replaced by rerun episodes. See Foodnetwork.com's schedules:
Monday, May 30, 2011
Monday, June 6
Monday, June 13

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"Food Network has not yet responded to the federal lawsuit in court, but said in a statement that it looks 'forward to continuing to work with Guy Fieri to produce future original episodes of his popular show Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.'"

Read more: Food Network: Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives to continue without Plymouth creator | Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal

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According to Guy Fieri's publicist, "This is a legal matter between Food Network & Page Productions, and Guy has no comment."

Executive Producer David Page said the production company has cut staff and turned to litigation "as a last resort."

To read the legal complaint and jury demand, click here.

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8/30/11 - David Page responds to suit and counter suit. StarTribune.com.

And, Page puts the '67 Camaro up for auction. Bidding ends Nov. 5, 2011. Click here for more.

9/2/11 - Page Productions' message to Fans of Triple D. Click here to read.

Related Posts:
Interview with David Page, 2009
Food Network Local, map of featured restaurants
190 Diners, Drive-ins and Dives ... and counting ....

*5/21/11 Updated title of post, previously "Food Network may cancel Diners, Drive-ins and Dives"

Unrelated, although absent from NBC's recently announced Fall line-up, we have not been notified that "Minute to Win It" has been canceled. At the time of this writing, M2WI is neither cancelled nor renewed, yet.