Cake Boss

The show follows the operations of Carlo's Bake Shop, an Italian-American family-owned business in Hoboken, New Jersey owned and operated by siblings Buddy Valastro (to whom the series' title refers), Lisa Valastro (Buddy's wife), Maddalena Castano, Grace Faugno and Mary Sciarrone.{{cite journal|last1=Diaz|first1=Lana Rose|title=Brothers & Sisters, Inc.: Hoboken businesses keep it in the family|journal=07030 Hoboken|date=Winter 2012|volume=2|issue=2|pages=16–20|url=http://hoboken.pastperfectonline.com/archive/E2A718FE-B4A4-4F29-A2FD-512969676776}} The show focuses on how they make their edible art cakes and the interpersonal relationships among the various family members and other employees who work at the shop.

File:1.20.10Carlo'sBakeShopByLuigiNovi1.jpg in Hoboken, New Jersey, where the series is filmed.]]

• Bartolo "Buddy" Valastro Jr. (born March 3, 1977){{cite web|title=The Life of Bartolo (Buddy) Valastro Jr. |url=http://www.northjersey.com/arts_entertainment/television/93047634_The__Boss__comes_home.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131213203210/http://www.northjersey.com/arts_entertainment/television/93047634_The__Boss__comes_home.html |archive-date=December 13, 2013}}{{cite web|last1=Pascrell|first1=Bill Jr. |title=Tribute to Mary Tubito Valastro Pinto l'Italico's Italian Community 1997 Woman of the Year|url=http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CREC-1997-04-29/html/CREC-1997-04-29-pt1-PgE772-2.htm|website=GPO.gov|access-date=September 16, 2015}} – The star of the show, who has worked at the bakery since age 17 in 1994.{{cite web|url=http://tlc.howstuffworks.com/tv/cake-boss/about-buddy-valastro.htm|title=Buddy Valastro|publisher=TLC|access-date=December 4, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111208032040/http://tlc.howstuffworks.com/tv/cake-boss/about-buddy-valastro.htm|archive-date=December 8, 2011|url-status=dead}} He is the only son and the youngest child of Bartolo "Buddy" Sr. and Mary Valastro. He grew up in Little Ferry, New Jersey.{{cite web|title=The Cake Boss returns to Little Ferry |url=http://www.northjersey.com/arts_entertainment/television/93047634_The__Boss__comes_home.html |work=Little Ferry Local |quote=Cake Boss Buddy Valastro returned to Little Ferry on April 27 to accept the "keys to the city" during ceremonies at Borough Hall. Valastro, who grew up in town, is best known for his starring role on the TLC television program The Cake Boss. |access-date=August 22, 2012 |date=May 7, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130801033604/http://www.northjersey.com/arts_entertainment/television/93047634_The__Boss__comes_home.html |archive-date=August 1, 2013}} He is married to Elisabetta "Lisa" Valastro (née Belgiovine) with whom he has four children: Sofia, Bartolo "Buddy" III, Marco, and Carlo. In 2012, as a result of the attention that the series brought to Hoboken, New Jersey, the Hudson Reporter named him as an honorable mention in its list of Hudson County's 50 most influential people.Fernández, Adriana Rambay; LaMarca, Stephen; Pope, Gennarose; Smith, Ray; Sullivan, Al; and Wright, E. Assata. "They've Got the Power". The Union City Reporter. January 8, 2012. Pages 1, 4–7 and 10–11. He was inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame in 2017.{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=Buddy Valastro |url=https://njhalloffame.org/2017-inductees/buddy-valastro/ |access-date=2023-12-11 |website=New Jersey Hall of Fame |language=en-US}}
• Mauro Castano (born August 18, 1963){{cite news|last1=Jensen|first1=Tim|title=A Few Minutes With Mauro Castano From "Cake Boss"|url=http://enfield.patch.com/groups/arts-and-entertainment/p/a-few-minutes-with-mauro-castano-from-cake-boss|access-date=June 25, 2014|date=August 4, 2011}} – pastry chef and Buddy's right-hand man. He is married to Buddy's second-oldest sister, Maddalena. He was born in Milan, and left Italy when he was 12. He arrived in the USA on February 15, 1976. His father is from Bernalda, Basilicata and his mother from near Reggio Emilia, Emilia Romagna.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSFmSbyHY80 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211220/NSFmSbyHY80 |archive-date=2021-12-20 |url-status=live|title=Intervista a MAURO CASTANO the CAKEBOSS |publisher=YouTube |date=April 18, 2014 |access-date=July 25, 2017}}{{cbignore}} On September 16, 1989, he had his first date with Maddalena (her father orchestrated all), and in October 1991 they married.
• Joseph "Joey" Faugno (born October 10, 1967){{cite web|title=Twitter / CakeBossGrace|url=https://twitter.com/CakeBossGrace/status/256108204738637824|website=Twitter|access-date=July 5, 2014}} – The shop's head baker. He is married to Buddy's oldest sister, Grace. They have two children: Robert and Bartolina.{{cite web|url=http://tlc.howstuffworks.com/tv/cake-boss/about-joe-faugno.htm|title=Joe Faugno|publisher=TLC|access-date=December 4, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111016053532/http://tlc.howstuffworks.com/tv/cake-boss/about-joe-faugno.htm|archive-date=October 16, 2011|url-status=dead}}
• Frank "Frankie" Amato Jr. (born August 29, 1978){{cite web|title=Frankie Amato Jr.|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3580167/|website=IMDb|access-date=June 27, 2014}} – cake decorator. He is Buddy's second cousin and godfather to his son Marco, with two children of his own.{{cite web|url=http://tlc.howstuffworks.com/tv/cake-boss/about-frank-amato.htm|title=Frank Amato, Jr.|publisher=TLC|access-date=December 4, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111016053504/http://tlc.howstuffworks.com/tv/cake-boss/about-frank-amato.htm|archive-date=October 16, 2011|url-status=dead}}
• Danny Dragone – a multipurpose employee who has worked at the bakery since before Buddy was born. He is a close family friend, and his daughter, Tatiana, works at the bakery. He is nicknamed "the mule" for his versatility.{{cite web|url=http://tlc.howstuffworks.com/tv/cake-boss/about-danny-dragone.htm|title=Danny Dragone|publisher=TLC|access-date=December 4, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120426190422/http://tlc.howstuffworks.com/tv/cake-boss/about-danny-dragone.htm|archive-date=April 26, 2012|url-status=dead}}
• Grace Faugno (née Valastro) – (born June 30, 1966) Buddy's oldest sister. She works the front counter and in later season in the decoration and delivery from special orders. She is married to Joey Faugno, the shop's head baker. They have two children: Robert and Bartolina.
• Maddalena Castano (née Valastro) (born August 15, 1967){{cite web|url=http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CREC-1997-04-29/html/CREC-1997-04-29-pt1-PgE772-2.htm |title=Congressional Record, Volume 143 Issue 53 (Tuesday, April 29, 1997) |publisher=Gpo.gov |access-date=February 14, 2015}} – manages the front counter.{{cite web|title=The Ladies of Carlo's: Maddalena|url=http://blogs.discovery.com/tlc-cake-boss/2011/07/the-ladies-of-carlos-maddalena.html|website=Cake Boss : TLC|access-date=July 5, 2014|archive-date=July 14, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714161746/http://blogs.discovery.com/tlc-cake-boss/2011/07/the-ladies-of-carlos-maddalena.html|url-status=dead}} She is married to Mauro. They have three children: Dominique, Bartolo "Buddy", and Mary.{{cite web|url=http://tlc.howstuffworks.com/tv/cake-boss/about-mauro-castano.htm|title=Mauro Castano|publisher=TLC|access-date=December 4, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120111141727/http://tlc.howstuffworks.com/tv/cake-boss/about-mauro-castano.htm|archive-date=January 11, 2012|url-status=dead}}
• Mary Sciarrone (née Valastro) (born September 30, 1969) – Cake Consultant and Buddy's third-oldest sister. She is married with two children: Joseph and Lucia.{{cite web|url=http://tlc.howstuffworks.com/tv/cake-boss/about-mary-sciarrone.htm|title=Mary Sciarrone|date=February 18, 2010|publisher=TLC|access-date=December 4, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111016053456/http://tlc.howstuffworks.com/tv/cake-boss/about-mary-sciarrone.htm|archive-date=October 16, 2011}} In the fifth-season episode Trash, Twirls & Tough Love ", she was fired because of multiple incidents involving her making inappropriate statements.{{cite episode|title=Stained Glass & A Surprised Danny|episode-link=List of Cake Boss episodes#ep96|series=Cake Boss|network=TLC|date=June 4, 2012|season=5|number=3}} Mary was rehired as a cake consultant a few weeks after being fired. She returned to full-time work at the bakery in the episode "Silly Seuss & Surprise!".{{cite episode|title=Silly Seuss & Surprise!|episode-link=List of Cake Boss episodes#ep103|series=Cake Boss|network=TLC|date=July 2, 2012|season=5|number=10}}
• Lisa Valastro (born December 31, 1974) – Buddy's youngest sister. Manages the storefront and sometimes handles billing. She has three kids Teresa "Tessy" Colegrove, John Colegrove and Isabella Valastro. Early in the show's run she was married to baker Remigio "Remy" Gonzalez, who left the show when he was arrested on sexual assault charges. The birth of their daughter, Isabella, was chronicled in the third-season episode "Mother's Day, Mama and Mom-to-Be."{{Cite web |date=2010-08-10 |title=Cake Boss Recap: It's Mother's Day And Someone Gives Birth |url=https://patch.com/new-jersey/hoboken/cake-boss-recap-its-mothers-day-and-someone-gives-birth |access-date=2023-12-11 |website=Hoboken, NJ Patch |language=en}}
• Elisabetta "Lisa" Valastro (née Belgiovine) (born March 9, 1979) – Buddy's wife. They have four kids, Sofia Valastro, Carlo Valastro, Marco Valastro and Buddy Valastro, III.{{cite news|url=http://www.nj.com/hudson/index.ssf/2011/06/former_cake_boss_assistant_to.html|title=Former 'Cake Boss' assistant Remy Gonzalez to be arraigned on sex charges June 24|publisher=NJ.com|date=June 15, 2011|access-date=August 26, 2013}} Her parents, Gloria Tammacco and Mauro Belgiovine, who are seen in the show, are from Molfetta, Puglia.
• Maurizio Belgiovine – delivery boy and structure builder. He is Buddy's brother-in-law and a graduate of Rutgers Business School.
• Ralph Attanasia III (born September 6, 1984){{cite web|title=Ralph A Attanasia III – Profile|url=http://www.livejournal.com/profile?userid=50218328&t=I|website=LiveJournal.com|access-date=June 27, 2014}} – bakery sculptor.{{cite episode|title=A Golden Opportunity|episode-link=List of Cake Boss episodes#ep110|series=Cake Boss|network=TLC|date=November 26, 2012|season=5|number=17|minutes=09:52}}
• Marissa Lopez – Buddy's intern (winner of Season 2 of Next Great Baker), later becoming manager of Carlo's Bakery's new location in Ridgewood, New Jersey.{{cite episode|title=Seeing Double|episode-link=List of Cake Boss episodes#ep129|series=Cake Boss|network=TLC|date=June 10, 2013|season=6|number=6}}
• Mary Valastro Piccinch – (April 17, 1948 – June 22, 2017) Buddy's mother. A show regular until her 2010 retirement; still appeared on the show on occasion. Announced in 2012 that she was diagnosed with ALS. The family's struggle and reaction was documented in the Season 5 episode, "A Bittersweet Homecoming," on July 23, 2012.{{cite episode|title=A Bittersweet Homecoming|episode-link=List of Cake Boss episodes#ep109|series=Cake Boss|network=TLC|date=July 23, 2012|season=5|number=16}} Mary died on June 22, 2017, after a five-year battle with ALS. Her second husband was Sergio Piccinch.{{Cite news |url=http://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/news/cake-boss-star-buddy-valastros-mom-dies-w489346|title=Buddy Valastro's Mom Dies After Battle With ALS: 'She Is No Longer Suffering'|work=Us Weekly|access-date=June 22, 2017}}
• Remigio "Remy" Gonzalez – Buddy's former left-hand man and the husband of Buddy's sister, Lisa. (They have since divorced.) Remy's first and only child, daughter Isabella, was born on the Cake Boss episode "Mother's Day, Mama and Mom-to-Be." He left the show after being arrested for alleged sexual assault in August 2010. In May 2012 he was sentenced to nine years in state prison after pleading guilty to sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl. It was expected that he would be deported to his home country, Mexico, following his release.{{cite news|url=http://www.nj.com/hobokennow/index.ssf/2011/06/cake_boss_remy_gonzalez_pleads.html | author=Musat, Stephanie | title=Former "Cake Boss" assistant Remy Gonzalez pleads guilty to aggravated sexual assault | date=June 24, 2011 | access-date=September 16, 2015}}{{Cite web |last=Horowitz |first=Ben |date=2012-05-23 |title=Former 'Cake Boss' cast member gets 9 years in prison for sexually assaulting girl |url=https://www.nj.com/news/2012/05/former_cake_boss_cast_member_g.html |access-date=2023-12-11 |website=nj.com |language=}} He was released from prison on April 10, 2018.{{Cite web |title=New Jersey Department of Corrections |url=https://www-doc.state.nj.us/DOC_Inmate/details?x=1474681&n=0 |access-date=2023-12-11 |website=www-doc.state.nj.us}}
• Salvatore "Sal" Picinich (1947{{cite news |url=http://www.nj.com/hobokennow/index.ssf/2011/02/cake_boss_and_family_mourn_los.html | title='Cake Boss' and family mourn loss of 'Employee-of-the-Century' Salvatore Picinich | work=The Jersey Journal | date=February 1, 2011 |access-date=September 16, 2015}} – January 30, 2011[https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=149189611806094&id=303544855606 Buddy Valastro on Facebook, January 31, 2011.] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141205225841/https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=149189611806094&id=303544855606 |date=December 5, 2014 }}{{cite news |url=http://www.northjersey.com/food_dining/013111_Sal_Picinich_Cake_Boss_celebrity_dies_at_63.html | title=Sal Picinich, 'Cake Boss' celebrity, dies at 63 | author=Levin, Jay | work=The Bergen Record | date=January 31, 2011 | access-date=September 16, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306144446/http://www.northjersey.com/obituaries/sal-picinich-cake-boss-celebrity-dies-at-63-1.1162449|archive-date=March 6, 2016}}{{cite news |url=http://www.northjersey.com/obituaries/115162429_Salvatore_Picinich.html | title=Salvatore Picinich | work=The Bergen Record | date=February 3, 2011 | access-date=September 16, 2015}}) worked at the bakery from 1964 and was one of Buddy's most trusted employees. Picinich stopped appearing on the show at the end of 2009, when he began battling cancer, but returned in the summer of 2010 to accept the Employee of the Century Award on the occasion of the bakery's 100th anniversary. He died on January 30, 2011.
• Kevin "Stretch" Krand – a delivery boy who left the shop to continue his education.{{Cite episode|title=Strawberries, Sinatra and Sick Ovens|episode-link=List of Cake Boss episodes#ep46|series=Cake Boss|network=TLC|date=August 23, 2010|season=3|number=15|minutes=18:47|quote=Ever since Stretch left for school, we've been a little light on the delivery staff.}}
• Tony "Tone-Tone" Albanese – Buddy's second intern.{{cite web|url=http://thepastryarch.com/tony-albanese|title=Tony Albanese is The Pastryarch|access-date=May 3, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121028215031/http://thepastryarch.com/tony-albanese/|archive-date=October 28, 2012|url-status=dead}}
• Daniella Storzillo – a sculptor and decorator at Carlo's. She left to work as a real estate sales associate.{{cite web|title=Daniella Storzillo|url=http://homes.hudsonplacerealty.com/idx/agent/6866/daniella-storzillo|website=Hudson Place Realty|access-date=June 27, 2014|archive-date=September 8, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140908052850/http://homes.hudsonplacerealty.com/idx/agent/6866/daniella-storzillo|url-status=dead}}
• Stephanie "Sunshine" Fernandez – top decorator at Carlo's. She was the first female employee who did not work with sales, as stated by Buddy Valastro. She left for an opportunity to finish nursing school nine months earlier.{{Cite episode|title=Space Shuttle, Stepping Up & Surprise!|episode-link=List of Cake Boss episodes#ep69|series=Cake Boss|network=TLC|date=May 30, 2011|season=4|number=14|minutes=21:14|quote=I got an opportunity to be in a program at school that's going to allow [me] to finish nine months earlier... But the thing is that I have to stop working here this May.}} Before leaving to become a nurse, she appeared on the show's spinoff, Next Great Baker, where she was chosen by the season 2 winner, Marissa Lopez, to help her build her American Dream cake.{{Cite episode|title=...And the Winner Is?|episode-link=Next Great Baker season 2#ep19|series=Next Great Baker|network=TLC|date=January 30, 2012|season=2|number=10|minutes=36:05}}
• Dana Herbert – winner of Season 1 of Next Great Baker
• Ashley Holt – winner of Season 3 of Next Great Baker
• Paul Conti – bakery employee (former contestant of Season 3 of Next Great Baker); was only in a couple of episodes because he lost his house and his job due to Hurricane Sandy. He eventually got a job working for a baking supply company.
• Anthony "Cousin Anthony" Bellifemine – baker and former delivery boy,{{cite news|url=http://www.nj.com/hobokennow/index.ssf/2011/12/cousin_anthony_of_cake_boss_fa.html|title='Cousin Anthony' of 'Cake Boss' fame balances careers as DJ, Carlo's Bakery baker|website=NJ.com|date=December 30, 2011|access-date=August 26, 2013}} Bellifemine left unexpectedly at the end of season 6 (Ep. 28: Up, Up and Away).{{cite web|title=CAKE BOSS Finale Shocker: Family Member Quits on Buddy|url=http://tvruckus.com/2014/02/25/cake-boss-finale-shocker-family-member-quits-on-buddy/|website=TVRuckus.com|access-date=September 16, 2015|date=February 25, 2014|quote=This is not kidding around. Anthony decided to leave. Ok? It's official. It's 100%. He decided to move to Florida with his family. On a personal level I'll admit, that hurts a little bit. I treated him like a son and he just basically says, 'I'm leaving'. No explanation, we didn't talk about it. He's just up and left.}}
• Chad Durkin – Bakery employee (former contestant of Season 3 of Next Great Baker, hired by Buddy for his pastry skills (seasons 7–8).

File:1.18.10Carlo'sBakeShopByLuigiNovi.jpg on a busy holiday.]]

The popularity of the show resulted in increased business for Carlo's Bake Shop, and increased tourism to the Hoboken area.{{cite news|last1=Staab|first1=Amanda|title=The 'Cake Boss' effect – Has popular Hoboken reality show boosted business, tourism?|url=http://hudsonreporter.com/view/full_story/8256854/article-The--Cake-Boss--effect-Has-popular-Hoboken-reality-show-boosted-business--tourism---|access-date=September 16, 2015|work=The Union City Reporter|date=July 11, 2010|pages=6, 8|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150930033313/http://hudsonreporter.com/view/full_story/8256854/article-The--Cake-Boss--effect-Has-popular-Hoboken-reality-show-boosted-business--tourism---|archive-date=September 30, 2015|url-status=dead}} Due to the popularity, Carlo's Bake Shop became a tourist attraction, with lines to enter the bakery often extending down the block and around the corner.{{cite news |title=Reality TV's 'Cake Boss' shows off his bakery and his home town, Hoboken, N.J. |first=Andrea |last=Sachs |newspaper=The Washington Post|date=March 14, 2010 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/11/AR2010031104352.html?sid=ST2010031202661 |access-date=January 4, 2010}} In 2010, Hoboken renamed the corner of Washington Street and Newark Street to "Carlo's Bakery Way" in honor of the bakery's centennial.{{cite news |title='Cake Boss' kicking off Carlo's Bakery centennial with Hoboken block party |first=Vicki |last=Hyman |newspaper=The Star Ledger |date=August 6, 2010 |url=http://www.nj.com/entertainment/tv/index.ssf/2010/06/cake_boss_kicking_off_carlos_b.html |access-date=September 6, 2010}}

Season one averaged 2.3 million viewers{{cite news |title='Cake Boss' renewed by TLC |first=Bill |last=Gorman |magazine=TV by the Numbers |date=July 29, 2009 |url=http://tvbythenumbers.com/2009/07/29/cake-boss-renewed-by-tlc/23822 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090731182001/http://tvbythenumbers.com/2009/07/29/cake-boss-renewed-by-tlc/23822 |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 31, 2009 |access-date=May 31, 2010 }} while season two averaged 1.8 million viewers.{{cite news |title='Cake Boss' earns third season |first=Stuart |last=Levine |magazine=Variety |date=January 31, 2010 }} In 2016, a New York Times study of the 50 TV shows with the most Facebook Likes found that Cake Boss{{'}}s "audience is generally not urban; in fact, one hot spot is Appalachia".{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/12/26/upshot/duck-dynasty-vs-modern-family-television-maps.html |title='Duck Dynasty' vs. 'Modern Family': 50 Maps of the U.S. Cultural Divide |last=Katz |first=Josh |date=December 27, 2016 |newspaper=The New York Times}}

On November 2, 2010, Buddy Valastro's book, Cake Boss: Stories and Recipes from Mia Famiglia, which is based on the series, was released. Published by Atria Books (a division of Simon & Schuster) in celebration of the 100th anniversary of Carlo's Bake Shop, the book features the history and stories of Valastro's family and the bake shop, along with recipes.{{cite book|isbn=978-1-4391-8351-9|title=Cake Boss: Stories and Recipes from Mia Famiglia|first=Buddy|last=Valastro|year=2010|publisher=Atria Books / Simon & Schuster|url=https://archive.org/details/cakebossstoriesr0000vala|access-date=September 16, 2015|url-access=registration}}

Valastro's second book, Baking with the Cake Boss: 100 of Buddy's Best Recipes and Decorating Secrets, is a cookbook, also published by Atria Books, released November 1, 2011 and featuring Valastro's cake, pastry and decorating recipes.{{cite book|isbn=978-1-4391-8352-6|title=Baking with the Cake Boss: 100 of Buddy's Best Recipes and Decorating Secrets|first=Buddy|last=Valastro|year=2011|publisher=Simon & Schuster|url=https://www.amazon.com/Baking-Cake-Boss-Recipes-Decorating-ebook/dp/B004T4KXV4/|access-date=September 16, 2015}}

The success of Cake Boss has led to a spin-off competition series hosted by Valastro, Next Great Baker, in which people compete to win a top cash prize, other valuable prizes, and an apprenticeship at Carlo's Bakery. The program's first season was seen on TLC December 6, 2010{{cite web|url=https://www.tvguide.com/News/Cake-Boss-Spinoff-1019881.aspx|title=Cake Boss Gets Competitive with New Spinoff Series|author=Stanhope, Kate|website=TVGuide.com|date=June 24, 2010|access-date=September 16, 2015}} through January 24, 2011, with a second season televised November 28, 2011 to January 30, 2012. The competition's third season premiered on Monday, November 26, 2012.{{cite web|url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2012/11/01/season-three-of-tlcs-next-great-baker-to-premiere-monday-november-26/155724|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121109031307/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2012/11/01/season-three-of-tlcs-next-great-baker-to-premiere-monday-november-26/155724/|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 9, 2012|title=Season Three of TLC's 'Next Great Baker' to Premiere Monday, November 26|work=TV By the Numbers|access-date=November 1, 2012}}

Another spinoff series, Kitchen Boss, debuted on January 25, 2011. It featured Valastro presenting his family's recipes, as well as special guests, including members of his own family.

A backdoor pilot special, Bakery Boss, debuted on May 27, 2013.{{cite web|title=TLC Serves Up a Double Dose of Buddy Valastro|url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news/2013/05/13/tlc-serves-up-a-double-dose-of-buddy-valastro-616213/20130513tlc01/|website=TheFutonCritic.com|access-date=May 27, 2013|date=May 13, 2013}} The special features Valastro traveling to a struggling bakery, Friendly Bake Shop in Frankfort, New York, and helping them reverse their fortunes, using a format similar to Kitchen Nightmares. The program returned to TLC as a series on December 2, 2013,{{cite press release|url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2013/11/21/tlcs-new-series-bakery-boss-premieres-december-2/217412|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131124000421/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2013/11/21/tlcs-new-series-bakery-boss-premieres-december-2/217412/|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 24, 2013|title=TLC's New Series 'Bakery Boss' Premieres December 2|last=Kondolojy |first=Amanda |website=Zap2it|date=November 21, 2013}} and was later renamed Buddy's Bakery Rescue. Buddy's intern, Ashley Holt, served as Culinary Producer for the series. Cake Boss also has a product line that features baking pans and decorating accessories.

In October 2023, it was announced by Valastro that he would host a new television show, Buddy Valastro's Cake Dynasty, airing on A&E. The new series also includes his four children, who Valastro says are now old enough to be a part of the show. The show premiered on November 11, 2023.{{Cite web |title=Buddy Valastro Says His A&E Show Is 'More Real and Raw' Than Cake Boss: 'There's a Couple of F Bombs' (Exclusive) |url=https://people.com/buddy-valastro-says-his-new-ae-show-is-more-real-and-raw-than-cake-boss-exclusive-8398904 |access-date=2023-11-11 |website=Peoplemag |language=en}}{{Cite web |title='Cake Boss' Buddy Valastro returns to TV with two new shows, update on injured hand |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/tv/2023/11/10/cake-boss-buddy-valastro-is-back-with-new-cake-dynasty/71519681007/ |access-date=2023-11-11 |website=USA TODAY |language=en-US}}

{{Main|List of Cake Boss episodes}}

{{:List of Cake Boss episodes}}

In July 2010, Masters Software, Inc., of Cedar Park, Texas, obtained a preliminary injunction forbidding TLC from calling its show "Cake Boss".{{cite web|url=http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local-beat/Cake-Boss-No-More-99338484.html|title=TLC's 'Cake Boss' Could Crumble Under Litigation|publisher=NBC Universal|date=July 27, 2010|access-date=August 28, 2010}} Since 2006, the company has operated the domain name cakeboss.com, and since 2007, it has sold a bakery management program called CakeBoss. The suit claims that Discovery Communications infringes on its trademark by causing confusion among customers and vendors.{{cite web|url=http://docs.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/washington/wawdce/2:2010cv00405/166219/40/0.pdf|title=Masters Software, Inc. v. Discovery Communications, Inc., et al.|publisher=United States Department of Justice|author=Jones, Richard A.|author-link=Richard A. Jones|date=July 16, 2010|access-date=August 28, 2010}} In October 2010, Masters Software and Discovery Communications reached a settlement, the details of which are not public.{{cite web|url=http://www.nj.com/hobokennow/index.ssf/2010/10/cake_boss_will_keep_his_name_s.html|title='Cake Boss' will keep his name, settles 'amicably' with software company|work=The Jersey Journal|author=Colaneri, Katie|date=October 22, 2010|access-date=July 7, 2011}}{{cite web|url=http://law.journalfeeds.com/information-technology/wake-forest-intellectual-property-law-journal/who%E2%80%99s-the-boss-settlement-allows-buddy-valastro-to-continue-to-use-%E2%80%9Ccake-boss%E2%80%9D/20110123/|title=Who's the Boss?: Settlement Allows Buddy Valastro To Continue To Use 'Cake Boss'|website=Law.JournalFeeds.com|author=Mitchell, Tierryicah|date=January 23, 2011|access-date=July 7, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110914000828/http://law.journalfeeds.com/information-technology/wake-forest-intellectual-property-law-journal/who%E2%80%99s-the-boss-settlement-allows-buddy-valastro-to-continue-to-use-%E2%80%9Ccake-boss%E2%80%9D/20110123/|archive-date=September 14, 2011|url-status=dead}}

On June 11, 2012, transgender celebrity Carmen Carrera appeared in a Cake Boss episode, "Bar Mitzvah, Beads and Oh Baby!", in which she unknowingly participated in a prank involving Cousin Anthony, who was set up with a date with Carrera. The punchline of the prank had Buddy tell Anthony that Carrera is transgender. Carrera agreed to participate in the prank on the program in part to promote equality for the transgender community saying, "I'm totally cool with a prank like this, I, you know as long as it's in good fun." Following the airing of the program, Carrera was upset by an interview portion of the program where Buddy said, "And I tell him...that's a man, baby!" Carrera made a statement saying, "I made it VERY clear to the producers on how to use the correct wording before agreeing to filming this but instead they chose to poke fun and be disrespectful. That's not what I'm about! ... I may not have been born a woman, but I'm NOT a man... After taking this journey it's not fair at all to be lied to by the producers." Buddy Valastro apologized for the incident, saying, "I owe an apology to the entire LGBT community. It was absolutely not my intention to upset or offend her, or anyone within the community, and I was wrong to use the words I did. I am a supporter of gay rights and equality, and while I regret this situation and my choice of words, I am thankful to have received this feedback and the opportunity to learn from this mistake. I hope that Carmen accepts my sincere regrets."{{cite web|last1=Burra|first1=Kevin|title='Cake Boss' Features Carmen Carrera, Transgender Star Claims She Was Butt of Transphobic Joke|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/12/cake-boss-carmen-carrera-transphobic-joke_n_1591366.html|work=The Huffington Post|access-date=September 16, 2015|date=June 12, 2012}} The following day, on June 12, 2012, TLC announced that "Bar Mitzvah, Beads and Oh Baby!" had been pulled from rotation indefinitely, with plans to re-edit the episode.{{cite web|last1=Kane|first1=Matt|title=TLC Pulls Cake Boss Episode After Carmen Carrera and Her Supporters Speak Out|url=http://www.glaad.org/blog/tlc-pulls-cake-boss-episode-after-carmen-carrera-and-her-supporters-speak-out|website=GLAAD.org|access-date=September 16, 2015|date=June 13, 2012|archive-date=August 15, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170815103726/https://www.glaad.org/blog/tlc-pulls-cake-boss-episode-after-carmen-carrera-and-her-supporters-speak-out|url-status=dead}} The episode has since re-aired on July 23, 2012, but with the offending scene re-edited.

Comedian Paul F. Tompkins plays a parody of Cake Boss host Buddy Valastro on the Comedy Bang Bang podcast and IFC TV show.{{cite web|author=Zeitlinger, Ron |publisher=The Jersey Journal |url=http://www.nj.com/hudson/index.ssf/2013/08/cake_boss_fake_boss_doesnt_like_people_who_like_pie_more_than_cake_video.html |title=Cake Boss 'Fake Boss' doesn't like people who like pie more than cake: video |website=NJ.com |date=August 12, 2013 |access-date=July 25, 2017}}

• Ace of Cakes – similar program on Food Network
• Food Network Challenge – series where Buddy Valastro was a frequent contestant
• Batalha dos Confeiteiros – Brazilian series where Buddy Valastro is host

{{Reflist|30em}}

{{Commons category}}

• {{Official website|http://tlc.discovery.com/tv/cake-boss/cake-boss.html}}
• {{IMDb title|id=1444382|title=Cake Boss}}
• [http://www.carlosbakery.com/ Carlo's Bake Shop official website]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20100726170050/http://tlc.discovery.com/tv/cake-boss/season-1-episodes.html Season 1 Episode Guide from Official site at TLC]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20100818182900/http://tlc.discovery.com/tv/cake-boss/season-2-episodes.html Season 2 Episode Guide from Official site at TLC — omitted correct Episode 7 "Pizza, Poochies & Pop-in-Law"?]

{{Discovery Family programs}}

{{Former TLC Programming}}

Category:2000s American cooking television series

Category:2009 American television series debuts

Category:2010s American cooking television series

Category:2020s American cooking television series

Category:2020 American television series endings

Category:American television series revived after cancellation

Category:Discovery Family original programming

Category:American English-language television shows

Category:Works about cakes

Category:TLC (TV network) original programming

Category:Television series about chefs

Category:Television shows filmed in New Jersey

Category:Television shows set in New Jersey