The Pizza Show - Episode Guide

The inaugural episode of 'The Pizza Show' kicks off in Brooklyn. Our host Frank Pinello, a born and bred Brooklynite, remembers the importance of his neighborhood pizzeria growing up. We start at Roberta's in Bushwick, a pizzeria that has truly changed an entire neighborhood. Then we spend some time with Mark Iacono, owner of Lucali in Carroll Gardens, who built his restaurant by hand and is working tirelessly to preserve the tradition of his neighborhood through pizza. And what would any pizza show be without visiting the king: Dom DeMarco of Di Fara in Midwood? Dom is a legend, and even when great pizzaiolos visit him, like Frank and Mark, they can end up questioning their own pies.

This episode is not about pizza. It's about Apizza. There's a difference.

Welcome to New Haven, a city that has some of the best pizza around. Frank Pinello, our host, has never been to New Haven and the best way to learn about the city is by eating. Frank hangs out with Gary Bimonte, co-owner of legendary pizzeria Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana, spends time with the owners of Zuppardi's, and meets some true new haven legends. This is a special town with incredible people and pizza to match.

From deep dish to tavern style thin, there are no hard and fast rules when it comes to Chicago pizza. Frank is here to show us the ins and outs of Chicago pizza and introduce us to the people who help make it what it is today.

In this episode of The Pizza Show is dedicated to three of the most special slices around: the Grandma, the Jersey Bar Pie, and the Cold Cheese slice.

New York is the birthplace of many things, but for today's purposes, we're sticking to pizza. Frank starts with a quick history lesson from Scott Wiener, the owner of Scott's Pizza Tours. Then, we hit the streets to see and taste the history for ourselves. The best thing about the city's pizza scene is that it's relatively young, so you can still eat slices from the ovens of the people that started it all and put New York pizza on the map.

We meet the granddaughters of the man that literally brought pizza over from Naples, and even see the ovens that he used. Then, we hit all the best slices from Greenwich Village to Soho, and finish in Brooklyn at Luigi's Pizza, a place untouched by time.

A lot of pizzerias might be mom and pop businesses, but the reality is that the pizza industry is valued at over $38 billion in the US alone. Most people know about the "big four"—Pizza Hut, Domino's, Papa John's, and Little Caesars—but in this episode, we explore some new frontiers of the pizza business. We begin in Silicon Valley at Zume Pizza, a company using robots and trucks outfitted with ovens to revolutionize delivery pizza.

Then, we're off to one of the fastest-growing international markets, South Korea, to see our host Frank Pinello collaborate on a New York -style pie with Mr. Pizza, one of the largest pizza chains based out of Seoul. (There might also be a professional "pizza dancing" team in this one.)

There's no better way to kick off Season 2 of the Pizza Show than at the International Pizza Expo, the world's largest pizza convention which takes place in Las Vegas. From epic pizza ovens to acrobatic dough-tossing, you will literally find everything related to pizza under one roof at this event. It's our host Frank Pinello's first time at the International Pizza Expo, and he's not just an attendee—he's a speaker. Frank is determined to experience all that International Pizza Expo has to offer. He'll meet with legendary Neapolitan oven-builder Stefano Ferrara, his longtime tomato supplier, Stanislaus; get a tour of the show floor from Show Director, Bill Oakley; and spend time with 12-time Pizza World Champion Tony Gemignani. Some people go to Vegas to gamble, but we go for the pizza.

Los Angeles might not be known as a pizza city, but our host Frank Pinello is ready to show you why it should be. The West Coast doesn't have a set of pizza "rules" as strict as New York's, so their freedom to experiment with toppings and style translates into delicious and unique pizza. From BBQ chicken pizza at California Pizza Kitchen to smoked salmon pizza at Spago, California pizza is all about the toppings. Los Angeles' food scene is diverse and delicious—and so is its pizza.

You've seen our host Frank Pinello visit pizzerias all across the country—now it's time to get to know Frank and his own pizzeria, Best Pizza, in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

Frank Pinello brings his pizza to Danny Meyer's Roman-style pizzeria Marta for a night of pizza dueling. Frank makes some of his classics from Best Pizza while Marta executive chef Joe Tarasco cooks up their signature Roman pies. From fine dining to a classic slice, pizza is the food that brings us all together, and it's no different tonight at Marta.

We're headed to Pennsylvania, where we'll learn that Philly is about more than the cheesesteak. Frank Pinello meets with a fourth-generation pizzaiolo and a new-school dough wizard who show us that there's not one style defining Philly pizza, and that's a good thing. Between ingredient shopping at the South 9th Street Italian Market and trying the Philly Taco on South Street, Frank gets the full tour of the Philadelphia pizza scene before heading out to Roots Country Market in Lancaster to meet with seventy-year-old Norma Knepp who can make pizza with (or better than) the best of them. There's so much delicious pizza packed into the state, we're petitioning to have it renamed Pizzalyvania.

Frank Pinello visits the self proclaimed "pizza capital of the world" Old Forge, Pennsylvania. This small town of just over 9,000 people has over twenty pizzerias, all serving a unique rectangular pizza that has its very own lingo. Frank visits a few Old Forge staples like Arcaro & Genell and Revello's for a red "tray" and a double stuffed white and meets with some locals to learn more about this town and its special relationship to pizza. Remember, when visiting Old Forge, don't you dare ask for a slice! It's a "cut" here.

If we've learned anything on The Pizza Show, it's that the world is obsessed with pizza. Our host Frank Pinello explores how this seemingly simple food has become a cultural phenomenon. From viral pizza videos to pizza art to 24-karat gold pizza, we're seeing and eating it all. You thought you were obsessed with pizza already? Just wait.

Frank Pinello has eaten his share of pizza in Manhattan and Brooklyn, but it's time for him to check out New York City's other boroughs—Queens, Staten Island, and the Bronx—to discover some of the city's best slices and pies. We start off in Queens with our favorite Renaissance man Action Bronson for a slice tour of two of his favorite places.

Then we're off to Staten Island with VICE security guard and foodie extraordinaire Vic Zagami to get some crispy bar pies and the legendary vodka pie at Goodfella's. The episode ends with a visit to the Bronx for a walk down Arthur Avenue with Mark Iacono, Frank's favorite pizza friend. Frank and Mark's walk is filled with fresh cheese, prosciutto, clams, tripe—and, of course, more pizza.

The Pizza Show has finally made it to Naples, the birthplace of pizza. Our host Frank Pinello embarks on the ultimate Neapolitan pizza journey, visiting some of the most famous pizzerias in the world and hanging out with some of the best pizzaiolos in the business.

We visit one of the best cheesemakers in Campania, Caseificio Il Casolare, to see how buffalo mozzarella gets made; check in with our favorite Neapolitan oven builders, the father-son duo of Steffano Ferrara Forni; visit Pepe in Grani, Franco Pepe's pizza palace; make a pizza with master pizzaiolo Gino Sorbillo; and even use Enzo Coccia Queen Margherita's very own oven. This is a pizza lover's dream come true.

When in Rome...The Pizza Show is gonna eat a lot of pizza. Frank Pinello explores the Roman pizza scene, which is known for its two distinctive styles: pizza al taglio (rectangular and sold by weight), and pizza Romana tonda (round, thin and crisp). Whether you're grabbing a quick piece of al taglio at your local bakery or sitting down for a proper knife and fork pizza, there is no shortage of good pizza in Rome. From making pizza with Gabriele Bonci, the king of the al taglio style, to watching Stefano Callegari use ice cubes to create his iconic cacio e pepe pizza, Frank is in good pizza company.

Detroit might be known as the motor city, but it's also the pizza city. Our host Frank Pinello heads west to try out the thick-crusted, rectangular pies unique to the city. We start our tour with the classics—Buddy's, Cloverleaf, and Loui's—before heading to some of Detroit's newer spots like Amar Pizza and Suppino Pizzeria. And it wouldn't be a trip to Detroit without a visit to one of the most infamous pizza names to come out of the Mitten State—Little Caesars. Motown is definitely the dough town.

The Bay Area is all about great produce, and there's no better canvas to feature it on than pizza. From SF to Napa, we're trying some of the best pizza Nor Cal has to offer.

Additional footage from the "Chicago'' episode.

Viceland hits on all the best slices in New York's Greenwich Village in this extended cut from Season 1.

Frank Pinello learns about New Haven in the best possible way, eating pizza.