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The Daily Star, Oneonta, N.Y., Friday, October 1, 2021 20 By Dana Simpson TV Media Festive fall fun: Lose your gourd over the festive competi- tion series coming back to Food Network. "Outrageous Pumpkins" Season 2 premieres on Sunday, Oct. 3, with more treats than tricks in store for viewers. Hosted by "Buffy the Vam- pire Slayer" and "How I Met Your Mother's" Alyson Hanni- gan, this autumnal competi- tion series pits "seven expert pumpkin carvers" against one another to "compete for the ti- tle of Outrageous Pumpkins Champion and a sweet $25,000 Halloween treat" (per Food Network). Tested on their creative skills across a series of challenges, carvers perform feats of near- magic to achieve their "outra- geous" final product. The show's contestants must not only impress themselves and the viewers with their master- piece, but also the judges, mas- ter puppeteer Terri Hardin ("Cleanin' Up the Town: Re- membering Ghostbusters," 2019) and 3D artist Ray Villa- fane ("Food Network Chal- lenge"). Last year's winner, Paul Dev- er, beat out three other pump- kin sculptors for the $10,000 prize in the fourth and final epi- sode. Their last task of the sea- son was to each create a "monster party scene" using a massive Atlantic Giant pump- kin. This year, each episode's as- signment is being kept under wraps — at least as of press time. One thing fans of the show do know, as Hannigan can also attest, the results are always inspiring. "My [pumpkin] carving skills aren't the best part of my Halloween décor because I haven't focused on it enough," Hannigan told the New York Post. "But this show has in- spired me to up my game and has taught me so many great new tricks. Who knew you could use crazy glue, or shave the skin of a pumpkin before carving it?!" realtalk Alyson Hannigan hosts "Outrageous Pumpkins" B/The Pine Shop 6x7.5 Oreck Vacuum Sales and Service, Bags & Belts for many other Brands Real Wood Furniture Finished & Unfinished. Financing Available. SALE 10% OFF Bookcases SALE UP TO 20% OFF Dining Room Sets SALE 25% OFF In- Stock Poly-Lumber SALE 10% OFF Entertainment Centers

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