CSU Pueblo Students Intern for Travel Channel Food Wars Event

Front Row: (L to R) Shea Zmerzlikar, Adrian Flores  Middle Row: Meagan Chapman, Michelle Gjerde, Food Wars Host Camille Ford, Char Gray, Jamie Patrick, Ashley Solano Back Row: Jeremy Mathis, Nathan Duncan, Zach Releford, Andrew Covin NOT PICTURED: Thad Beller, Tim Sparks, Isaiah Riggs, Dominic Martinez, Gina Leyba, Juanita Whitaker, Jessica Miller.

PUEBLO – Sixteen Colorado State University-Pueblo mass communications majors and an alumnus got a “taste” of real life television production as the Travel Channel’s Food Wars team sought assistance in the filming of its Pueblo Slopper Showdown, April 12-14.

Set to be aired on May 25, the show pitted Gray’s Coors Tavern and the Sunset Inn in a competition for the best slopper, an open faced cheeseburger smothered in green chili and topped with a variety of condiments.  Production crews taped segments at both local eateries, then held a showdown at Union Depot. More information on the show may be found at http://www.travelchannel.com/TV_Shows/Food_Wars.

The production company contacted Career Center Director Michelle Gjerde and Jen Mullen, chair of the University’s mass communications department, just a few days before their visit seeking extra hands to assist with the three days of production.

"We actually had more students volunteer than they needed,” Mullen said. The students were so excited to be part of a national television production that was soliciting their direct participation. In their words, 'they were pumped'"!

Morgan Hartley, agent for Sharp Entertainment that produced the segment, was grateful for the quick response to her request for volunteers and felt the Pueblo shoot was exceptional.

“The crew was thrilled with how many people came out to the challenge and were so grateful for how nice and hospitable everyone was. I heard nothing but great things about the interns,” Hartley said. “Our field producer came back raving about them saying that they were some of the hardest working interns she had ever been around.”