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Former pro Football Players Turned Bakery Owners Brian Orakpo And Michael Griffin pay it Forward in Cupcake Guys Training Camp

January 15, 2021


One-Hour Special Premieres Saturday, February 6th on Food Network and discovery+


NEW YORK – January 15, 2021 – Linebacker Brian “Rak” Orakpo and safety Michael “Griff” Griffin played college football for the University of Texas and went pro with the Tennessee Titans, but now these retired players have an unexpected passion: cupcakes. With Griff as head baker, Rak as lead cupcake decorator and their lifelong friend “Little Bryan” Hynson handling the bakery business, they are known as “The Cupcake Guys” who went viral after a national commercial campaign and now own a booming shop in Austin, Texas.  In Cupcake Guys Training Camp, executive produced by Michael Strahan and airing Saturday, February 6th at 1pm ET/PT on Food Network and streaming the same day on discovery+, they are ready to help aspiring entrepreneurs achieve their baking dreams. In the one-hour special, three talented bakers get 48 hours, a baking truck and, with coaching from Rak, Griff and Bryan, are tested on their baking and selling skills to determine who has what it takes to go pro. The last baker standing is awarded a seed money investment in their business. Cupcake Guys Training Camp is produced by SMAC Entertainment, Spoke Studios, ITV America and The Story Lab, Inc.

“The Cupcake Guys captivated us with their national commercial where the big guys donned pink aprons and decorated little cupcakes – and we’ve been wanting to get an inside look at their business ever since,” said Courtney White, President, Food Network. ”These lifelong friends are funny and competitive and they bring all the talent, skill and dedication they had on the gridiron to the bakery every day.”

“I’ve known Rak and Griff a long time and love that they followed their passion from professional football to cupcakes,” said Strahan.

“They, along with their best friend Bryan Hynson, are the perfect team to mentor new entrepreneurs and send them on the path to success – and they are hilarious.”

Fans can follow along with the baking challenges during training camp and weigh in on their favorites on social using #CupcakeGuys.  For even more, viewers can head to FoodNetwork.com/CupcakeGuys


FOOD NETWORK (www.foodnetwork.com) is a unique lifestyle network, website and magazine that connects viewers to the power and joy of food. The network strives to be viewers’ best friend in food and is committed to leading by teaching, inspiring, empowering and entertaining through its talent and expertise. Food Network is distributed to nearly 100 million U.S. households and draws over 46 million unique web users monthly. Since launching in 2009, Food Network Magazine’s rate base has grown 13 times and is the No. 2 best-selling monthly magazine on the newsstand, with 13.5 million readers. Food Network is owned by Discovery, Inc., a global leader in real life entertainment spanning 220 countries and territories; the portfolio also includes Discovery Channel, HGTV, TLC, Investigation Discovery, and OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network.


discovery+ is the definitive non-fiction, real life subscription streaming service. The new service will launch with a landmark partnership with Verizon that gives their customers with select plans 12 months of discovery+ on Verizon. At launch in the U.S., discovery+ will have the largest-ever content offering of any new streaming service, featuring a wide range of exclusive, original series across popular, passion verticals in which Discovery brands have a leadership position, including lifestyle and relationships; home and food; true crime; paranormal; adventure and natural history; as well as science, tech and the environment, and a slate of high-quality documentaries. discovery+ will offer more than 55,000 episodes all in one place, with over 2,500 current and classic shows from Discovery’s iconic portfolio of networks


Discovery, Inc. (Nasdaq: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK) is a global leader in real life entertainment, serving a passionate audience of superfans around the world with content that inspires, informs and entertains. Discovery delivers over 8,000 hours of original programming each year and has category leadership across deeply loved content genres around the world. Available in 220 countries and territories and nearly 50 languages, Discovery is a platform innovator, reaching viewers on all screens, including TV Everywhere products such as the GO portfolio of apps; direct-to-consumer streaming services such as Eurosport Player, Food Network Kitchen and MotorTrend OnDemand; digital-first and social content from Group Nine Media; a landmark natural history and factual content partnership with the BBC; and a strategic alliance with PGA TOUR to create the international home of golf. Discovery’s portfolio of premium brands includes Discovery Channel, HGTV, Food Network, TLC, Investigation Discovery, Travel Channel, MotorTrend, Animal Planet, Science Channel, and the forthcoming multi-platform JV with Chip and Joanna Gaines, Magnolia, as well as OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network in the U.S., Discovery Kids in Latin America, and Eurosport, the leading provider of locally relevant, premium sports and Home of the Olympic Games across Europe. For more information, please visit corporate.discovery.com and follow @DiscoveryIncTV across social platforms.


Contact

Lauren Sklar
Phone: 646-336-3475
Email: lauren_sklar@discovery.com