Preston to be ‘Joey’ guest

Matt LeBlanc has found a new friend in John Travolta’s wife, reports TV Guide Online.

Kelly Preston has signed on to do a two-episode story arc on “Joey” this November. She’ll play the best friend of Joey’s sis, played by Emmy-winning Sopranos star Drea de Matteo.

According to a source close to the spin-off, producers initially eyed an Oscar-winning actress for the part, but she ultimately passed.

Stadium Kitchen returns

NEW YORK (AP) – Turns out, the “Iron Chef America” specials, which pitted celebrity American chefs against the original Japanese masters, were just the appetizer.

“Iron Chef America” will premiere on the Food Network in January, the cable channel announced Tuesday. The series will pit some of America’s favorite chefs against American Iron Chefs Bobby Flay, Mario Batali and Masaharu Morimoto.

“This is a new era of Iron Chef and ‘Iron Chef America’ will continue to deliver the competitions and rivalries fans love,” said Kathleen Finch, senior vice president, prime-time programming, for the Food Network.

Chef Alton Brown will reprise his role as resident food historian and commentator, while Kevin Brauch will provide the play-by-play from kitchen-side.

As in the Japanese format and the previous specials, a secret ingredient will be revealed to both chefs, who will then have one hour to create a tasting menu for an all-star panel.