In television, owners, writers and broadcasters do their level best to draw in a wide audience. They are the ones that put the "mass" into mass communications.

The easiest way to go about it is to use items that directly or indirectly affect each and every one of us. The effect is to draw upon these universal connectors to bring us all together for a collective experience.

As cable television expanded to offer more programming for viewers, the model was turned upside down. These universal connectors – like weather, sports, community events and food – were split up, using a niche to super-serve a portion of the audience.

The Food Network, and its spinoff the Cooking Channel, have done a great job presenting varied content to draw in both food lovers, and others that are simply looking to be entertained.

But, if you know a person who both has a deep love and knowledge of food, and entertains you and your friends, you may want to forward this story on to them … the "Food Network Star" is holding an open casting call on Nov. 16 in Chicago.

"We tell people to just be yourself, to be confident in your knowledge of food and let your personality show through," casting producer Jennifer Dubin said while preparing for her next stop in New Orleans.

Dubin has been with the show for the last five seasons, and this time around, she will be making seven total casting calls across the country.  

"I just love meeting people and hearing their stories," she said. "This is my favorite show (to work on)."

If you’ve seen the show in the past, then you know that the competition is to find the next person worthy of their own cooking program on the network. Contestants are put against each other through a number of tasks and are judged on the performance.

"We are looking for that needle in the haystack … that gem from down the block that hasn’t been discovered yet," Dubin said. "We want to find someone unique."

If you or someone you think deserves to have their own show, get them to 909 N. Michigan Ave. in Chicago between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Nov. 16.

Dubin said, that beyond the casting calls she and her team will be wading through video submissions on its website as well.

VETERANS: Veterans, and those actively serving, are invited by Marcus Theatres to attend a free showing of "Honor Flight: One Last Mission" at 2:35 and 7 p.m. on Monday.

"Veterans Day is a special time to celebrate America and the brave troops who serve and protect this great country. Treating active duty and veteran military personnel to a free screening of ‘Honor Flight: One Last Mission’ is a perfect way to honor and thank them for their service," Marcus Theatres offered in a statement.

Veterans and current military members with valid ID can see the film at the following locations in Wisconsin: La Crosse Cinema; Sheboygan Cinema; Oshkosh Cinema; Appleton East Cinema; Bay Park Cinema, Green Bay; Eastgate Cinema, Madison; Point Cinema, Madison; Renaissance Cinema, Sturtevant; Majestic Cinema, Brookfield; Menomonee Falls Cinema; North Shore Cinema, Mequon; Ridge Cinema, New Berlin; South Shore Cinema, Oak Creek.