Sad news for fans of Alton Brown's "Good Eats" program on Food Network: looks like the show has ended after 13 years on the air. Brown taped the final episode of "Good Eats" this week in Atlanta. Listen to Brown's interview with NPR's Laura Sullivan about why he decided to end things.

Does Ed Mitchell ever get tired of being on television? We sure hope not, because The Pit will be on Food Network again next week.

Starting Monday night, Food Network is airing a 3-part series showcasing the best in American cuisine. The Pit's barbecue is nominated in the Top Ten Regional Classics category for "Best North Carolina-style Pig." And yes, we realize there isn't just one style of North Carolina barbecue.

The "America's Best" series is hosted by Alton Brown and runs Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday nights next week at 9pm on Food Network. We're not sure which night "The Pit" might be featured, but the best guess is Wednesday night, since the show description indicates some other regional foods such as Philly cheesesteaks and New England Clam Chowder are to be sampled.

UPDATE: The segment featuring The Pit will indeed air Wednesday night at 9pm.

Shark Week! (Discovery Channel) - Terrifying patrons of death, or misunderstood creatures of the sea? Either way, it's the most exciting TV week of the summer. Lots going on, beginning with "Blood in the Water," a two-hour special dramatizing the 1916 New Jersey shark attacks that killed four people and inspired Peter Benchley's novel, "Jaws."9pm. More about Shark Week at  Discovery.com. 

The Storm (9pm, NBC) - James Van Der Beek is still trying to save the world in the conclusion to last week's big two-part disaster movie. Also stars Treat Williams and Luke Perry.

Defying Gravity (9pm, ABC) - The premiere of a new series about eight astronauts (four men, four women) preparing for a six-year mission to Venus. It's been described by some cynical critics as "Grey's Anatomy in Outer Space." Whether or not that's a good or bad thing for you should help you decide if you want to watch.

The Next Food Network Star (9pm, Food) - In the season finale, Alton Brown helps the two finalists film pilots of their dream shows. The winner is announced before a live studio audience.

True Blood (9pm, HBO) - Stackhouses in trouble! Sookie's in serious danger with the Fellowship of the Sun folks, and still trying to summon Bill to help her. Meanwhile, Jason has some serious troubles of his own. 

Drop Dead Diva (9pm, Lifetime) - Raleigh native Sharon Lawrence stars as the mother of Deb (the "dead" model whose soul now resides in the body of attorney Jane). Deb's mom is represented by Jane in divorce proceedings, while Grayson represents her dad. We're hoping real hard this is a recurring role for Lawrence.