William Wilson said he was done with reality television competitions.
The last go-around didn't go so great.
But the Fairfield native couldn't turn this one down.
The elite pumpkin carver returned to Food Network for the fourth time to compete on the all-star season of "Halloween Wars" this fall. The first episode airs on Sunday, Sept. 13 at 9 p.m.
He represented the Queen City − something he's said he's very proud of − in season 16, titled "Back from the Dead: Halloween All Stars." The season starts with eight teams. Each team consists of one pumpkin carver, one cake artist and one sugar artist. The teams are pitted against each other to create mouth-dropping, Halloween-themed edible displays. The winning team takes home $30,000.
Wilson had previously
competed on Food Network's "Outrageous Pumpkins" twice and "Halloween Wars" once.
"'Halloween Wars' is by far the biggest and best competition," Wilson said. "Everybody who's a pumpkin carver watches the show, every baker, every sugar artist."
Wilson said that this season, he got a redemption arc.
When the Finneytown native competed in season 12 of the show, which aired in 2022, he found it difficult for pumpkin carvers to mesh with cake and sugar artists. It's hard to imagine the positive, smiley lifelong Cincinnatian not getting along with anyone.
But, he explained, cake and sugar artists are "true artists." They work year-round, perfecting their craft, while pumpkin carvers really only work during October and don't take themselves too seriously. It's a mismatch that can create a lack of trust between teammates. And COVID-19 separation restrictions surely didn't help with teambuilding.
"We all kind of let each other down," he said. "We didn't really stay true to our game that we set. Everybody kind of went on their own side quest."
This time around, the producers told Wilson he could be captain for his team and choose his teammates.
"Team Creepers" consists of Wilson, Tenisha Billington, a cake (and makeup) artist who made it to the finale last season, and sugar artist Marianne Daquino, Wilson's former season-12-competitor-turned-friend. (Wilson and Daquino, who is based in California and a "big football fan," stayed in touch to talk about the Cincinnati Bengals and Los Angeles Chargers.)
There was trust this time.
But also stronger competition. Wilson would now be tested in a new way.
"What (the producers) didn't say," said Wilson, "is that there were legends attached to this."
Wilson arrived in Utah City, Utah, in January for filming. He laid his eyes on champion after champion.
Two of the teams had already won together. The pumpkin carvers were people Wilson knew and looked up to. Some competitors invented techniques that other competitors had since adopted and use today. The bakers and sugar artists are the best "there ever were," said Wilson. And Wilson's team was one of only a few without any previous "Halloween Wars" champions.
To get through the stress of the competition, Wilson focused on being grateful to be there. "And giving myself some credit like, 'Wow, you made it here. Look at the people you're up against," he said.
"I just wanted to put my best foot forward. I just wanted to win," he added.
So, did he?
You'll have to tune in to find out.
How to watch Wilson on 'Halloween Wars' season 16
The "Halloween Wars" season 16 premiere is a special two-hour episode that will air on Food Network on Sunday, Sept. 13 at 9 p.m. A new one-hour episode airs every Sunday at 9 p.m. ET, with the season finale airing on Sunday, Oct. 25. There will be seven episodes total. Viewers can tune in on Food Network or watch on HBO Max the next day.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincinnati pro pumpkin carver returns to national TV - and wants redemption
