Aaron Franklin's Lending 'BBQ Pitmasters' His Pit Cred

When the show BBQ Pitmasters returns for its third season, it'll be smoking up a serious serving of credibility now that Austin's own Aaron Franklin is joining the show as a judge.

The reality show follows aspiring barbecue experts as they travel cross-country trying to win barbecue competitions. Franklin's been brought on to give the show the gravitas that reality programming about barbecue really deserves, along with Virginia barbecue champion Tuffy Stone. The guys replace girthy Warren Sapp and Chicago's Art "no barbecue expert" Smith. Via the Washington Post:

Replacing Sapp and Smith are two real barbecue guys: Aaron Franklin, the young Austin phenom whose eponymous operation, Franklin Barbecue, last year was named “Best BBQ Restaurant in America” by Bon Appetit, and Tuffy Stone, the Virginia competition champion and restaurateur.

The new judges make for some potentially interesting dynamics. Where Smith was often deferential to Mixon, Franklin will likely be opinionated. Franklin and Mixon are men who know their barbecue — and their minds.

· Reigniting BBQ Pitmasters [WaPo]
· All Aaron Franklin Coverage on Eater Austin [-EATX-]
· All Barbecue Coverage on Eater Austin [-EATX-]

[Photo: Franklin Barbecue/Facebook]