For a network that began just 17 years ago, the Food Network has become a cable television fixture and a pop culture sensation. Its cooks and chefs and foodies of Food Network have become celebrities.

Since its debut on Nov. 23, 1993, Food Network has expanded like mad. It launched food products that fill our supermarket shelves. There's media exposure via a website and monthly magazine ... and that doesn't include Rachael Ray's talk show and Guy Fieri's game show and Alton Brown's grape juice commercials. And it launched a secondary outlet in The Cooking Channel.

But the key to all the success is the Food Network itself.

So Jennifer Garner contacted the people at The Barefoot Contessa, saying she was a big fan and she'd like to be on the show. And they turned her down!

Ina Garten says that she won't have the former Alias star on the show because she only has real friends on the show with her. I actually have to admire that. A lot of shows would jump at the chance to have any sort of TV or movie celebrity on, just to get some buzz or ratings or celebrity gravitas. It's refreshing that Garten sees the phoniness behind that and actually has people on the show that she knows. I guess Garner has to get to know her first and then they can make soup together.