Everything To Know About Worst Cooks In America: Viral Sensations

Worst Cooks in America: Viral Sensations premieres in January, with a group of social media influencers and viral personalities as contestants, all of whom are very challenged in the kitchen. The series’ first installment premiered in 2010, with chefs Anne Burrell and Beau MacMillan as the mentors. Anne has since appeared on every season, including the celebrity editions, along with various co-stars, such as Robert Irvine, Bobby Flay, Tyler Florence, Rachael Ray, Alton Brown, Alex Guarnaschelli, Carla Hall, Jeff Mauro, and Cliff Crooks.

The Worst Cooks In America mentors guide the contestants through a culinary boot camp, in order to help them improve their skills, and become proficient in the kitchen. Through the boot camp, they learn various cooking techniques from the mentors, and break their bad habits in the kitchen. Their final challenge is to cook a restaurant-quality, three-course meal for a trio of food critics.

Related: Worst Cooks Celebrity Edition: All The Winners From Seasons 1-6

The Worst Cooks In America: Viral Sensations Mentors

According to The Wrap, Chef Anne will once again return to mentor on Worst Cooks in America: Viral Sensations. She will be joined for the first time by chef Darnell Ferguson. Darnell most recently competed on Guy Fieri’s Tournament of Champions. They will, “take on kitchen chaos, food fumbles and culinary confusion of these trending competitors.” Jane Latman, the president of Home & Food Content and Streaming for Warner Bros. Discovery, said, “Darnell is the perfect new mentor to join Anne in boot camp – this season delivers laughs, drama and even culinary inspiration.”

The Worst Cooks In America: Viral Sensations Contestants

Worst Cooks in America: Viral Sensations will feature social media influencers and viral personalities. They include comedian Rich Aronovitch, “QuarantTeaTime” actor Michael Judson Berry, Tessica Brown (known for her Gorilla Glue hair mishap), flight attendant by day David Chen, singing sensation Naje Elmore, and K-drama and K-pop enthusiast, Tina Kim. Also competing will be puppeteer Adam Kreutinger, “Top 5 Hottest” trendsetter Paris Nicholson, paleontologist TikToker Eliza Petersen, “Mr. Spooky” Mitchell Ralston, YouTuber Sabrina Rios, and Nick Trawick, known for his TikTok character, “Kleptora.” As per The Wrap, Jane Latman said, “Worst Cooks is always a fun way to kick off the New Year – and taking these social media stars offline and into the kitchen is hilarious to watch.”

The Worst Cooks In America: Viral Sensations Challenges

Some of the Worst Cooks In America: Viral Sensations challenges are inspired by viral trends. They include Poke-Bowl-Go, Cake or Fake, and Ice-Bucket trivia. In the season premiere, Anne and Darnell will welcome the twelve contestants to culinary boot camp. Before they pick their teams, Anne and Darnell will ask the recruits to make their baseline signature dish. In the main dish challenge, the recruits will learn how to cook chicken under a brick. After these two challenges, Anne and Darnell will choose their teams. Every week a contestant will be eliminated.

One upcoming Worst Cooks in America: Viral Sensations episode features the contestants traveling to Ancient Greece for souvlaki and grilled octopus challenges. Another will put their physical and mental skills to the test in a Survivor-inspired contest. In addition, fan-favorite former contestants and drag artists Peachez Iman-Cummings and Marti Cummings, who were the winner and runner-up of season 23, will return to the show. During the February 5 finale, the two most improved recruits will go head-to-head, as they serve a three-course, restaurant-quality meal to the judges Karen Akunowicz, Kalen Allen and Leah Cohen. After a blind taste test, they will determine the winner of the $25,000 prize.

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Worst Cooks in America: Viral Sensations will premiere with a supersized 90-minute episode on Sunday, Jan. 1 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Food Network and discovery+.

Source: The Wrap