Athletes, Actors And Comedians, Oh My! Celebrities Gear Up For First Ever "Chopped Tournament Of Stars"

NEW YORK, Jan. 23, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --With a $50,000 grand prize for charity on the line, celebrities from different walks of life compete in the ultimate Chopped Tournament of Stars, premiering Sunday, March 9^th at 9pm ET/PT. The five-part competition series, hosted by Ted Allen, includes four celebrities going head-to-head each week in themed episodes over three rounds: appetizer, entree and dessert - each featuring mystery ingredients within the Chopped basket. Featuring sports stars, comedians, actors, and for the first time, veterans from Rachael vs. Guy: Celebrity Cook-Off, the celebrities are judged by a rotating roster of Chopped regulars, including Maneet Chauhan, Amanda Freitag, Alex Guarnaschelli, Marc Murphy, Chris Santos and Geoffrey Zakarian, to determine which celebrity will advance each week to face off in the finale on Sunday, April 6^th at 9pm ET/PT, with a chance to win the grand prize for the charity of their choice.

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"This tournament brings together the most diverse, talented group of celebrities we have ever had compete in the Chopped Kitchen," said Bob Tuschman, General Manager and Senior Vice President Programming, Food Network. "With $50,000 on the line for their charity, these celebs fill the kitchen with action, drama and comedy as they do everything they can to be the victor."

Additionally, if you ever looked in your fridge, hoping for inspiration to strike, never again let the question "What's for dinner?" stump you. On April 8^th be the first to learn tips and secrets for combining pantry staples into exciting meals in The Chopped Cookbook: Use What You've Got to Cook Something Great, from Clarkson Potter. By showing how to spin your favorite ingredients into 188 fun, doable, and delicious recipes, the culinary masterminds at Food Network set you up for mealtime victory every night.

Episodes include:

Premiering Sunday, March 9^th at 9pm ET/PT
"Sports Stars!"
Four famous athletes bring their fierceness and passion to the Chopped Kitchen for a five-part $50,000 celebrity tournament! With the charities they are playing for in their minds, the competitors open the first basket to find a scary ingredient – alligator. Then in the entree round, the celebs must cook with some strange eggs and some tiny limes. The final two sports stars that make it to the dessert round put their athleticism and enthusiasm into making a great final dish that includes crystallized ginger and wafer cookies.
Competitors: Brandi Chastain, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Greg Louganis, Charles Oakley
Judges: Alex Guarnaschelli, Marc Murphy, Geoffrey Zakarian

Premiering Sunday, March 16^th at 9pm ET/PT
"Rachael vs. Guy!"
These four competitors are all cooking-competition veterans, alums of Food Network's Rachael vs. Guy: Celebrity Cook-Off, but they have never stepped foot in the Chopped Kitchen! How will they do with beef tongue and microwaveable chocolate cake in the appetizer basket? Then the stars have a pizza party in the entree round after they discover leftover slices in the basket. With hopes of making it to the $50,000 finale, two competitors must make desserts using chocolate bars and banana chips.
Competitors: Penn Jillette, Coolio, Lou Diamond Phillips, Carnie Wilson
Judges: Maneet Chauhan, Marc Murphy, Chris Santos

Premiering Sunday, March 23^rd at 9pm ET/PT
"Comedians!"
Bringing the funny to the Chopped Kitchen, four comedians compete for a chance to move on to the $50,000 finale. Playing for their favorite charities, the stars open up the first basket and get a pork delicacy and a gummy candy. Then in the entree round, the three comedians left must make jalapeno poppers palatable with beer can chicken. With vanilla cupcakes in the final basket, transforming the ingredient becomes key for the two finalists.
Competitors:  Tommy Davidson, Sinbad, Gillian Vigman, Robert Wuhl
Judges: Maneet Chauhan, Chris Santos, Geoffrey Zakarian

Premiering Sunday, March 30^th at 9pm ET/PT
"Actors!"
With only one spot left in the $50,000 charity tournament, four actors bravely take on the role of chef. In the first round, one competitor tries desperately to figure out the right cooking technique for a tricky ingredient. A pretty citrus fruit and a spiny lobster are two of the mystery ingredients that the competitors must demystify in the entree round. In the final round, the two remaining stars make a mess in the kitchen with some very creative desserts with mascarpone and strawberries.
Competitors: Lucas Grabeel, Michael Imperioli, Peter Scolari, Tasha Smith
Judges: Maneet Chauhan, Amanda Freitag, Alex Guarnaschelli

Premiering Sunday, April 6^th at 9pm ET/PT
"Finale!"
The four amazing finalists open the first basket and get a drive-thru snack and a cold dessert. $50,000 is destined to go to one of the last three celebrities' favorite charities, but which stars will have good luck with the duck in the entree basket? The final round of the celebrity tournament is bound to be intense as the competitors must have enough culinary stamina left to make something tasty, beautiful and creative from churros and champagne.
Judges: Alex Guarnaschelli, Marc Murphy, Geoffrey Zakarian

Chopped is produced by Notional Entertainment.

FOOD NETWORK (www.foodnetwork.com) is a unique lifestyle network, website and magazine that connects viewers to the power and joy of food. The network strives to be viewers' best friend in food and is committed to leading by teaching, inspiring, empowering and entertaining through its talent and expertise. Food Network is distributed to more than 100 million U.S. households and averages more than 9.9 million unique web users monthly. Since launching in 2009, Food Network Magazine's rate base has grown more than 10 times and is now the second largest monthly magazine on the newsstand, with over 11.6 million readers.  Headquartered in New York, Food Network has a growing international presence with programming in more than 150 countries, including 24 hour networks in Great Britain, India, Asia and Africa. Scripps Networks Interactive (NYSE: SNI), which also owns and operates Cooking Channel (www.cookingchanneltv.com), DIY Network (www.diynetwork.com), Great American Country (www.gactv.com), HGTV (www.hgtv.com), and Travel Channel (www.travelchannel.com), is the manager and general partner.

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