Pbmom's Blog

Rachael vs. Guy Celebrity Cook-off (or Guy versus Rachael depending on with whom you speak) premieres tonight with some of your favorite celebrities. Film, television and Broadway star, Lou Diamond Phillips will be joined with Alyssa Campanella, Cheech Marin, Aaron Carter, Coolio, Joey Fatone, Summer Sanders, and Taylor Dayne to compete for $50,000 for their charity of choice. The show will be divided into teams, Team Rachael and Team Guy. There will be competition among the individuals, but Rachael Ray said on her talk show on Friday that the team dynamic changes things from a regular cooking competition. Rachael also stated she and Guy put their teams through hell. To give us a taste of what we might see Lou Diamond Phillips and Joey Fatone appeared on the show for an 11-minute competition called, “Sauce Boss.” Although Joey Fatone put up a good fight, the well-seasoned, nerves-of-steel LDP won, as did his charity, “No Kid Hungry” (a sweet $5,000). If the banter on the show is anything like the exchanges between Joey and LDP on the talk show, this show will be a joy to watch.

Lou Diamond Phillips was most recently a star on the show Stargate Universe. He hosts a series called “An Officer and a Movie” on the Military Channel, and will be seen in 2012 as Longmire (TV) and Filly Brown (movie). Anyone following LDP’s Twitter feed or seen him on Iron Chef and Iron Chef: America knows what a big foodie he is. He often shares what he is cooking at home, and sometimes gives out the recipe to create it. He also has a terrific sense of humor.

Alyssa Campanella is the 2011 Miss USA. Cheech Marin also has a long history in film and television with fans from the show “Lost” remembering him as David Reyes. Singer Aaron Carter is currently working on The Fantasticks off-broadway and can be most recently remembered as a contestant on Dancing with the Stars. Hip-hop artist, Coolio, has been in a long-list of movies and has a cooking show called, “Cookin with Coolio.” Joey Fatone, formerly of the band ‘N Sync”, was recently in The Producers on Broadway and fans will remember his appearance a few years back on Dancing with the Stars. UNICEF Goodwill ambassador, Summer Sanders, is also an Olympic gold medalist in swimming, and a sports reporter and commentator. Singer powerhouse, Taylor Dayne, has been on several reality shows of late, being paired with Jai Rodriguez in Fox show, “Celebrity Duets.” She released her last CD in 2008 to critical acclaim.

These are the charities the contestants will be playing for over this 6-episode show:

Alyssa Campanella – Susan G. Komen for the Cure

Cheech Marin – Hispanic Scholarship Fund

Aaron Carter – Kids Beating Cancer

Coolio – Music Saves Lives

Joey Fatone – Fatone Family Foundation

Lou Diamond Phillips – No Kid Hungry

Summer Sanders – Right To Play

Taylor Dayne – Cambodian Children’s Fund

With the guest-star line-up, along with hosts, Guy Fieri and Rachael Ray, both known for their rowdy enthusiasm, Rachael Vs Guy: Celebrity Cook-off will be a wonderful way to kick off the New Year with your family. Be sure to watch it starting January 1, 2012 at 9 p.m. eastern, 8 p.m. central time, on The Food Network. Check your cable/satellite providers for the exact channel.

Guest-stars on Rachael Vs Guy: Celebrity Cook-Off, Jan 1, 2012 on Food Network at 9 ET/8 Central