Food Network to Premiere WORST COOKS IN AMERICA Season 5, 2/17

Hit Primetime series Worst Cooks in America is back for a fifth season this winter, with superstar chefs Anne Burrell and Bobby Flay returning for a brand-new battle to turn kitchen disasters into culinary success stories. Premiering on Monday, February 17th at 9pm ET/PT, the seven-episode season pits formerly undefeated series champ Anne against last season's winner Bobby, each leading a team of disastrous cooks in an intense culinary boot camp designed to turn them into confident kitchen heroes. A $25,000 grand prize will be awarded to the contestant who achieves the most impressive culinary transformation, in addition to delivering a victory and bragging rights for their team leader.

"Watching Anne and Bobby compete and teach these truly kitchen-challenged contestants is both hilarious and inspiring," said Bob Tuschman, General Manager and Senior Vice President, Food Network. "With the help of these masters, the contestant's comical mishaps early on lead to some serious cooking chops and remarkable transformations."

In the season five premiere episode, the fourteen recruits, each nominated by family and friends for their exceptionally awful cooking skills, are greeted at boot camp by team leaders Anne and Bobby. After each contestant makes their "signature" dish, the challengers are split into two teams and the recruits head to a high-stakes pizza challenge, with a twist. Anne's team attempts a Grilled Pizzetta with Ricotta, Sausage, Arugula and Chili Oil while Bobby's team attempts Pizza with Parsley Pesto, Cremini Mushrooms, Fontina and Goat Cheese. The two recruits with the least successful dishes are sent home, while the remaining twelve cook on. Upcoming episodes feature an on-location farm challenge complete with milking cows, a fast-paced sushi preparation and a "breakfast in bed" competition. The series culminates with a finale on Monday, March 31st at 9pm ET/PT, where the two most improved contestants prepare a three-course menu for a judging panel of culinary experts and the $25,000 grand prize winner is named.

Viewers wanting more can visit FoodNetwork.com/WorstCooks for photo galleries, interviews and more insider coverage.

Worst Cooks in America is produced by Optomen Productions LLC, an All3 Media company.

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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