Anne Burrell has been on "Worst Cooks in America" from the very beginning and has easily become the face of this hit Food Network show. While she has had a few different co-hosts, including Bobby Flay, Robert Irvine, Tyler Florence and her current co-host Rachael Ray, she is the one that has truly seen it all. From kitchen fires to inedible meals to people who don't even know how to boil water, being a mentor on a show like this can be a challenge, but Burrell really does enjoy it, and she does a damn good job teaching these beyond inexperienced "chefs" how to make a decent- tasting meal.
The show is currently in its seventh season, and each year, the contestants continue to surprise Burell and whoever her co-host may be. Obviously, when you're hosting a show called "Worst Cooks," you know what you're in for, but sometimes how scary these contestants are in the kitchen is truly shocking to these professional cooks.
This season, Food Network decided to bring on seven celebrity chefs to add a new twist to the show. As people who have lived a good portion of their lives having other people, or even professional chefs, cook their meals for them, the tables were really turned when it was their turn in front of the stove - which a majority of them didn't even know how to turn on. The celebrity aspect of the show makes it a lot more entertaining, as these are people we're familiar with, and it really is hysterical to see how inexperienced they are.
The only advantage celebrities have compared to all the previous "worst cooks" are that they've done something like this before. "Celebrities are used to being on camera," Burrell told The Daily Meal. "So they're not afraid to let it all hang out."
Even as a celebrity herself, though, Burrell was just as excited to be working with some familiar faces. "When I first walked in, I was honestly a little starstruck," she said. "But once the cooking starts you realize that they're real people and they're just as bad at cooking as everyone else! Everyone was just eager to learn."
While they may be famous and used to people giving them pretty much whatever they want, Burrell made sure to make note of the fact that they're not getting any special treatment. "We're hard on them, but it's tough love," she explained. "They truly, honestly want to get better, and we teach them and don't give them anything that we know they can't do well. They really put themselves out there, because they just want to be able to cool for their family. They get really emotional about it."
The current season is just three episodes in, and so far we've seen actor Dean Cain, actor Jaleel White and former "Bachelor" Chris Soules turn in their aprons. As for who's left, there's reality star Kendra Wilkinson, former "SNL" actress Ellen Cleghorne, actor Barry Williams and reality star Jenni "Jwoww" Farley. These celebs really are making some serious improvements in the kitchen, and it will be interesting to see who comes out on top.
Catch "Worst Cooks in America: Celebrity Edition" Wednesdays at 9 p.m. EDT on Food Network.
