When producers had been casting Season 25 of “Worst Cooks in America,” they weren’t simply in search of culinary failures.
They had been in search of social media success.
“They didn’t know anything about my cooking skills,” mentioned Tina Kim of Koreantown in Los Angeles. “They just contacted me and, lo and behold, they were lucky. I didn’t know how to cook.”
“Worst Cooks In America: Viral Sensations” options 12 contestants who’re lively on TikTok, Instagram and different social media. The sequence airs 8 p.m. Sunday on the Food Network, and episodes are additionally streaming on Discovery Plus.
Contestants face a sequence of challenges and eliminations till the ultimate episode on Feb. 5, when a survivor will win $25,000.
The season is co-hosted by Anne Burrell, a daily, and first-timer Darnell Ferguson.
The present is made in New York City, however half of the contestants, like Kim, reside in Southern California.
Kim is a comic who mentioned in a telephone interview that she started to observe Korean cleaning soap operas throughout the novel coronavirus pandemic.
“For two years I sat on my couch and watched K-dramas non-stop. I watched 14 hours a day. And then towards the end of corona, I said to myself, ‘I’m going to start my TikTok account since I’ve watched every single Korean drama.’”
She has since expanded her TikTok movies to incorporate Ok-pop and different facets of Korean tradition.
Kim wound up on Team Blue, coached by Ferguson, who she described as very optimistic and welcoming.
But the cooking is actual, she mentioned, and a giant problem.
“It’s fun and stressful at the same time, because we’re all in a pressure cooker. I think one of the challenges was only 45 minutes. And the chefs give us elaborate meals. We don’t just cook the main dish. It’s like, here’s the side dish. And here’s the sauce to go on the main dish. It’s like your brain is thinking of 20 different things you have to do. And they make it hard because they make use all that different — what is it? — kitchen stuff.”
Mitchell Tyler Ralston of Huntington Beach was on Team Red, coached by Burrell. Ralston is an novice ghost hunter and likes to make TikTok movies about paranormal exercise. The “Worst Cooks” graphic division had enjoyable with the idea and depicted him as being suffering from the evil spirit of Chef Anne.
In a separate telephone interview he rated his cooking expertise as horrible, though he’s comfy making spaghetti and mashed potatoes.
“Years and years ago I worked for a very famous California burger company known for their red aprons. Part of my duties was preparing the potatoes for french fries. So I’ve got peeling potatoes down.”
Ralston mentioned he was the primary contestant to chop himself this season. Cuts and fires are commonplace on the set.
“Chef Anne told us, ‘Don’t be afraid of fire. If you have fire, I’m very good at putting out fire. This is the 25th season’. Luckily, I didn’t burn myself too much. I cut myself way too much.”
Kim and Ralston discovered being on digital camera a problem, though they’re used to taking pictures their very own movies.
“The hard part was smiling for hours and hours. I only have to smile for 10 seconds on my TikTok,” Kim mentioned.
Both discovered the expertise precious, and Ralston mentioned it has gotten him some TikTok viewers. But it didn’t flip both of them into chef.
“I did learn a lot about the kitchen,” mentioned Kim. “It’s just I’m not going to bring it into the real world.”
‘Worst Cooks in America’
Food Network: 8 p.m. Sunday, foodnetwork.com/reveals/worst-cooks-in-america
Discovery Plus: discoveryplus.com/present/worst-cooks-in-america
Contestants
Rich Aronovitch, New York City: Professional comic, 233,000 followers on TikTok. @richisfunny
Michael Judson Berry, Jersey City, N.J.: Actor who does imitations on TikTok. @mjudsonberry
Tessica Brown, Los Angeles: Known for a viral video by which she put Gorilla Glue in her hair as an alternative of hairspray. @im_d_ollady
David Chen, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.: Tennis fanatic recognized for movies cheering at matches. @davidchenofficial
NaJe’ Elmore, Texarkana, Texas: Known for singing movies, @who_she_naje
Tina Kim, Los Angeles: Ok-drama and Ok-pop follower. @kdramalogic
Adam Kreutinger, Buffalo, N.Y.: Puppeteer and puppet maker. @adamkreutinger
Paris Nicholson, Los Angeles: Known for “Top Five Hottest” lists. @parisnicholson
Eliza Petersen, West Jordan, Utah: Dinosaur fanatic, @lizemopetey
Mitchell Tyler Ralston, Huntington Beach: Amateur paranormal investigator. @mrspooky13
Sabrina Rios, Los Angeles: Covers many matters in humorous movies. @abelinasabrina
Nick Trawick, Los Angeles: Posts movies of a personality referred to as Kleptora who steals wigs. @nicktrawick13
Source: www.bostonherald.com”