Chopped

- Season 19

(2014)

Four chefs who lost in previous competitions return, trying to win more than ever. A bright green dessert and a seafood snack must be worked into appetizers and quinoa and sour candy into entrees.

For the first time ever four grandmothers do battle to make the most comforting and delicious course using new and "old school" ingredients such as bacon grease, meatloaf mix and oatmeal.

Brandi Chastain, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Greg Louganis and Charles Oakley bring their fierceness and passion to the premiere competition of the Chopped $50,000 Celebrity Tournament.

The four competitors part two of the Celebrity Tournament are alums of Food Network's Rachael vs, Guy: Celebrity Cook-Off. But Coolio, Lou Diamond Phillips, Penn Jillette and Carnie Wilson try their hands in the Chopped Kitchen.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner are made by the competing chefs, who must prepare a morning meal from coffee cake and cream-filled chocolate eggs. Round 2 features fish dishes and an emergency situation.

Bringing the funny to the Chopped Kitchen, Sinbad, Tommy Davidson, Robert Wuhl and Gillian Vigman compete for a chance to move on to the $50,000 finale. The stars open up the first basket and get a pork delicacy and a gummy candy.

With only one spot left in the Chopped Celebrity Championship charity tournament finale, Lucas Grabeel, Michael Imperioli, Peter Scolari and Tasha Smith take on the role of chef.

Conclusion. A "Tournament of Stars" winner is determined. But first, the finalists must transform a drive-thru snack and cold dessert into appetizers; prepare duck entrées; and create something tasty out of churros and champagne.

Two starchy ingredients, Chinese dumplings and Middle Eastern noodles, are used in the appetizer round. Later, one chef burns two of the mystery ingredients when making a lamb entrée; and pawpaw desserts are made before the winner is named.

The fryer gets a lot of use, when the chefs are given chicken wings and African peri-peri rub to work with in the appetizer round. For entrees, a difficult cut of meat and a salty sandwich spread are mandatory ingredients; and pie dough shows up in the dessert basket.

All of the baskets contain leftovers. Included: the chefs must transform the contents of restaurant-takeout containers; use packets of hot sauce in their entrées; and make bacon-centric desserts.

Four mothers attempt to stay composed as they cook in a much larger arena. In the appetizer basket are chicken noodle soup and salsa. In the entree round, they must contend with a sugary ingredient often banned from breakfast.

The competing chefs are forced to cook with the so-called "100-year-old egg" in the appetizer round; find mango pudding in their entrée baskets; and make desserts with waffle cones.

Basket contents have an Australian theme, beginning with lamb ribs and a very alcoholic beverage in Round 1. Also: the chefs serve emu entrées to the judges; and one finalist makes a mistake when using the ice-cream machine for dessert.

Appetizers are made using blowfish tail; the chefs have a can of something orange and a jar of date palm to work with when creating entrées; and basil juice is a key ingredient in the dessert round.

A fancy cake & a Bloody Mary are the first ingredients encountered by the competing chefs. Later, they are given ground chicken & seafood paella for entrées; & one of the finalists tries to recover from a screwup with the ice cream machine.

Four dads take on the Chopped Kitchen, but how will the fathers-turned-competitors fare w/fish & salt-vinegar potato chips in the appetizer round? A bottle of scotch is in the entrée basket; dessert ingredients are rice pudding & pretzels.