Worst Cooks in America, Season 4: Top Moments of the Premiere

The Season 4 cast (L-R, front row) Michael Hayden, Diana Derosa, Carla Johnson, Crystal Lonneberg, Carrie Lee Riggins, Alina Bolshkova and Rasheeda Brown. (L-R back) Alex Stein, Tim Burger, Mike Paul, Dr. Bob Schaefer, Sue Mangogna, Chet Pourciau and Aadip Desai, as seen on Food Network's Worst Cooks in America, Season 4

Photo: David Lang ©

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Familiar Foods

It's day 1 of Worst Cooks, and the recruits enter the kitchen to find waiting for them the frozen, boxed and prepared foods they're used to cooking with at home. To gauge the competitors' kitchen know-how, Chefs Anne and Bobby give them just 45 minutes to make a signature dish.

Aadip Desai puts the finishing touches on the pasta he will serve to Chef Anne and Chef Bobby, as seen on Food Network's Worst Cooks in America, Season 4

Photo: David Lang ©

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Mole Gone Wrong

Chefs Bobby and Anne can hardly watch as Aadip mixes a glob of melted M&Ms into his spaghetti with marinara sauce. Come tasting, they muster up enough bravery to taste just a small bite of his dish, and it's a good thing that they don't dig in more — Aadip admits, "I've actually made myself sick eating it."

Chef Bobby Flay checks in on Carla Johnson as she works on her meal for Chef Bobby and Chef Anne , as seen on Food Network's Worst Cooks in America, Season 4

Photo: David Lang ©

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Match Made at Boot Camp

Not one to hide what she's thinking, Carla, known as the "Fake 'n' Bake Queen," is unabashedly up-front about her crush on Chef Bobby. "The secret that I'm going to use is that I'm in love with Bobby Flay," she says. When tasting her Ride or Die Enchiladas, both chefs must chew carefully, as Carla lost a nail while cooking and wonders if it landed in the dish.

Chet Pourciau and Alina Bolshakova look on while Alex Stein eats his sandwhich, as seen on Food Network's Worst Cooks in America, Season 4

Photo: David Lang ©

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Lunch Break

To Alex, a self-described "half dog [that] can eat anything," having an extra turkey burger on hand is an invitation to lunch. He treats himself to a midchallenge meal, much to the surprise of Chef Anne. "You don't take this seriously now, but I promise you when you're on the plane back home, you will take it seriously."

Chef Anne and Chef Bobby react to seeing Dr. Bob Schaefers "chili" dish before they pick which recruits will be on which team, as seen on Food Network's Worst Cooks in America, Season 4

Photo: David Lang ©

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The Worst Cook in America

After tasting most recruits' dishes — some with such disconcerting names as Celery Omelet Medley and Oatmeal and Quinoa Fruit Mush — Chefs Bobby and Anne declare Dr. Bob's College Dorm Chili to be the sorriest of the day. They make their decision based solely on the presentation of his offering, as its off-putting brown color and mounded shape discourage eating.

Chef Anne Burrell demonstrates for the Red Team how to make Pan seared pork chops with grape sauce
as well as Garlic Yukon gold mashed potatoes,
Hash brown potatoes and Herb roasted potatoes, as seen on Food Networks Worst Cooks in America, Season 4

Photo: David Lang ©

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Missing the Microwave

Once the teams are chosen, Chefs Anne and Bobby meet with their recruits to discuss the first challenge of Boot Camp. In just 1 hour, each contestant must replicate their chef's meat and potatoes dish without the helpful assistance of perhaps their favorite kitchen appliance: the microwave. "When they roll the microwaves out of Boot Camp," Michael explains, "it's like the death of a friend."

Chef Anne Burrell reacts to Reasheeda Browns attempt to make Chef Anne's Pan seared pork chops with grape sauce
as well as Garlic Yukon gold mashed potatoes or Hash brown potatoes or Herb roasted potatoes. The recruits were each given sacks of potatoes and a card telling them which pototo recipe they were to make, as seen on Food Networks Worst Cooks in America, Season 4

Photo: David Lang ©

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Positive and Negative

"I miss my microwave," Rasheeda exclaims as she finishes prepping her dish with just a few minutes left on the clock. During tasting, Chef Anne tells Rasheeda that her "plate presentation looks really nice," but notes that the carrots are undercooked.

Chef Bobby Flay talks to Alex Steinl of his Blue Team while he is wokring on Chef Flay's recipe for Tenderloin of beef with a mushroom, mustard and red wine sauce as well as Buttermilk-bacon smashed potatoes or Roasted red potatoes or Yukon gold hash. The recruits were each given sacks of potatoes and a card telling them which pototo recipe they were to make, as seen on Food Networks Worst Cooks in America, Season 4

Photo: David Lang ©

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Flare-Ups

While meal prep appears to be under control at Big Mike's station, Alex's pan of Brussels sprouts quickly catches on fire, sending flames several feet in the air. "I love a little fire in the kitchen, Baby," Alex remarks.

Tim Burger of the Blue team gets some help from Alina Bolshakova as he attempts to make Chef Flay's recipe for Tenderloin of beef with a mushroom, mustard and red wine sauce as well as Buttermilk-bacon smashed potatoes or Roasted red potatoes or Yukon gold hash. The recruits were each given sacks of potatoes and a card telling them which pototo recipe they were to make, as seen on Food Networks Worst Cooks in America, Season 4

Photo: David Lang ©

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Team Effort

Fellow Blue Team recruits Tim and Alina come together for a moment of partnered cooking as they work on their filet mignon dishes.

Sue Mangogna of the Red Team attempt to make Chef Anne's Pan seared pork chops with grape sauce as well as Garlic Yukon gold mashed potatoes or Hash brown potatoes or Herb roasted potatoes. The recruits were each given sacks of potatoes and a card telling them which pototo recipe they were to make, as seen on Food Networks Worst Cooks in America, Season 4

Photo: David Lang ©

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Acknowledging Weakness

"The hardest part of this competition probably for me will be the side dishes," Sue says. While that becomes clear when she serves up oily potatoes, Sue appears to have struggled with her main dish as well, as her pork is overcooked and dry according to Chef Anne.

Chef Bobby Flay tasting Carrie Lee Riggins' attempt to make Chef Flay's recipe for Tenderloin of beef with a mushroom, mustard and red wine sauce as well as Buttermilk-bacon smashed potatoes or Roasted red potatoes or Yukon gold hash. The recruits were each given sacks of potatoes and a card telling them which pototo recipe they were to make, as seen on Food Networks Worst Cooks in America, Season 4

Photo: David Lang ©

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New to Steak

In her first attempt at cooking a filet mignon, Carrie Lee serves Chef Bobby a piece of raw beef that's still cool to the touch. She tells him that she "would need to see the instant replay" in order to recall exactly the lessons he's tried to teach her.

Crystal Lonneberg of the Red Team attempt to make Chef Anne's Pan seared pork chops with grape sauce as well as Garlic Yukon gold mashed potatoes or Hash brown potatoes or Herb roasted potatoes. The recruits were each given sacks of potatoes and a card telling them which pototo recipe they were to make, as seen on Food Networks Worst Cooks in America, Season 4

Photo: David Lang ©

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Looking for Answers

Crystal is the first to admit that she's not sure what she's doing when prepping her main dish. After Chef Anne tastes her offering, she declares the pork to be excessively dry and the potatoes to be simply raw.

Chef Bobby Flay tasting Chet Pourciau's attempt to make Chef Flay's recipe for Tenderloin of beef with a mushroom, mustard and red wine sauce as well as Buttermilk-bacon smashed potatoes or Roasted red potatoes or Yukon gold hash. The recruits were each given sacks of potatoes and a card telling them which pototo recipe they were to make, as seen on Food Networks Worst Cooks in America, Season 4

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Well Received

Chet is honored as the most successful recruit on the Blue Team, having served a dish of beef, broccoli and mashed potatoes that Chef Bobby says is "very well presented." He compliments Chet for adding an extra ingredient — bacon — to the broccoli side dish, explaining, "I like the effort there."

Chef Anne Burrell tasting Michael Hayden's attempt to make Chef Anne's Pan seared pork chops with grape sauce as well as Garlic Yukon gold mashed potatoes or Hash brown potatoes or Herb roasted potatoes. The recruits were each given sacks of potatoes and a card telling them which pototo recipe they were to make, as seen on Food Networks Worst Cooks in America, Season 4

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Almost Successful

The eventual Red Team winner of the Main Dish Challenge, Michael, has prepared a dish of pork chops with mashed potatoes and broccoli that Chef Anne deems "successful-ish," and for him, that praise is high enough for the first week of competition. "If you ignore the last half of that word, it's successful."

Tim Burger Chef Bobby Flay, as seen on Food Networks Worst Cooks in America, Season 4

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Farewell to Tim

Chef Bobby admits that the bottom 2 recruits on the Blue Team still "have a lot to learn," but he ultimately sends home Tim, whose dish included undercooked Brussels sprouts and a wine sauce with far too much mustard. Looking back on the competition, Tim explains, "This experience was an emotional eye-opener, but I will learn to cook for my family, which is my biggest motivator."

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Diana Says Goodbye

Although she's enthusiastic about learning how to cook, Diana De Rosa is unable to grasp some of the most basic skills of Boot Camp, like knife cuts and incorporating all components of a dish, forcing her week-1 elimination from the Red Team. "I think that they should call me back for Season 5, because I'm still one of the worst cooks in America," she reflects after the competition.