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Assorted celebrities are teaming up with Rachael Ray and Guy Fieri in a new six-episode series on the Food Network that ends with a Zagat rating competition.

Titled "Rachael vs. Guy Celebrity Cook-off" the two Food Network stars will coach eight celebrities to cook.  Divided into "Team Guy" and "Team Rachael" each episode will feature food related contests.  In the end, the last contestant standing will be crowned king or queen of the "Celebrity Cook-Off" and wins $50,000 for the charity they are playing to support.

"Rachael vs. Guy is the most exciting, funny and suspenseful piece of television I have ever made. This show is true reality television; no staging, no tricks and no do-overs," said Ray.  "These contestants bonded with each other making the drama of the competition even more thrilling and intense.  I think everyone will be amazed to see our contestants compete at the highest level and perform like master cooks, we honestly couldn't believe it."

"I've known Rachael for years and I was psyched to finally have the opportunity to collaborate," said Fieri. "I also had a blast coaching the celebrity contestants as they battled it out in the kitchen for their favorite charities."

The eight celebrity contestants include:

- Summer Sanders: Two-time Olympic gold medalist swimmer and national sportscaster.  Charity: Right to Play.

- Lou Diamond Phillips: Golden Globe-nominated actor, Stand and Deliver.  Charity: No Kid Hungry.

- Aaron Carter: Multi-platinum-selling recording artist and actor, Popstar and Supercross.  Charity: Kids Beating Cancer.

- Joey Fatone: Singer, actor, television personality and founding member of top-selling supergroup 'N Sync.  Charity: Fatone Family Foundation.

- Taylor Dayne: Chart-topping recording star and actress, Broadway's "Aida" and Television's "Nightman." Charity: Cambodian Children’s Fund.

- Coolio Grammy-winning hip-hop artist.  Charity: Music Saves Lives.

- Cheech Marin Grammy-winning comedian, screenwriter and actor.  Charity: Hispanic Scholarship Fund.

- Alyssa Campanella Winner, Miss USA 2011 and Runner-Up, Miss Teen USA 2007.  Charity: Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

The two teams face off in a showdown for the first-ever so-called "Celebrity Cook-Off Food Festival."  For the "festival" each team member must create an original dish for 150 people who will be voting on the dish's quality.  The bottom two celebrities from the losing team will then compete in a sudden-death, blind taste challenge judged by Ray and Fieri.

Other competitions are scheduled, including operating a curb-side lunch cart battle in New York City and contending in one-on-one Chopped style battles.

For the finale the final two celebrity contestants have to launch their very own restaurant, where they must develop the menu as well as create a restaurant theme and decor.  The finale includes special guest appearances by Nina and Tim Zagat, co-founders of Zagat Survey, where the winner will be determined by utilizing the Zagat rating system.

"Rachael vs. Guy Celebrity Cook-off" premieres Sunday, January 1 at 9 pm ET/PT.