Rocco's Dinner Party

On the premiere episode of "Rocco's Dinner Party," Executive Chef of Copper Fish on Broadway Geoffrey Johnson, Harlem based Executive Sous Chef Joseph "J.J." Johnson and caterer Britt Kurent compete to throw a speakeasy inspired dinner party. The chefs must create a prohibition-era supper club complete with reminiscent food and décor to impress special guest, chef and restaurateur Marcus Samuelsson. Other guests include actor and interior designer Bryan Batt (Mad Men), actress Christine Ebersole, television host Kelly Choi, actor Michael Kenneth Williams (Boardwalk Empire, The Wire,) and media critic Bill McCuddy.

Chef and New York restaurant owner King Phojanakang, high school culinary teacher Joel Gargano and private chef Michelle Karam compete to create the perfect dinner party for Rocco's mystery guest. Armed with a dossier of details on their guest of honor, and with $20,000 at stake, the chefs must design their meal around the secret guest's particular passions -- a star in the culinary community with a taste for travel, a love of spices and a preference for the unfussy. Guests include comedian DL Hughley, style and beauty expert Mary Alice Stephenson, Brazilian singer Bebel Gilberto, fashion designer Gilles Mendel, and Glamour magazine Editor-In-Chief Cindi Leive.

The stakes are high as identical Italian twin brothers Fabrizio and Nicola Carro, along with New Jersey caterer Ninamarie Bojekian compete to impress an assembly of Italian elite, including Italian food icon Silvano Marchetto. The chefs face the challenge of turning friends into family with a traditional Italian family style dinner. Guests include "The Real Housewives of New Jersey's" Caroline and Albert Manzo, television host Sara Gore, comedian Tammy Pescatelli, and singer Joey Fatone.

Executive Chef Ryan Poli, Private Chef Jennifer De Palma, and Executive Chef Fabio Capparelli set out to create the most delicious dinner party, with a healthy spin. To take home the $20,000, Rocco's chefs must cook their version of recipes from Rocco's guilt free bestseller, Now Eat This! Diet, yet with all the flavor of the typical higher calorie fare. Guests include Editor in chief of Fitness magazine Betty Wong, Olympic trainer and author Joe Downdell, Oscar nominated actor Chazz Palmintieri, comedian Jeffrey Ross, event producer Jung Lee and Sports Illustrated model Damaris Lewis.

Connecticut housewife and cooking school owner Nicole Strait, Australian airline chef Corey Roberts and New York based vegan chef Ayinde Howell compete to capture the sophisticated taste and glamour of "Town" coupled with the rustic farm to table simplicity of "Country." The chefs must transform Rocco's dining rooms and create a phenomenal menu worthy of the $20,000 prize. Guests include acclaimed chef of Picholine and Artisinal Terrance Brennan, actor Christian Campbell (Big Love), New York City Ballet principal ballerina Tiler Peck, actress Melissa Joan Hart, singer Deborah Cox and food(ography) host Mo Rocca.

Brooklyn chef Vanessa Cantave, high-end caterer to the stars Daniel Vater and biscotti baker and mother of five Natalie Stone compete to throw Rocco and his celebrity friends a French Bistro inspired soiree. The chefs are asked to put their spin on classic Julia Child dishes and decorate one of three dining rooms in their bid to win $20,000. Guests include Julie Powell, author of Julie & Julia, comedian Michael Ian Black, actress S. Epatha Merkerson (Law & Order,) event producer Marcy Blum, acclaimed French chef Alain Sailhac, and French model Leah DeWavrin.

Veteran Executive Chef Kevin Gaudreau, modernist Chef de Partie Janet Kim (from Gordon Ramsay's The London) and upstart Executive Chef Chris Calcagno throw a gastropub themed dinner party. In attempts to capture this hot culinary trend, Rocco's chefs must elevate British pub food without the stuffy air of fine dining. Even more challenging will be to convince British television host Cat Deeley that she's not far from home. Guests include actress Raven Symone, actor Christopher McDonald, founder and creative director of Desiron, Frank Carfaro, New York Times food writer Amanda Hesser and restaurateur Ken Oringer.

Brooklyn caterer Sharon Robustelli, executive private chef Frank Otte, and jock turned sous chef Bill Haley compete to create a line of dishes inspired by both handmade, high end fashion and mass produced, ready to wear clothing. Rocco challenges the chefs to become trendsetters, while fashion designer Nicole Miller shows up to surprise the chefs with an additional twist. Guests include Hairspray star Nikki Blonsky, NPR's "Dinner Party Download" co-hosts Rico Gagliano and Brendan Newnam, "Project Runway" finalist Kara Janx, TV Host and "Early Show" contributor Katrina Szish.

New York caterer Vicki Ferentinos, Minneapolis food truck chef Chris Thompson and cooking hobbyist Yuki Tsutsui vie for $20,000 as Rocco honors the 10-year wedding anniversary of "The Daily Show's" Jason Jones and Samantha Bee. The food and decor have to work together to inspire an atmosphere of festive romance, while honoring the spirit of this comedic couple. Guest couples include Creative Director of Barneys New York Simon Doonan and Designer Jonathan Adler, along with NYC frommagier Tia Keenan and 2010 James Beard award winning sommelier Hristo Zisovski.

Healthy caterer Frank Piccione, opera singer Lucia Palmieri and restaurant owner Antonio Bettencourt vie to throw the best bash for Liza Minnelli's 65th Birthday. There's $20,000 at stake - as well as serious bragging rights - as the chefs compete to craft a fete worthy of the incomparable star. Guests include Liza Minnelli, actress and comedienne Sandra Bernhard, actor Alan Cumming, entertainer Sam Harris, award winning designer Kenneth Cole and Grammy & Oscar winning composer Marvin Hamlisch.