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Aussie chef Curtis Stone debuts celebrity version of My Kitchen Rules in the US
By Rob Moran
Australian TV audiences are used to getting local remakes of tried and tested US reality show hits – but now American viewers are getting one of ours.
Melbourne chef Curtis Stone was on NBC's Today on Wednesday US time, where he debuted a sneak peek of his upcoming US reboot of Seven's hit, My Kitchen Rules.
The Americanised twist? The teams are completely made up of celebrity duos – and I use the term 'celebrity' incredibly loosely.
Among the teams are former NSync-er Lance Bass and his mum; '80s comedy superstar Andrew Dice Clay and his wife; Real Housewives of Beverly Hills' Brandi Glanville and a friend; and '90s R&B star Brandy Norwood and her brother Ray-J, perhaps most recognised as the dude in that infamous Kim Kardashian sex-tape.
Curtis Stone and My Kitchen Rules US co-host Cat Cora. Credit: Fox
Stone, who hosted Seven's original My Restaurant Rules in 2004, was on the morning show to give Americans a largely unnecessary lesson on how to stuff their Thanksgiving turkeys before debuting the promo.
"It's actually based on an Australian format," he told Today's largely surprised hosts Tamron Hall and Al Roker about the series.
A clip from the reboot sets a decidedly trashier tone from the local favourite hosted by Pete Evans and Manu Feildel.
"Do you like your balls particularly saucy, Lance?", host Stone coyly asks Bass, who came out as gay in 2006, while discussing a meatball dish.
Another scene sees Brandy and Ray-J commenting on Glanville's revealing apron.
"Brandi came to win... to win some $1 bills!" Ray-J says, mock making it rain stripper notes.
I don't know, Colin Fassnidge would not be amused.
Stone, who runs the popular restaurant Maude in Beverly Hills, has been based in the US since 2006, appearing in a number of US shows including Top Chef, Kitchen Inferno and President-Elect Trump's Celebrity Apprentice.
The series premieres in the US on January 12; no local air date has yet been confirmed.
Seven's eighth season of My Kitchen Rules, meanwhile, with its new "secret judge", debuts "after the tennis" in 2017.