Celebrities duke it out in Yule food feud

By Jacqui Wiens TV Media

Ah, Christmas. An oasis of warmth and cheer amidst the gloomy chill of the winter season. Around this time of year, many of us are clearing the couches to accommodate out-of-town guests, frantically shopping for that perfect last-minute gift and cleansing the house of anything that might cause an argument. Over at Andy Richter’s house, however, holiday preparations involve setting up some very deliberate conflicts.

Richter, who rose to fame as Conan O’Brien’s sidekick in “Late Night with Conan O’Brien,” has been hosting dinner parties for wellknown celebrities and chefs, but these aren’t merely friendly gather- ings of food lovers. Tune in to see what all the excitement is about when the finale of “Celebrity Food Fight” airs Wednesday, Dec. 23, on Food Network.

Each episode of “Celebrity Food Fight” pairs four guests up into two teams for various rounds of competition. The competitors strive to prove their culinary prowess and, with two gastro-gurus in attendance each episode, even the less food-inclined celebrities have a fair shot. In this week’s new episode, Richter plays host to singer-songwriter Joey McIntyre, actor Dean Cain, chef Richard Blais and food critic Katie Lee.

Cain got his big break as Superman in “Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman” back in the ‘90s, and currently hosts CW’s

Sunday, Dec. 20

9:30 a.m. (23) WUCW Mad Dogg and Merrill’s Midwestern Grill’n

Noon TRAV Bizarre Foods America

1:00 p.m. (9) KAWE Jacques Pepin: Heart and Soul

TRAV Bizarre Foods America

1:30 p.m. (9) KAWE Barbecue

University With Steven

Raichlen

2:00 p.m. (8) WDSE Around the Farm Table

TRAV Bizarre Foods America

2:30 p.m. (8) WDSE The Mind of a Chef

4:00 p.m. (8) WDSE A Chef’s Life Holiday Special

Monday, Dec. 21

8:00 a.m. TRAV Bizarre Foods America

9:00 a.m. TRAV Bizarre Foods America

10:00 a.m. TRAV Bizarre Foods America

1:00 p.m. (11) KARE The Rachael Ray Show

3:00 p.m. TRAV Bizarre Foods

4:00 p.m. TRAV

“Masters of Illusion.” Cain’s teammate, Lee, studied journalism and food science before hosting the freshman season of “Top Chef” in 2006. She has written two cookbooks, publishes a weekly column for Hamptons magazine and hosts the Food Network talk show “The Kitchen.”

McIntyre, best known for his membership in the boy band “New Kids on the Block,” had a relatively successful solo career after the group’s breakup, has appeared in various theater productions, and fin- ished third in the first season of “Dancing with the Stars.”

After attaining an extensive education as a chef, McIntyre’s partner, Blais, launched an innovative food company called Trail Blais. He also operates several restaurants and regularly appears on various Food Network programs as a host, judge and competitor.

December is heating up as the festive competition comes to a climax. Don’t miss the finale of “Celebrity Food Fight,” airing Wednesday, Dec. 23, on Food Network.

Saturday, Dec. 26

10:00 a.m. (2) KTCA Around

(8) WDSE America’s Test Kitchen From Cook’s Illustrated TRAV Food Paradise

TRAV Food

Solution on page 10.

Video releases

Black Mass

Based on a true story, this film takes an in-depth look at the man who controlled the criminal underworld in Boston for decades. Starting in the mid-’70s, James “Whitey” Bulger (Depp) brought Boston to its knees thanks in part to friend — and less-than-ethical FBI agent — John Connolly (Edgerton). When a member of Bulger’s gang is murdered by the mafia, Bulger becomes an FBI informant, feeding the agency information about the various criminal elements at work in the city. Meanwhile, he uses info given to him by Connolly to eliminate his opponents. However, after almost two decades of ruling the city, an internal investigation and front page story in the Boston Globe bring Bulger’s empire crashing to the ground.

Director:ScottCooper.Stars:JohnnyDepp,JoelEdgerton,Benedict Cumberbatch,RoryCochrane,DakotaJohnson.2015.122min. Crime.