Five-night 'Cooking Showdown' to air in April

LOS ANGELES -- Dancing, skating, poker, weight loss and now cooking: Is there anything celebrities can't -- or, perhaps more relevantly, won't -- do in front of a camera?

NBC has fired up a five-course culinary competition called "Celebrity Cooking Showdown" that will air over one week next month. The show, executive produced by Sean "Diddy" Combs, will pair famous people with well-known chefs in a cook-off -- for bragging rights, apparently; the network doesn't mention a prize.

"The hottest trend right now is the art of cooking. There's nothing sexier than preparing a beautiful meal for your woman or man," Combs asserts. "Celebrities competing in the high-pressure arena of the world's top chefs will make great television."

The "Showdown" will air at 8 p.m. ET for five consecutive nights starting Monday, April 17. On each of the first three shows, a trio of celebrities will compete against one another, aided by famous chefs Wolfgang Puck, Govind Armstrong and Cat Cora ("Iron Chef America"). The winners from each night will take part in a final battle on Thursday, with the winner crowned Friday.

Viewers will have a chance to weigh in on the final result, voting on the presentation of the finalists' dishes. A panel of judges will award points for taste. The competing celebs will be announced later this week, NBC says.

Combs is executive producing "Celebrity Cooking Showdown" with Ben Silverman ("The Restaurant," "The Office") and David Hurwitz ("Fear Factor").