ALFONSO RIBEIRO COMES TO COOKING CHANNEL IN NEW YEAR WITH "UNWRAPPED 2.0"

Series Premieres Monday, February 2nd 2015 at 10pm ET/7pm PT

NEW YORK - December 18th, 2014 - Ever wonder where some of your favorite foods come from? Alfonso Ribeiro will help answer viewers' most pressing questions and offer behind-the-scenes details on classic American treats in Unwrapped 2.0, premiering Monday, February 2nd 2015 at 10pm ET/7pm PT on Cooking Channel. From Caramel Apples and Honey BBQ Potato Chips to Pork Rinds and Fortune Cookies, join Alfonso as he explores the creation and secrets behind such legendary foods, 2.0 style.

"Viewers will love Alfonso's charismatic charm and engaging personality," said Michael Smith, General Manager and Senior Vice President, Cooking Channel. "As a talented actor, dancer and television host, Alfonso's multi-faceted background and inquisitive nature make him the perfect fit to take the reins of Unwrapped 2.0."

Based on the long-running Food Network series, Unwrapped, originally hosted by Marc Summers, Unwrapped 2.0 will amaze viewers with a behind-the-scenes look at the history, companies and people delivering some of the most famous and revered candies, condiments, and snacks. In one episode, while exploring classic foods that are rolled, Alfonso Ribeiro introduces viewers to a restaurateur and his family that created their own Tortilla company in the '70s, after failing to find quality tortillas that they grew up on.Viewers will learn how they are created and how this ubiquitous food can be used for a meal at any time of the day. Along this journey on all that is rolled, Alfonso explores the origins of the delicious Chocolate Salami, and the Pecan Log Roll, with its origins starting as a roadside snack sold from the trunk of a car, evolving to its current status as an American road trip classic. And no rolling discussion on this matter can be complete without talking about one of the most popular rolls of them all - the Tootsie Roll. See the process of how the Tootsie Roll is put together, with 1,600 pieces created per minute, and shipping over 65 million Tootsie Rolls per day; enough to stretch from New York to Chicago and back - twice!

Alfonso Ribeiro, best known for his role as Carlton Banks on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, is also an established television director, actor and host and voice-over artist. Alfonso made his television debut opposite Ricky Schroder in the long-running sitcom Silver Spoons, making him an instant teen idol. Starting his acting career at the age of eight, Alfonso landed his first starring role in the Broadway musical The Tap Dance Kid, where he was signed to famed music label Island Records. He became an overnight sensation, enamoring the likes of Michael Jackson, who enlisted Alfonso in the infamous Pepsi commercial. After taking time to attend Cal State University, Los Angeles where he earned a Theater Arts education, Alfonso was then approached by Quincy Jones to appear with L.L. Cool J in the series In the House. Alfonso most recently competed and won season 19 of Dancing with the Stars.

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COOKING CHANNEL (www.cookingchanneltv.com) is an entertainment brand dedicated to today's passionate food lover. For food people, by food people, Cooking Channel is the answer to a growing hunger for more content devoted to food and cooking in every dimension from global cuisines to international travel, history and unconventional how-to's. Cooking Channel is part of the media portfolio of Scripps Networks Interactive (NYSE: SNI), which also includes Food Network (www.foodnetwork.com), HGTV (www.hgtv.com), DIY Network (www.diynetwork.com), Travel Channel (www.travelchannel.com), and Great American Country (www.gactv.com).