Mayberry Man actor to get cooking lessons on Food Network hit, 'Worst Cooks'

Spoiled and cooking? Actor Joel Alvarado thinks that sounds like a combination that works and he can’t wait for it to play out before America.

Alvarado will be shown in the heat of a kitchen battle on the “Worst Cooks in America,” the Food Network show that puts kitchen novices through a culinary boot camp. The season premieres Jan. 7.

The new season, the series’ 27th, features 16 contestants who are accustomed to dining out and delivery apps and who “have never cooked a meal in their lives,” the channel said.

The winner in the elimination series gets a $25,000 prize.

Alvarado is spoiled with a capital S, which stands for Sandy Oliva, his mother, and a Warren Township school district teacher.

“She caters to me so much. I've just never met anyone as selfless as her. Yes, I'm her kid, but she does it for everybody else's kids. She's someone who dedicates her life in the classroom and she’s dedicated to me,” he said. “She even cuts my food up and puts it in separate compartments.”

Alvarado is 37.

He’s not even the baby of the family.

His younger sister, Tori Oliva, is 28.

“She’s so jealous of that because she feels like she doesn't get the same treatment,” Alvarado said. “I told her, ‘Baby, I can't tell you why but it's just that thing where I think that mothers do for their sons and I think fathers do for their daughters. I think it's just like a natural thing. Of course, my mom is taking this to the supernatural, because she's just the ultimate. She'll show up at my door five times a day, bringing me stuff.  She's just always trying to feed me and make sure I'm good.”

We’ll see the Warren Central High School grad’s bid to move from coddled mama's boy to a home cook.

“It was advanced but it was like basically going to a fourth-level college class instead of starting at freshman-year level,” he said. “A lot of the challenges were just super accelerated. But I think that’s exactly what they should have been, because you should not go there and then try to make a grilled cheese or PB&J.”

“You’re supposed to learn to cook what you want to eat from a restaurant.”

Alvarado is the first Indianapolis resident to compete in the series.

Greenwood resident Tiffany Billingsly ended up placing fourth out of a field of 14 in 2021; and Samantha “Sami” White, who grew up in Fishers and lives in Chicago, made it to the finale last season.

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“I am so proud to be the first one to represent truly on this show,” he said. “I've heard about Sami and heard about Tiffany, but we needed somebody from Indianapolis. So when this opportunity approached itself, I was so excited.”

Alvarado is used to having eyes on him.

He’s a Goober Pyle tribute artist, having portrayed a similar character in 2021’s “Mayberry Man,” which was shot in the Indianapolis area and has a festival celebrating “The Andy Griffith Show” as its background.

A descendant of King of Scotland Robert the Bruce who toured with Styx’ Dennis DeYoung –  according to his IMDB page –  Alvarado can be seen in “River Beauty,” a horror mystery movie executive produced by “The Munsters” star Butch Patrick.

He was also spotted on the Reelz TV series “On Patrol: Live” earlier this year (2023) when he was stopped in Beech Grove while driving the 1960s police squad-styled car used in the movie.

He’s wanted to be on “Worst Cooks” for a while, even expressing an interest during press for “Mayberry Man.”

“I thought it’d be funny to have Goober in the kitchen,” he said. “I realized that I basically manifested it. I was so specific to say ‘Worst Cooks.’”

It was a show that he and childhood friend Ambyr Crew enjoyed together before her passing in 2017. He’d moved to California to care for her after she was diagnosed with aplastic anemia.

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“It's become like an homage and a tribute to my friend by even being a part of the show at this time,” he said. “I really love our city and I just hope that when people tune in they feel like I’m representing well.”

Of course, he can’t divulge how far he gets in the competition, but Alvarado said he slays style-wise this season.

“I will say I am always the most fabulous and best dressed and please stay tuned to that. If you don't want to stay tuned for anything else, stay tuned for my outfits.”

Season 27 of “Worst Cooks in America” premieres with a two-hour double episode at 8 p.m. Jan. 7, 2024 Food Network, then streams on Discovery+ and Max.

Contact IndyStar reporter Cheryl V. Jackson at cheryl.jackson@indystar.com or 317-444-6264. Follow her on X.com:@cherylvjackson.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indiana actor heads to kitchen in Food Network's 'Worst Cooks'