24 in 24: Last Chef Standing

In the supersized season premiere, hosts Michael Symon and Esther Choi welcome 24 of the country's most talented and fearless chefs to compete in the most intense competition of all time – 24 challenges in 24 nonstop hours. In the first shift, the chefs must endure three challenges testing speed. Those that impress expert judge Antonia Lofaso survive, and whoever does not is forced to clock out. When Michael and Esther introduce the all-important golden knife, the chefs learn this epic day of cooking will be full of twists and turns, but only those that can adjust on the fly have a chance to be the last chef standing. Over the next 24 hours, the competition tackles different shifts that test aspects of being a chef: after the premiere's speed challenge, themes include simplicity, resourcefulness, artistry, adaptability, teamwork, risk taking and elevation. 

Co-hosts Michael Symon and Esther Choi begin the second shift with two chefs in a head-to-head elimination battle that tests simplicity. After judge Graham Elliot decides which chef will clock out, the remaining chefs take on a tricky taste test. 

Then, after seven straight hours of cooking, the chefs are asked to be resourceful with both time and ingredients as they create a three-course meal worthy of a black-tie event in only 60 minutes for judge Jet Tila.

Co-hosts Michael Symon and Esther Choi assign the fatigued chefs famous works of art to use for inspiration as they cook for judge Fariyal Abdullahi. 

Then, the unrelenting twists and turns continue into hour 13 as the chefs must turn ingredients for a lumberjack breakfast into an entirely different meal for judge Brooke Williamson.

Frustration and fatigue mounts in hour 16 as co-hosts Michael Symon and Esther Choi ask the eight remaining chefs to work in teams to make a soup and sandwich all while handling three culinary curveballs for judges Carlos Anthony and Brian Malarkey. 

Then, in shift number seven, after the competitors have been up for 19 hours, they'll have to take some risks while making a finale-worthy fish dish for judge Andrew Zimmern to earn a spot in the final shift and have a chance at winning $75,000.

There are five chefs and four challenges remaining in this epic competition of skill and stamina. In the final shift featuring elevation, co-hosts Michael Symon and Esther Choi give the five weary finalists a challenge that will be familiar to them. This sets the course for the final three challenges, which will require making an elevated breakfast, lunch and dinner for judges Antonia Lofaso, Graham Elliot and Jet Tila. But as these chefs have come to learn, these last challenges will not be quite what they expected.

After more than 20 nonstop hours, co-hosts Michael Symon and Esther Choi ask the elite and exhausted chefs to dig deep and create an elevated lunch and an elevated dinner as their final two challenges. Judges Antonia Lofaso, Graham Elliot and Jet Tila decide which chef will walk away with $75,000 and the title of Last Chef Standing.