Arts and Entertainment, Cuisine
ABC, Carla Hall, celebrity chefs, Clinton Kelly, cooking shows, Daphne Oz, Good Morning America, Mario Batali, Michael Symon, The Chew, TV
May 23, 2018
by Jennifer Dawson
ABC has announced that it is canceling its food-oriented talk show “The Chew” to make way for a third hour of “Good Morning America” at 1 p.m. ET/PT. “The Chew,” which debuted in 2011, “will cease production at the end of this season but will continue to air as planned until September [2018] with new episodes airing in June,” according to an ABC press release.
“The Chew” began with five hosts: Michael Symon, Carla Hall, Clinton Kelly, Daphne Oz and Mario Batali. Oz left in August 2017 to pursue other opportunities. Batali was fired in December 2017, after he admitted to and made a public apology for accusations that he sexually harassed female employees and colleagues for several years. Oz and Batali were not replaced on “The Chew.”
In a press release, “The Chew” creator/executive producer Gordon Elliott issued this statement: “Before ‘The Chew,’ no one had attempted a talk/food hybrid. Our hosts Clinton, Carla and Michael and the staff created television history executing the show as well as they did for all these years. I know I speak for all of the people who work on the show when I say it was the best television we have ever had the privilege to produce.”
Apart from Gordon Ramsay’s shows on Fox, “The Chew” was one of the few food-oriented shows on a broadcast (not cable) network.
Symon posted this statement on his Facebook page: “As you may have heard by now we found out today this is our final season of The Chew … I Just want to say thank you to everyone who not only was involved with show but to all those who watched daily and allowed us to entertain you…it has been an amazing run and we are all looking forward to new fun things!…xoxo…MS”
Hall commented on her Twitter account: I am so grateful for all the good times and incredible friends I have made over the past seven years on @thechew. It has truly been an amazing ride. I am looking forward to new adventures! What’s next? Stay tuned! Onward and upward! #adventurefollows.”
Viewers had swift and overwhelming reactions to “The Chew” being cancelled, with most expressing anger or sadness on the Internet about the show’s cancellation. A small minority of people reacting on the Internet expressed happiness that “The Chew” was cancelled, but they are identifying themselves as soap-opera fans who are still bitter that “All My Children” was cancelled and replaced by “The Chew.” Fans of “The Chew” are extremely upset about “The Chew” getting cancelled, and say they won’t be watching the “Good Morning America” segment that will be replacing the show.
Here’s a sampling of comments from the Internet:
On “The Chew’s” official Facebook page:
“So disgusted and disappointed The Chew is being cancelled. I have been watching since the very first episode. I tape it everyday and see absolutely no reason why we need 3 hours of GMA. I love GMA but don’t need 3 hours of it. I hope the Food Network picks this show up.”
“Save the Chew… it’s the only daytime show I watch… I cannot believe it’s being cancelled for more news… I think we see enough negative stories in the morning and at night from the news… this was a great positive uplifting fun show and I learned a lot of new recipes too… I love the interviews w/ celebs cooking along side the chefs…”
“Just read the The Chew has been cancelled, yet The View is still on!! Very disappointing. I do not watch the 2 hours of GMA now so I definitely won’t be tuning in during this time slot.”
“I can not believe The Chew is cancelled. ABC execs have made a huge mistake here. This show has a great following and brings something different to daytime TV that no one else has. I DVR this show and look forward to watching every new episode. I will not be watching a THIRD hour of GMA. Absolutely ridiculous.”
“Shame on you ABC! We don’t need more news through the day, loved watching Clinton, Clara, and Michael. Hopefully, another station will pick them up.”
On Twitter:
“The Chew was a great show! The other 3 host had nothing to do with what Mario did. Who in the world needs another cornball hour of Good Morning America?”
“Boycott ABC. Shame on you for canceling The Chew! Nobody needs a 3rd hour of GMA.”
“I’m a ‘Good Morning America’ watcher, but not happy #TheChew has been canceled (despite strong ratings & sometimes outperforming “The View”) for a new afternoon version of @GMA! Unless #TJHolmes is hosting the 1pm version, this is a BAD idea!”
UPDATE: “The Chew” aired its final episode on June 15, 2018. Here are some statistics that ABC provided about “The Chew”: