Food Network teams up Bobby Flay for two shows: ‘BBQ Brawl: Flay v. Symon’ with Michael Symon and ‘The Flay List’ with daughter Sophie

June 25, 2019

Bobby Flay and Michael Symon
Bobby Flay and Michael Symon (Photo courtesy of Food Network)

The following is a press release from Food Network:

Culinary icon and acclaimed Food Network host Bobby Flay heats things up this summer with the premiere of two new series. On “BBQ Brawl: Flay V. Symon,” Bobby goes head-to-head against fellow Iron Chef Michael Symon in this four-episode stunt, as Bobby and Michael coach eight of the country’s most respected BBQ challengers for bragging rights. In “The Flay List,” Bobby visits the culinary spots he has frequented for years with daughter Sophie, as they experience classic locations and dishes, with Sophie introducing her dad to her latest discoveries.

“Bobby Flay is a leading authority when it comes to grilling, and a fierce competitor, so it is only fitting that Bobby treats viewers to a BBQ competition against Iron Chef and best friend, Michael Symon, for the ultimate in bragging rights,” said Courtney White, President, Food Network. “Bobby’s daughter Sophie Flay also joins Food Network this summer, as Bobby and Sophie share some of their favorite culinary destinations, giving audiences a personal and playful look on their picks that are perfect for all generations, as only a father and daughter can.”

Culinary superstars, Iron Chefs and best of friends, Bobby Flay and Michael Symon, compete against each other in the new Food Network competition “BBQ Brawl: Flay V. Symon,” premiering Thursday, August 1st at 9pm ET/PT. Over four one-hour episodes, Bobby and Michael mentor eight pitmasters at the famed Star Hill Ranch in Austin, Texas, with barbecue battles to determine which challenger reigns supreme. While Michael and Bobby compete to inspire and coach their teams, a panel of judges, consisting of grilling experts Moe Cason, Chris Lilly and Amy Mills, decide which chefs will flame out. In the end, one competitor will earn the title of “Master of Cue” and star in their own digital series on FoodNetwork.com. Challenges during the season include a regional BBQ challenge, testing the pitmasters’ ability to cook any style; and Bobby and Michael battling in a high “steaks” challenge utilizing Tomahawk Ribeye. The final two pitmasters will meet in a BBQ battle for the ages, but when the sun sets, only one competitor will walk away with claim to the title and their own digital series. Fans that can’t wait for the premiere, starting Monday, July 29 viewers can watch the competitors compete in culinary challenges that will push their skills to the limit in the digital companion series BBQ Brawl: The Pre-Heat on the Food Network app.

On Thursday, August 22 at 10:30pm ET/PT, Bobby Flay and his daughter Sophie hit the streets in six half-hour episodes in search of the greatest local dishes around, in the new series “The Flay List.” During the season Bobby and Sophie visit the ever-buzzing Chelsea Market for some tacos at Los Tacos No.1, while grabbing creamy Italian gelato for dessert at Bobby’s favorite, L’Arte del Gelato. Afterwards, Sophie takes Bobby to Greenpoint, Brooklyn, for her taco pick at hotspot Oxomoco. In another episode Bobby and Sophie start the day with a joy ride on bikes as they head to the Lower East Side for Sophie’s pick, Sweet Chick. After the meal, they check out Morgenstern’s gourmet ice cream parlor that Bobby’s been dying to try, before heading to Bobby’s pick of Blue Ribbon, where he spent a lot of time early in his career. Other episodes include stops at J.G. Melon for Bobby’s burger selection, Sophie’s taste for Detroit-style pizza at Emily,and a stroll to Korea Town for some dessert at Grace Street Café, followed by a steak dinner at Bobby’s old school pick, Wolfgang’s Steakhouse.

Fans can check out Food Network platforms all summer long for more on “BBQ Brawl: Flay v. Symon” and “The Flay List”, including hilarious behind-the-scenes videos of Bobby and Michael as they play barbecue guessing games, take our BFF quiz, and undergo a series of blindfolded taste tests. To catch the winning pitmaster’s digital series, visit FoodNetwork.com/BBQBrawl. To learn more about the restaurants visited by Bobby and Sophie, and to watch insider videos from set, fans can visit FoodNetwork.com/TheFlayList. Follow along and join the conversation using #BBQBrawl and#TheFlayList for more exclusive content.

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FOOD NETWORK (www.foodnetwork.com) is a unique lifestyle network, website and magazine that connects viewers to the power and joy of food. The network strives to be viewers’ best friend in food and is committed to leading by teaching, inspiring, empowering and entertaining through its talent and expertise. Food Network is distributed to nearly 100 million U.S. households and draws over 46 million unique web users monthly. Since launching in 2009, Food Network Magazine’s rate base has grown 13 times and is the No. 2 best-selling monthly magazine on the newsstand, with 13.5 million readers. Food Network is owned by Discovery, Inc., a global leader in real life entertainment spanning 220 countries and territories; the portfolio also includes Discovery Channel, HGTV, TLC, Investigation Discovery, and OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network.

ABC cancels ‘The Chew’; viewers react with anger and sadness

May 23, 2018

by Jennifer Dawson

The Chew
Michael Symon, Carla Hall and Clinton Kelly of “The Chew” (Photo courtesy of ABC)

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.

Clinton Kelly, Carla Hall and Michael Symon of “The Chew” (Photo by Lorenzo Bevilaqua/ABC)

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!”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dPw7i9yUD34

UPDATE: “The Chew” aired its final episode on June 15, 2018. Here are some statistics that ABC provided about “The Chew”:

Seasons: 7
Episodes: 1,500
Audience members: 201,343
Recipes made: 6,630
Celebrity guests: 1,121
Crafts created: 228
Michael’s “5 in 5s”: 164
Carla’s desserts: 437
Emmys: In 2015, the co-hosts of “The Chew” won the Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Informative Talk Show Host; and in 2016, “The Chew” won the Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Talk Show.
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