Falling Nielsen ratings, rising costs, and perhaps a side of cast upheaval, seem to have taken a lethal bite out of an established daytime delicacy. ABC has cancelled The Chew TV show after seven seasons. Instead of season eight, the Alphabet Network has ordered an additional hour of Good Morning America — in the afternoon. Reportedly, the GMA expansion will not affect Live with Kelly & Ryan, which airs at 10:00am ET.
A cooking and lifestyle TV show, The Chew premiered on ABC on September 26, 2011, with original hosts Mario Batali, Daphne Oz, Michael Symon, Carla Hall, and Clinton Kelly. When the production did not replace Oz, who left after the sixth season, fans started listening for the kitchen timer of doom.
Then, during the first half of The Chew season seven, sexual impropriety allegations involving Batali (not show-related) came to light. After a brief investigation, the formerly celebrated chef and restaurateur was officially terminated from The Chew, in December of 2017. Once again, cancellation talk bubbled up — like yeast during proofing.
Symon, Hall, and Kelly have done their level best to fill the gaps at the host table, so perhaps this show has just reached its expiration date. According to reports, The Chew will finish out its regular seventh season production schedule. As with past seasons, new episodes will air throughout the month of June, with repackaged segments taking over until September.
No Season Eight — The Chew to be Replaced by Good Morning America
ABC News’ Good Morning America, will expand to three hours. The new third hour will air at 1 PM. EDT, noon CDT/PDT. The extra hour will replace ABC’s daytime food-themed program The Chew which, after seven seasons, 1454 episodes, multiple Emmy nominations and two Emmy Awards, will cease production at the end of this season but will continue to air as planned until September with all-new episodes airing in June.
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“Over the past six years Good Morning America has solidified its place as America’s No. 1 morning show,” said Ben Sherwood, co-chairman, Disney Media Networks, and president, Disney|ABC Television. “We believe there is great opportunity for viewers and advertisers in expanding to a third hour.”
“While this is the right decision for our business, it is also bittersweet,” Sherwood added. “For seven years ‘The Chew’ has delighted audiences by delivering innovative food segments in an entertaining atmosphere. We applaud and thank Gordon Elliott, Aimee Householder, Michael Symon, Carla Hall, Clinton Kelly and the entire cast and crew for their great work and amazing run. And we wish them the very best.”
In telling his staff, executive producer and “The Chew” show creator Elliott saluted ABC’s move into a brand-new genre seven years ago. “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.”
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“Good Morning America keeps finding new ways to inform and delight our audience. We recently expanded GMA through our social channels and a newly launched website. Now we will build a whole new hour of compelling content that is true to GMA;s spirit,” said James Goldston, president of ABC News.
Additional details about the program, including the title and anchors, will be announced in the coming months.
What do you think? Are you a fan of The Chew TV series? Do you think the Batali scandal and firing were the final straw, or was it time to end the show, anyhow? If it were up to you, would ABC have cancelled or renewed The Chew for an eighth season? Sound off in the comments.
6/15/18 update: The final episode airs. Should The Chew have been cancelled? Vote here.
So sad! Love watching The Chew every day. It is so refreshing to watch a show that is happy, clean and full of tasty meals and tips we can actually use in our everyday life. Please find another hour during the day for The Chew if you just have to have GMA on at noon. Please reconsider canceling such a great show.
I think The Chew happens to be one of the most entertaining shows currently on. It works just fine without Mario. I really hope the network reconsiders.
I love The Chew. I record it every day, so I can watch it even when I can’t be home. I love it and am so sad it is being cancelled. Please reconsider.
Love this show Hope you reconsider
The Chew is a great show. I think the hosts are very knowledgeable and personable and I enjoy watching it everyday as opposed to game shows. I truly hope you reconsider your decision a s it will be a big loss of you cancel the show
Please don’t cancel the Chew. It is a great show that makes you laugh and helps to learn how to cook better. It won 2 emmys and is so much better than the same old game shows and that silly show that goes over posts. You tried another hour of gma a while ago and it was a flop. This show was different and happy!
PLEASE keep The Chew on. It is a great entertaining show!
It took me a while to get on board with this show because my two other favorite soap operas were cancelled. But for lack of other daytime shows of interest I soon developed a fondness for the show. Interestingly enough my favorites on the show ended up being the co-hosts. Now I find out it is cancelled. I am saddened by this news. It was a funny show, informative and I liked the guests. I am not happy to see GMA is taking its place. Not something I watch because I don’t like it. It used to be a NEWS… Read more »
The Chew is how a food show should be … cooking and baking is a creative pleasure. It should not be a competition that is full of stress. Rather, it should be a happy experience. This is what the chew was! I will miss it so much! I always walked away from the show smiling and informed! So sad now!
With all the cooking shows on the Food Network, I thought The Chew didn’t have a chance….. until I watched it. It became my favorite cooking show. Informative and entertaining. Mario was the foundation of the show and a disappointment when his dirty laundry came to light. I guess it makes him “Presidential”. He needed to make restitution, enter rehab and then beg for forgiveness. The Chew suffered without him. I hope they all can make a comeback. There’s nothing else on ABC I am interested in viewing. Bring back The Chew as soon as GMA fails.
Although I watch and enjoy GMA every morning, we don’t need another program that over loads us with news. The Chew gives us a refreshing change from the usual. I’m not a cook but have accumulated a lot of the recipes because they make it look so easy and tasty! Carla, Clinton and Michael, thank you. You will be missed greatly.
Please reconsider cancelling The Chew. I watch every day. Don’t need another hour of GMA.
I love the Chew, come home from work at lunch just to watch it. My son sometimes stops by on his lunch break and we watch together. No desire to come home to watch GMA.
PLEASE DO NOT CANCEL THE CHEW!
We never miss an episode! Don’t cancel this great show!
Please reconsider. The Chew is the best daytime show around. I am heartbroken.