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.
We all need to boy cot ABC. In times of turmoil and negativity this has been the only show to get us through the day with smiles on our faces, not to mention how much we have learned over the years. There are way to many Good Morning America TV shows on the air and it becomes boring and repetitious. Please please reconsider, Michael, Carla and Clinton have the best chemistry together and to end this show is so wrong.
I have watched, “The Chew” since it started. I am broken hearted to see it got rubbed out. I hope there is a way it may be brought back. Everyone was so nice and fun. The program helped me with my depression.
I LOVE THE CHEW & I WILL REALLY MISS IT!!! YES, THEY SHOULD BRING IT BACK!! IT WAS A COMFORT TO ME TO WATCH IT & TRY DIFFERENT RECIPES!!! WE DO NOT NEED ANOTHER HOUR OF GMA!!!!! YOU WILL BE MISSED CARLA, SIMON & CLINTON BY MANY MANY FANS!!
So sorry I’ll miss the Chew greatly, another hour of political GMA too bad
I totally agree with you!! I will miss the Chew so very much!!!!! I taped it everyday!!!
This should not be cancelled. Its better with D. Oz and M. Batali. Clinton, Carla and Michael are the best and I have learned a lot from them. They are better than anything on Food Network. Just hope someone picks them up. Sure do not need another news type program. Wont be watching GMA. Not interesting. The View should be cancelled. Its vile. Even hate the promo’s for it. that’s what an off button is for
Will totally miss the Chew: Michael, Carla and Clinton! Fantastic show! Awesome recipes, tips, and entertainment. They are so relaxing in the kitchen and very inspiring. Their emmy awards and nominations should speak volumes as to idea to cancel.
I’d rather see “The View” go. Too political and opinionated. I do believe that is what the ABC News “is” for!
The Chew should not be cancelled! I enjoy the show so much, I record it, and look forward to watching it everyday after work. It has only improved with the removal of some of the former cast. Michael, Clinton, and Carla are so enjoyable to watch and I really feel like they are having fun and are actually friends! I can only hope is that another network might pick them up so I can continue to enjoy one of my favorite shows! So Sad!!
I’m heartbroken. The team have become friends & mentors with cooking. Do we need another boring hour of GMA?
Get real. I hope GMA flops.
This so bad. I don’t need more sad upsetting news. I won’t be watching. My best to all of the crew and stars.
I really enjoyed The Chew ! It was a fun and informative show. I liked all of the stars. So sad to be ending!
I look forward to switching from all the depressing morning news shows to watching the Chew at noon every day. The three remaining co-hosts, Michael, Clinton and Carla, have a great relationship with each other and provide the viewers with lots of fun and recipe ideas. The show should not be cancelled!
I agree The Chew should not be canceled. It IS informative, entertaining, and I so enjoy the cast interaction with the interesting and ahhhhhhmazing guests. I for one, no longer watch GMA, when I did it was because of George Stephanopolous, now with the expanded new format and the addition and focus on Michael Strayhan, I am no longer a fan. Nice man, but he should stick to sports, not my cup of tea. The Chew cast and presentations will be missed
I sure hope the other TV networks are reading these comments about
The Chew being cancelled. Hopefully one of them will pick up this very informative, funny, teaching show that we will all be missing. Maybe its time to change the channel. Anyone out there want their ratings to go up? Scoop up this show and make a lot of people happy. Enough doom and gloom.
I am really really sad for the chew to leave. Finall5 a show I love and your replacing with news. More news I’m tired of news. It’s nice to have had some silly funny entertaining people to watch and now they are gone. All the good shows go away! It’s very sad.
ABC is making a HUGE mistake cancelling the CHEW. Everyone knows that hosts come and go, but Michael, Carla and Clinton are fabulous. There is no show like it on air. I love the hints and reciepes.
The Chew shouldn’t be cancelled . It is an informative show and the cast is fun to watch their interaction. Put it at another time if you need another news spot.