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.
Very sad to hear “The Chew” is not coming back! I, like millions of others, like me, watch this show everyday! I will miss it! 🙁
I’m so disappointed that The Chew was cancelled. I love to watch The Chew just to uplift my spirits in this era of disrespect and divisiveness. It just feels good for me to watch the camaraderie between Michael, Carla, and Clinton and to hear about their cooking and entertainment tips. While I’m glad that GMA is doing well, that show is not “must-see-TV” for me. Oh, well. At least now I’ll have more time for reading.
I have loved The Chew for 7 seasons but not as much as since Mario’s been gone. Everyone has been so much more happy now. I watch twice a day now & I’m so sad about this new decision to stop the Chew. Please don’t discontinue the Chew.
I have a home based business…. my lunch break usually includes watching The Chew. It’s fun, its entertaining……. I think it is one of the best produced shows on day time television. Lots of joy. ABC doesn’t need a third hour of GMA. That’s just being g-r-ee-d-y. However that is what tv is about. I think Mario and Daphne had little to do with this decision. Very dissapointing.
I’m a fan of The Chew! It is full of good ideas, food and fun. GMA is great but I need a day brightener not another hour of news. I love Carla, Clinton and Michael and the positive energy they generate.
I am so heartbroken and disappointed that the POWERS THAT BE have cancelled “THE CHEW” TV show. I so enjoy MICHAEL, CARLA and CLINTON because they make days enjoyable to everyone especially those of us who have to spend most days at home. They can brighten a bad day AND make most people laugh who really need it. If this is because of Batali, I think the people who hired him goofed up and do not do background checks on the people they hire. PLEASE LEAVE “THE CHEW” on the air. I am retired and I thoroughly enjoy this show.… Read more »
Bad move getting rid of The Chew ! Then adding another hour to the morning show we don’t need that . You lost me…
It’s disappointing. The Chew provides an entertaining and informative reprieve from the daily depressing status quo. It’s enjoyable to see Clinton, Carla and Michael . Adding another hour of GMA at 1PM seems to be a mistake. GMA can’t compare to the uplift of The Chew.
Was so sorry to see The Chew cancelled. I thought the hosts were most entertaining & personable & believable. They truly seemed to enjoy each other, their live audience & us at home. Do not think we need another hour of GMA…didn’t they already try that & it flopped? Good bye, Clinton, Michael & Carla…God bless you as you move on to the next chapter in life. You will be missed!
When ABC cancelled AMC & OLTL I vowed to boycott the network forever. Then the announcement came naming The Chew as the replacement. Being a super “foodie “ I was excited and decided to give the new show a chance. It’s been the greatest most entertaining and successful food/entertainment show ever!! I can’t believe ratings could be that bad (despite the turmoil) compared to some of the other fluff shows still airing on ABC. I’m so disappointed!! Perhaps that boycott is relevant again. #keepthechew
I was sadden to hear that the Chew is being cancelled. Who needs another hour GMA or any show like that. The Chew offered good food tips and recipies and is a lot of fun to watch. I hope you reconsider bringing them back in Sept. Carla, Michael and Clinton are lots of fun. We have enough news, talk shows and riskae comedy shows that poke fun at ethnicity, religion and politics. We need more good clean fun shows like the Chew. Laughter is the best medicine.
The Chew is perfect with the 3 hosts they now have. They should have been given more time. I enjoy these 3 the best. Another hour of GMA? Two is enough! I would choose happy, positive and kind anytime over GMA. The choices the network heads have been making are the very reason I hardly watch network TV anymore. Now I will be watching even less!
We are so disappointed. We love the Chew. Maybe the food network can pick it up and give it continued life. One hour of The Chew is better than three hours of GMA.
What a disappointment. I haven’t watched GMAC for over a year…too much going on. This move will move me out tot my garden or errands sooner.
This is horrible! We watch every week day. Here in the Chicago area we will have more of GMA again (which I don’t ever watch; then we get the Windy City Live sex talk show: then on to General Hospital! The Chew is informative, witty and the hosts are extremely interesting. We will miss it very much!