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(ABC / Lorenzo Bevilaqua)
Today, ABC airs the final episode of their daytime series, The Chew. Last month, the network announced that the cooking-themed talk show had been cancelled after more than 1,400 episodes. Will you miss it? Was this the right decision?
Launching in September 2011, The Chew replaced the All My Children soap opera after its 41 years on the network. A talk show that incorporates cooking and lifestyle-related segments, the series was initially hosted by Mario Batali, Carla Hall, Clinton Kelly, Daphne Oz, and Michael Symon. Oz departed the show after six seasons and Batali left following sexual misconduct allegations in December 2017.
ABC decided to cancel The Chew in order to expand their Good Morning America series to three hours. NBC’s Today show has had a third hour (with various titles) since October 2000. The current incarnation is Megyn Kelly Today.
While the third hour of Today typically followed the regular program’s two-hour broadcast, hour three of Good Morning America will air separately, in the afternoon. The new hour of GMA is expected to be taped and not presented live, as the regular program is. ABC is making this move as Today has been taking the lead in various demographics in the morning ratings race.
If ABC had wanted to expand GMA to three hours, couldn’t they have replaced either The View or Live with Kelley and Ryan? That was unlikely to happen since both perform better in the ratings than The Chew. In particular, The View has been growing its audience and has been seeing its best ratings since the 2014-15 season (a rarity in today’s landscape). Meanwhile, The Chew has been in last place, ranking 13th out of 13 daytime series.
While ABC may have high hopes for a third hour of GMA, they no doubt have an uphill battle ahead. Daytime audiences often don’t like change and some viewers still hold a grudge against The Chew for replacing All My Children. Time will tell if the new hour of GMA will fare any better than The Chew did.
What do you think? Do you think that ABC should have cancelled The Chew TV series? If not, what could they have done to boost the ratings? Will you check out a third hour of Good Morning America?
I tape the chew and watch every evening. Have never re order GMA.ABC just lost this daytime viewer. PLEASE SOM OTHER NETWORK SIGN THEM UP!
If I wanted additional news broadcasts after 2 hrs of GMA I would change the channel.
The Chew gave me ideas that I actually used, they informed and entertained daily.
Please, Gordon Elliot, take this format to another network!
I will not watch GMA 3
I am so sad that The Chew has been cancelled. I don’t look forward to more news. The Chew was a nice distraction from all the political crap going on in the world. It was a breath of fresh air and it was truly a show I looked forward to each day.
I am upset that ABC decided to end The Chew. It was uplifting and educational. The reason the ratings are not up there is because it airs opposite soaps on CBS and NBC. Why not swap time slots with Millionaire and RTM?? as a lead in to GH??? The Chew was always positive and non political. We need more shows like the Chew. Boo to you ABC. I will not be watching another hour of GMA.
Best cast on daytime TV! Will not be watching GMA! Guess I will check out Food Network or HGTV during this time slot.
don’t cancel the chew please! I watched it regularly as it gave such informative infuriation about cooking. It’s also teaching younger people the importance of eating at home and family time by eating together.
I think it is a shame that networks are removing shows that are interesting and fun. IMO, this is one of the BEST daytime shows in years. Nothing but fun mixed in with some great recipe and decorating ideas. This show will definitely be missed. Certainly will not tune in to watch another hour of a talk show!!!
I am not watching that 3rd hour of GMA The Chew was one of the BEST shows I have enjoyed watching for the last 7 years!!!!! I will miss you guys daily!
I WILL NOT watch another hour of GMA. Enough is enough! The Chew is entertaining and informative. Cancel The View.
Absoluely NOT! Best food show on TV. I’m sick! Love that show so much!
GMA has becoming an extension of MSNBC with their version of the news and a lot like Entertainment Tonight with it’s gossipy headlines–I don’t watch either one nor will I. Such a shame to cancel The Chew.
So sad the chew was canceled…I only watch two shows on abc the chew and the nightly news…too bad that one of the best daytime shows had been canceled hope you change your mind or that better yet another network will see how popular the chew is and pick it up it’ll be your loss and our gain if they do so I’ll only be watching David Muir and nothing else
This is my favorite show and I am going to miss the Chew so much I will watch reruns just to help me to laugh and put some sunshine in my day. A very sad day for this network. A very bad move.
No should not be cancelled. This show is wonderful. Will not watch GMA never do. That’s ridiculous to have a show on for 3 hours wth hear news all day. Don’t need more. Wonder so much depression. Geez The Chew is exciting to watch. And as for Mario he made his bed so lie in it. Should kept his hands and mouth to himself shame on him at all he lost. Loved to watch him on the show also but was a bit overbearing at times. He treated others as they were stupid sometimes I think. This is wrong I… Read more »
The chew was one of only a couple shows I would purposely tune in to ABC to watch