(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 really love the Chew it’s always entertaining and informative I’m so sad to see them leave. I certainly don’t want to see or will I watch another news or talk show there’s enough of those already on everyday every morning and evening. How much new news can you have it’s just repeated every hour everyday and sometimes the same story for days no matter what else you add to the show in the end it’s just another news broadcast.. boring !
This is the second time that Michael Strahan has been unfair to co-hosts, first Kelly Ripa and now these 3 co-hosts and I really liked him but will not watch that show. I loved the Chew they were extremely funny and it was a happy show that you could watch and not have to worry about world affairs and unhappy news.
No. Someone did not do their research.
The show content put butts on the sofa. Do we really need another morning show? In the afternoon? Seems a waste of resources
I will not watch the 3rd hour of GMA even tho I watch it in the morning because I LOVE the CHEW and I am angry that it is being cancelled so ABC can go…. away to put it nicely
You are really making a big mistake. It was watched by my 92 year old mom, myself at 71, my daughter at 48 and my granddaughter at 10. Don’t cancel!!!!!’
The chew was a delightful show. It was funny and informative and those 3 were a great team. Bring it back now, you are making a big mistake
I am so upset they cancelled the Chew one of my favorite shows, very up beat and enjoyable cast and they bring on stars to make it even better, down to earth and lots of fun entertainment, so very sorry to see it go. I don’t believe we don’t need more GMA 2 hours is enough. Will not be watching it, will go to the food channel to watch for cooking, very very disappointed.
I will miss The Chew. The cast makes the recipes they feature easy for anyone to tackle. This show is so much better than Kelly and Ryan, The View is terrible, sorry. GMA for three hours may be over kill. I sincerely you reconsider and bring this show back. Once Mario left it was better than ever. They taught viewers and provided fantisic tips. The Chew is actually the BEST cooking show. 2.7 million viewers is a good following, very good. I think you will be losing viewership by taking this show off the air.
I was very disappointed to learn of the cancellation of The Chew. I look forward daily to seeing one of the few cheerful, fun shows with great creativity in their cuisine. Please keep it.
I was very angry to hear that they cancelled “The Chew”. It was the one show that I watched religiously. I love all that I learn through their show and thoroughly enjoy the hosts while they are teaching us these things. I for one will NOT watch Good Morning America for a third hour, I mean really do we need a third hour of that show!!!!
I was disheartened to learn that The Chew has been cancelled–and on my birthday, too! I enjoy cooking, and I learned a lot more about it by watching this show. The real camaraderie that Michael, Carla, and Clinton had made it a joyful experience. I’ve watched cook shows before, but have never enjoyed one as much as this. I’m hoping that another network picks it up. The thought of three hours of GMA makes me gag. I’ve watched The Chew since its inception, and was happy when it pared down to the three hosts. They are talented and real and… Read more »
Why would you take off an upbeat fun show to replace it with more talking heads? Don’t like Strahan and never will, he needs to talk to sports fans and stay in his lane. Then you unfairly take one of the really fun peolple Sara Haines from the view and put her on this titanic of an idea. Who wants this crap, constant whining about how your life is going to be and you have all the ideas and experts to change it. BRING BACK THE CHEW and ADD another crafty person or 2 . Keep Carla, Michael and Clinton!… Read more »
Although I watch ch 7 – GMA I don’t think we need another hour. I have watched the Chew for years and can’t believe you would cancel that show for another hour that repeats what every other channel reports. Don’t need this repetition. GIVE US BACK THE CHEW.
Is was dead last in the daytime ratings people. Though I have to admit, it was better than Kelly and Ryan.
I love the CHEW, came to it late and absolutely love each member of the cast; together they exude kindness, competence and joy and these days we sure need more of that in all forms of media. Please leave GMA in the morning and give us the JOY IN THE AFTERNOON.