(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 have no reason to turn on ABC at all now. And no I will not watch GMA.
ABC made a serious mistake cancelling The Chew. I like Sarah Haines & Michael Strahan but not enough to watch an additional hour of the news from GMA. Don’t know their format yet, but I do know that I cannot handle one more hour of this depressing & disturbing news being reported everyday. The Chew & its host had a chemistry that made my day, I laughed, was entertained and learned things about cooking that my family & friends have enjoyed. Please bring them back.
The Chew was the best in positive reinforcement and love. I want it back. Please.
No, The Chew should not have been cancelled. I really enjoyed that show. And I definitly will not be watching a 3rd hour of GMA.. Too much already!
At 1:00pm Friday, I deleted abc from my TV. No Chew, no need for abc. #savethechew
#fox #nbc #cbs
ABC should not have cancelled The Chew!
my prayer is put the chew somewhere on the network- they bring such a positive vibe-pleeeease!
i want the chew back…why do you continue to cancel the best programs. i enjoyed all three hosts..guests..cooking and humor.
This is one of the only non political, non controversial, educational shows on TV fit for children and adults alike. This country doesn’t need another GMA talk show. I think ABC has made a monumental mistake canceling a show that brought such joy to daytime programming. This actually was the only showI ever watched on ABC and will definitely not be watching the new show.
I really love THE CHEW
#SAVETHECHEW
Not a wise decision to cancel The Chew. Already ABC has been walking a fine line with their morning news. I’ve stopped watching local ABC here in Seattle too. Low quality. The Chew truly was a gem, filled with a rare kinship not seen in other shows. It was educational, inspiring, encouraging. I laughed & felt content that I spent an hour watching something worthwhile. ABC has now removed that gem with a fake, cheap possibly trashy show that I will never watch. More news? Presented by 2 people that lack professionalism, integrity & intelligence. Honestly you’d think by now… Read more »
Please reconsider canceling The Chew! I so enjoyed that show, it was an upbeat happy hour in an otherwise boring day of television. I will miss it terribly. It was also educational in a fun way.
Please, please do all of us “Chewers” a favor and keep it going!!
I really enjoyed The Chew. I REALLY HATE THE VIEW, I don’t understand why ABC chose to cancel a show that made everyone feel good, and keep The View that is the most hateful, demeaning and hypocritical show on daytime TV.
Not only will I not watch a 3rd hour of GMA, I no longer watch hour 1 and 2!
I have never been a GMA fan but I started watching Windy City Live and then noticed the Chew. Pretty soon I was taping the Chew because I felt it relaxed me and the news shows were not. I was disappointed in the cancellation but will not be watching GMA. I don’t need more news. I need more fun. I have now discovered Hallmark movies and mysteries. But if the Chew comes back on any other network, I will be back to watch.