(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 personally loved this show and am saddened ABC and Disney cancelled it for whatever reason. I hope they are inundated with every text,tweet,FB comment, e-mails etc so they know the mistake they made. I am a GMA fan but WILL NOT watch the GMA Day show. Enough is enough. #bringbackthechew
Disappointed. At first when I started watching didn’t like it, kept watching and got addicted to it. Those three are great together. They not only gave me pointers about cooking but made me laugh. It’s good to laugh and be silly. It be than hearing all the heartbreaking new all morning long on ABC and all night long on ABC. People need to relax once and awhile and this is what those three did for me. Thank You Clinton, Clara and Michael so much for making my day.
I sure will miss the Chew. I looked forward to and planned my day around the Chew time slot everyday. I will miss the fun, cooking tips and great recipes Mike, Clinton and Karla provided. Show should not have been canceled perhaps add another face if the network felt it needed freshening.
NO
Incorporate more young, hip ideas and inform advertisers to do the same in their commercials, if you want to attract the 25-54 and 19-49 age demographics. For example, have one or all ride in on a Hoverboard, test and demonstrate effective use of kitchen gadgets and items for the young, on-the-go parent! Food advertisers should promote more Vegetarian/Vegan, Natural food products ie. Natural Peanut Butter! The Chew already began to incorporate their ‘Meatless Monday’ with Chef Symons highlighting dishes he makes for his Vegetarian wife, Lizzie, which was Awesome! A good idea is to also have rotating young, guest Chefs,… Read more »
#SAVETHECHEW…It was one of the ONLY T.V. Shows I looked forward to, regularly tuning in!
LOVED THE CHEW. GIVES SOME LAUGHS AND SOME GOOD RECIPES.
It seems they have been trying to find a place for Michael Strayhan , They should have kept the Chew. It didn’t matter that Mario and Daphne left, they were just fine without them, actually better!
The Chew became the best when the trio took control. They are all that are needed. They are so honest and helpful. I will be lost as a personal cook who loved their helpful hints and recipes. Bring them back! Please, bring them back!!!!
This was a really disappointing decision on the part of ABC executives to cancel The Chew! I can think of two other day time shows that need to go! The View and Dr. Phil! Give the people great entertainment, that educates and gives happiness! Not more negative news. It is the viewer who needs to be heard by ABC executives. BRING BACK THE CHEW! AND SOON!
I am so disappointed that the Chew was cancelled. It was a very fun, lighthearted, and truly an informative show. Why does ABC/Disney think we need more of the same old/same old GMA/newsy kind of programming? Enough already!! The Chew was a very unique show that allowed us to escape from all of the depressing newsy opinionated biased shows out there. Surely there must be room for both formats to survive! And guess what? I’m willing to bet that the people who love watching The Chew have a higher amount of disposable income I.e. advertising dollars, than the demographic target… Read more »
No, i will not watch the third hour. I can watch that on any network. I loved the chew and the chemistry of the people. It will be a big hole in my day. Would stop whatever I was doing to watch this refreshing show. Big mistake and loss. Saddened by what you have taken away by so many of us.
No I will greatly miss the chew. Why not just add Micheal Strayhorn to the Chew?
No it was the best daytime show I have watched in a long time…please put back on good network.
I can’t seem to vote or answer any questions about this BUT glad to give my opinion. The show has it all with Carla, Clinton, & Michael hosting.
Cooking, crafts, comedy, comradery, celebrities, conversation.
This show is the best on tv!!
ABC, BIG mistake
‘The Chew’ was the most entertaining, informative, happy show on all of TV bar none! #savethechew!!! It made my day!! I enjoyed it a whole lot more when Mario left too! Clinton, Carla & Michael just clicked together & made the show much more interesting & creative! My thanks to Gordon Elliot for keeping it a very Happy place for an hour out of the day!!! Kudo’s everyone!!!!