(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?
This was a fabulous show. I started watching the last season. It exhibited freshness of spirit. It always had a “feel good” atmosphere. Cooking lessons were easy to learn with lots of variety, and very informative of individual items. I will absolutely miss this show. When it ended after an hour, I always had a “feel good” attitude. Kuddos to the staff and crew!!!
I think that they shouldn’t had cancel the Chew,,,one person didn’t make the show,,,Michael,Carla and Clinton should not suffer for his doing(Morrow) doing.
The Chew was most educational, entertaining, and opened the world of the culinary art to some of us who will never have the time to go to such classes!!! I very much enjoyed Carla, Clinton, Michael and Mario, Daphne! Bring it back and I will tell everybody that ABC is in tune with it’s viewers !!!!!
No way should it have been cancelled. So enjoyable. Get rid of the View and put GMC in that spot and leave the Chew.
Loved The Chew! So sad and mad that ABC cancelled such a good show!
The reason for canceling The Chew is unclear to me. This was a family show and was always fun to watch. Although I love ichael Strahan and Sarah Haines, they are not the answer. GMA did not need another hour. Michael Strahan did not need another job and Sarah Haines is missed on the View. Thanks for listening. BRING THE CHEW BACK!,
Turned off Michael Strahan immediately… can’t stand him..why would you get rid of the chew??? Hated that all my children was cancelled.. that being said at least the chew was entertaining and informative.. only turned to abc when the chew was on.. had always an abc viewer but have changed to NBC since
Sorry to see this cancelled. Nothing else like it on tv. Watched it almost every day
I already miss The Chew!! I come home from work for lunch and they were my lunch buddies! Bring them back please!
No The Chew should not have been canceled.
The Chew should not have been cancelled, it was the best show on daytime TV, you can have your GMA I will never watch
The Chew should never have been cancelled. It was informative, educational, entertaining and a great non-intimidating way for people to learn how to cook or hone up their skills. I will not be watching GMA. I’m Canadian and have no interest in even more American news.
The Chee should not have been cancelled
I don’t think the Chee should have been cancelled I loved every one of them the themed shows the celebrity and non celebrity guests I also learned to take chances on cooking I believe it was a big mistake I love good morning America but I don’t need to see it twice a day
The Chew never should of been cancelled at all ! Very informative and fun show to watch. I will not be watching GMA and never have. Please bring back the Chew !!
I agree. The Chew was the best. I will not be watching GMA.