(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 loved The Chew show, especially when it has been just the three of them. I never have laughed so much and enjoyed all of there recipes. I WILL NOT BE WATCHING TV AT 1 PM IN THE AFTERNOON NOW, THANKS ABC
very sad and upset about the chew being cancelled was one of my daily highlights
I loved the chew. I want it back. I Will not watch the GMA hour. I am sick and tired of news and so called celebrities who have no idea of what the average person goes thru. I am tired of news programs in general. The chew offered something concrete. Bring back the chew period.
I am so disappointed that The Chew is cancelled. Some of my favorite recipes are from this show and I love the cast. Please come back …we need you!
It is so sad that ABC has cancelled The Chew. The show was different from anything else on the air. It was educational and entertaining. I loved the chemistry between Clinton, Carla, and Michael and will really miss seeing them everyday. I wish that another network would pick up the show. We are bombarded with too many negative, political shows. How refreshing to have had the light, fun, entertainment provided by The Chew. I will not be watching another hour of GMA. I will tune into Food Network or turn off the tv. Actually, The Chew was the only reason… Read more »
The Chew is way more entertaining and informative than the Kelly show . I can’t stand Ryan Seacrest.. It should not have been cancelled. It was different, refreshing.. not more GMA.. dull
I don’t think they realize how many older seniors sit and watch that show and the Millionaire show. I have taken care of many seniors in there homes and every home has that on. Except Friday -Food network has that with Guy and Diners and Grocery games. And the rest of us are not home. Oh well!
what a shame to cancel The Chew couldn’t wait til the next day.It was a refreshing show to watch and learn ,am tired of all the news show.SHAME! SHAME! SHAME! something good comes on and it gets cancelled
OK, this is my 3rd try, keep clicking on something and it throws me out?
I am so upset and the “Chew” has been cancelled, it was a GREAT show. Carla, Michael
and Clinton were so funny together, GREAT team, great cooking tips and wonderful
recipes. They made me laugh and I was always happy after watching their show.
Thank you to you entire staff for producing such a fun show.
I have really enjoyed the program. First learned about it when my mother was dying and it made her smile. Then I lost my job and my son. Took my mind off all of that and made me smile. Will really miss them.
The Chew should NOT have been cancelled.
Try though they may, I think is was really hard for the last three hosts to hold the show together. I missed Daphne and felt they should have replaced her. And losing Mario was a disaster. I miss him terribly but totally understand the necessity to let him go. I think finding another top chef might have helped. Sorry to see The Chew go. Now I’ll just turn the TV off after the news. ;-( P.S. I loved Carla, Clinton and Michael, too. They all had such a good vibe. Best of luck to all of them.
ABC should have canceled Pickler and Ben instead of the Chew. Bad call
I think it is terrible that The Chew has been cancelled. What a delight it was to turn the TV on at 12:00 and enjoy the hosts, Carla, Michael and Clinton, the show, the recipes, the pranks. I probably will not watch ABC again. What a refreshing show without violence or steamy bedroom scenes. Best of luck to all of you.
I will not watch more GMA. I will just find something else to watch on another channel. I loved The Chew.
I don’t watch GMA so no wont be watching this third hour either. Cant beleive they didnt dump that trash show the View instead. Really enjoyed the Chew sad to see it go