'The Chew' Canceled
Following Mario Batali's firing, the talk show's latest season was the least watched to date
After a 1,545-episode run over seven seasons and two Emmy Award wins, ABC has canceled daytime food talk show The Chew. The show's one-hour time slot will instead be filled with another hour of Good Morning America, which, according to Deadline, is cheaper to produce and a higher draw among advertisers.
"While this is the right decision for our business, it is also bittersweet. For seven years 'The Chew' has delighted audiences by delivering innovative food segments in an entertaining atmosphere," Ben Sherwood, president of Disney|ABC Television, says in a statement.
The program, hosted by Michael Symon, Carla Hall and fashion designer Clinton Kelly, experienced a decline in viewers after the firing of Mario Batali following the disgraced chef's sexual harassment allegations—the most recent season was the least watched since the show's original premiere in 2011. The Chew will continue to air new episodes from its upcoming season starting in June; Good Morning America will take over in September.
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Here's what the hosts have to say about the cancellation.
I am so grateful for all the good times and incredible friends I have made over the past seven years on @thechew. It has truly been an amazing ride.
I am looking forward to new adventures! What's next? Stay tuned! Onward and upward! #adventurefollows pic.twitter.com/DtPcCS22NE
— Carla Hall (@carlahall) May 23, 2018