While certain Food Network shows may not air anymore, that doesnt mean theyre gone for good. They may have been placed on the back burner, flat out canceled, or moved to the networks sister programming Cooking Channel or Discovery+. Whatever the case — transitions to other networks, poor ratings, divorce, scandal — we wanted to know the real reason these food network shows were canceled.
When Food Network debuted in 1993, many were skeptical a 24-hour cooking network would even work. But beginning with shows like “Taste,” with chef and author David Rosengarten, and “In Food Today,” with Donna Hanover — journalist, actress, and TV and radio host-producer — the network rose from fledgling wait-and-see to reaching almost 100 million U.S. households today.
During a slump around 2004, network president Brooke Johnson was hired to get to the bottom of the issues. Incoming competition from reality and on-the-road style shows from Travel Channel and TLC wasnt helping. And after data from an independent study determined that viewers were growing bored, Food Network was forced to rethink programming and rebrand its . Thus began its shift from a standard teaching platform to reality-style entertainment. What followed was the cancellation of some popular Food Network shows.
In 1993, Massachusetts-born, New Orleans-adopted Emeril Lagasse had already made a name for himself in the Crescent City. Food Network executives had definitely noticed his talent and flair and hired him as one of their original channel personalities. The chef and network struck gold with “Emeril Live.” The cooking show wowed audiences with its enthusiastic energy, receiving a CableACE Award for “best informational show” in 1997, its first year. Featuring a live audience and band, the percussionist chef could often be seen swapping drumsticks for drumsticks during commercial breaks. BAM! fans were hooked.
But by 2004, ratings had fallen. When confronted by Brooke Johnson about his dip in viewership, Lagasse reacted (by Allen Salkin via NPR) with, “Youre full of it.” He thought things were going great. Johnson and head of marketing Susie Fogelson tried everything they could to keep their superstar chef on board, including enticing him to appear on “Iron Chef America.” But Lagasse wasnt interested in the new style. He wanted to teach people how to cook. The cost was too high, and demand for fresher faces and reality TV-style programming won out.
As then Food Network executives Johnson and publicist Carrie Welch stated, “All good things come to an end.” The decade-long “Emeril Live” filmed its last show in 2007. But Chef Lagasse wasnt the only one to feel the burn.
Chef and restaurateur Mario Batali stepped onto the Food Network stage in 1996 as the dynamic orange Crocs-wearing chef of “Molto Mario“. Chef Batali had an applause-worthy knack for balancing the creation of robust and innovative Italian dishes while regaling viewers and guest diners with a cultural and culinary tour of Italy. Batali would receive James Beard awards for best chef of New York City in 2002 and outstanding chef of the year in 2005.
Alas, in 2004, “Molto Mario” reached a plateau and ended up on the chopping block with other original Food Network veterans. After a move to PBS in 2008 took Batali from Italy to “Spain … On the Road Again,” he told New York Magazine, “The Food Network … was tired of me and couldnt find a way to use my information.”
But he wasnt gone just yet. Still a part of the Food Network family, he continued to appear regularly on “Iron Chef America.” In 2018, Food Network had plans to reboot “Molto Mario” but nixed the idea in 2017 following accusations of sexual misconduct by former female employees of Batali. Although in 2019, no charges had been filed and the investigation was dropped.
Before Food Network, TV personality and cookbook author Sara Moulton had already built a sweet CV. A classically educated chef, Moulton founded the New York Womens Culinary Alliance in 1982, worked in various restaurants, trained in France, and ran the dining room at Gourmet magazine. Shed also solidified her behind-the-scenes TV presence backing Julia Child on PBS and working as food editor with “Good Morning, America.”
But network changes were affront, and the final episode of “Saras Secrets” was broadcast in 2006. In an interview with Eater, Chef Moulton said she enjoyed her time with the network but that leaving had not been her decision. “They dumped me,” she states. “I was part of the old guard.” Moulton would join the roster of chefs leaving for PBS. She would not be the only one.
A Yale graduate, Chinese-American chef, restaurateur, and cookbook author Ming Tsai found his passions centered more around cooking than his chosen major, mechanical engineering. During his studies, he spent a summer at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris and went on to graduate from Cornell in Hotel Administration and Hospitality Marketing. In 1998, the same year he opened his first restaurant Blue Ginger, “East Meets West” debuted on Food Network.
For Ming (via Food Thinkers), the concept of “East Meets West” signified a harmonious balance of the two culinary approaches. In the show, Chef Tsai loved sharing this balance and teaching his audience new methods while stimulating their palate with global flavors. In 1998, he would win an Emmy for outstanding service show host.
But, in 2003, as Food Network began rethinking its strategy, Chef Tsai decided reality-TV wasnt his cup of tea. In an interview with Good Food on Every Table, Tsai stated, “Food Network became all about competition …” and the chef left “because I still wanted to teach.” Although he would join in on “The Next Iron Chef” fanfare, teaching won out. And a move to PBS with “Simply Ming” offered him that opportunity.
One of Food Networks longest-standing stars, restaurateur, author, and chef Bobby Flay made his way from the French Culinary Institute to celebrity chef status in 1996 as the host of “Grillin and Chillin.”
In 2013 — the same year he cooked an all-American meal for President Barack Obama and Chinas President Xi Jinping — he took home-chefs from cities across the U.S. on a wild reality ride in “Bobbys Dinner Battle.” With limited budgets and time constraints, three teams in each city were to create the perfect three-course dinner for Flay, the other competitors, and a special guest.
Alas, the supposed mini-series only lasted five episodes. Chef Flay admitted in a 2013 article with MyRecipes, “I just dont think it was interesting.” He said the shows concept didnt work but also claims that it wasnt meant to be a multi-season show anyway, so technically it wasnt canceled.
Since then, Bobby Flay has had plenty of other fish to fry, including time in the “Iron Chef” franchise, and in 2018, he signed an exclusive three-year deal with Food Network. And in April 2021 he launched Made by Nacho cat food. Working alongside veterinary doctor and consultant Katja Lang, and his Maine Coon Nacho, he notes on Deadline, “I am proud to share what we created.”
“Ace of Cakes” star Duff Goldman made his debut on Food Network in 2005. The show highlighted the ins and outs of Goldmans confectionary business Charm City Cakes. For 11 seasons, viewers got a taste of the bakerys operations, from the creation of fanciful cakes to Goldmans relationship with vendors and customers.
The show proved to be a sweet success but ended in 2011, much to the chagrin of its millions of viewers. Bob Tuschman, senior vice president of programming at Food Network, stated, “All good things must come to an end.” Hmm, where have we heard that one before? But the network had no intention of dropping its superstar cake maker. After five years, musician and culinary school-trained Goldman felt it was time for something different. He moved to L.A., opened Duffs Cakemix, began filming a new show, “Sugar High,” and then worked alongside Valerie Bertinelli in “Kids Baking Championship” before taking a break.
Goldman would returned to Food Network with “Duff Takes the Cake” and in April 2021, Food Network announced via Twitter, Duffs Happy Fun Bake Time on Discovery+. As for a possible return of “Ace of Cakes” … sorry, but its not likely. Goldman told us the show captured “a very special time and place that Im just not sure we can ever really recreate.”
Rachael, who is also well-known for her Food Network show 30-Minute Meals, has launched a new production company, Free Food Studios, in partnership with Intentional Content.
“However I’ve made the decision that it’s time for me to move on to the next exciting chapter in my broadcast career.”
Rachael shared in a statement to Deadline: “In my more than 20 plus years in television I have had 17 wonderful seasons working in daytime television with Rachael.
“That is why I am looking forward to putting all my energies into my recently announced production arm, Free Food Studios.
“Thank you to all of our Rachael daytime show partners, crew, and affiliates, and the wonderful years we all worked together.”
In 2013 — the same year he cooked an all-American meal for President Barack Obama and Chinas President Xi Jinping — he took home-chefs from cities across the U.S. on a wild reality ride in “Bobbys Dinner Battle.” With limited budgets and time constraints, three teams in each city were to create the perfect three-course dinner for Flay, the other competitors, and a special guest.
Before her multi-year presence on Food Network, Anthony Bourdain-nemesis Paula Deen had a catering service, opened a restaurant with her two sons, aptly named The Lady & Sons, in downtown Savannah, and self-published two cookbooks. In 2002, Deen began her full-time career with Food network on Paulas Home Cooking, which led to “Paulas Party” in 2006 and “Paulas Best Dishes” in 2008.
When Food Network debuted in 1993, many were skeptical a 24-hour cooking network would even work. But beginning with shows like “Taste,” with chef and author David Rosengarten, and “In Food Today,” with Donna Hanover — journalist, actress, and TV and radio host-producer — the network rose from fledgling wait-and-see to reaching almost 100 million U.S. households today.
While certain Food Network shows may not air anymore, that doesnt mean theyre gone for good. They may have been placed on the back burner, flat out canceled, or moved to the networks sister programming Cooking Channel or Discovery+. Whatever the case — transitions to other networks, poor ratings, divorce, scandal — we wanted to know the real reason these food network shows were canceled.
But by 2004, ratings had fallen. When confronted by Brooke Johnson about his dip in viewership, Lagasse reacted (by Allen Salkin via NPR) with, “Youre full of it.” He thought things were going great. Johnson and head of marketing Susie Fogelson tried everything they could to keep their superstar chef on board, including enticing him to appear on “Iron Chef America.” But Lagasse wasnt interested in the new style. He wanted to teach people how to cook. The cost was too high, and demand for fresher faces and reality TV-style programming won out.
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FAQ
Did Alex Guarnaschelli leave The Kitchen?
Who is the new host on The Kitchen?
The Kitchen
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Presented by
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Sunny Anderson Katie Lee Jeff Mauro Geoffrey Zakarian Marcela Valladolid (2014–2017) Alex Guarnaschelli (2020–2024)
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Country of origin
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United States
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Original language
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English
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No. of seasons
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36
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Is Alex Guarnaschelli a new host on The Kitchen?
Why did Katie Lee leave ‘the kitchen’?
Katie Lee’s absence from “The Kitchen” has been noticeable to fans of the show. Many have taken to social media to express their disappointment and concern over her departure. Some have speculated that her absence is due to personal reasons, while others have questioned if she was fired from the show.
Will there be a season 34 of the kitchen?
Spend a fun and food-filled morning in The Kitchen, with hosts Sunny Anderson, Katie Lee, Jeff Mauro, Marcela Valladolid and Geoffrey Zakarian. The Kitchen Season 34 — not renewed yet Next Episode Sorry, no dates yet for The Kitchen. The show is either on a break or the new season is yet to be scheduled. We’ll keep you posted.
How many episodes of ‘the kitchen’ are there?
“The Kitchen” airs weekly and often has a theme to categorize the recipes, like tailgating, childhood favorite meals, or whatever holiday is approaching. Fans have enjoyed “The Kitchen” since 2014. After several hundred episodes, it may seem as though there’s nothing new to learn about the popular cooking show, but there’s a lot you don’t know.
Why did ‘the kitchen’ cast stay at home?
Being at home meant the cast didn’t have the resources at their disposal that they typically do while on the set of “The Kitchen,” but this didn’t affect the quality of their work. The chefs shared tried and true recipes they’ve been making for years in the quarantine-edition episodes, proving their skills to fans.