was the kitchen cancelled

It would be hard to imagine a world without around-the-clock, culinary-themed programming. Between the internet, public television, streaming networks, podcasts, and standards like the Food Network, the opportunity to learn about cooking is endless. And yet, this is a relatively recent phenomenon in entertainment history.

The earliest cooking program appeared on radio with “Betty Crocker” premiering in the U.S. in 1924. The “Cookery” premiered on BBC television on June 12, 1946, with a tutorial on how to make lobster vol-au-vents. The first cooking show to air in the U.S. starred the inimitable James Beard, which debuted the same year as the BBCs cooking show, but lasted less than nine months. While several others followed, it was not until 1963, when Julia Child premiered on the legendary “The French Chef” that the cooking program as we know it was born.

These early programs laid the foundation for the continuously morphing terrain, moving away from educational cooking programs to reality competitions and more celebrity-driven shows. Some canceled cooking shows have left indelible marks on our psyches. Let us look at a few of our favorites throughout the years.

“The Taste,” which ran for three seasons between 2013-2015, was somewhat unique in the annals of reality competition shows. The premise included 16 competitors who would compete in weekly blind tastings to determine which dish was the best and the worst, ultimately eliminating until a winner is reached. What was unique, besides the fact that home cooks competed against professional chefs, none of the competitors knew who was cooking what, thereby leveling the playing field. Each competitor got assigned to a team that was selected by the four chefs and co-hosts: Anthony Bourdain, Nigella Lawson, Ludo Lefebvre, and a rotating chef.

Egos aside, of which there were plenty, this show taught its viewers how integral every element of the composition of a bite of food was in the overall execution of a dish. The careful conceptualization of the taste, texture, color, and balance of every sample presented to the judges was necessary for competitors to succeed.

Despite the concept, the star power of the cocky-yet-charming Anthony Bourdain, the naughty-yet-polite Nigella Lawson, and the colorful competitors, ratings never really took off. Granted, it did take home three Primetime Emmy nominations for Bourdain in the Outstanding Host for a Reality or Reality-Competition Program category. Perhaps its fatal flaw was timing as reality competition shows saturated the market giving viewers too many options. Inevitably the show got canceled after its third season, much to our chagrin.

Running for three seasons between 2005-2008 was a somewhat quirky show starring the Australian chef Curtis Stone. The premise of “Take Home Chef” was that Stone would approach an unsuspecting woman at the grocery store and offer his culinary services to her. If she agreed, he would go home and assist her in creating the meal of a lifetime to share with friends and family. In the process, the viewer would presumably learn a few tips and tricks about cooking, although there was a lot of voyeurism in this show.

Frankly, it was almost impossible to ignore the chemistry between Stone and many of the women, and we had doubts about the legitimacy of the “surprise” aspect of the show. That said, there was always some interest in what would happen when the family, or more often husband, would return home to find cameras in their faces. We admit, sometimes we watched for the drama, often we watched for chef Stones cooking tips, but we always watched for the not-bad-on-the-eyes chef Stone.

The show got canceled due to waning viewership. Stone has gone on to have a stellar career appearing in other cooking shows, including “Top Chef Masters,” “The Today Show,” “Americas Next Great Restaurant,” “The Biggest Loser,” “Around the World in 80 Plates,” and “Masterchef.”

In 2010, the winner of the sixth season of “The Next Food Network Star,” Aarti Sequeira, premiered her show on the network titled “Aarti Party.” The show, true to form for the bubbly chef born in India, raised in Dubai, and educated in Britain, sought to fuse her Indian culinary roots with American classics. The show ran for three seasons between 2010–2011 but was canceled despite her ongoing popularity.

In an interview conducted by Entertainment Weekly, Sequeira discusses how she seemed to appear on the scene at the right time for Indian food to take hold in the U.S.: Movies like “Eat, Pray, Love” and “Slumdog Millionaire” brought Indian culture to the American psyche, expanding the availability of and curiosity about Indian spices and foods. For Sequeira, her show acted as the perfect vessel to expand on this curiosity and, perhaps, normalize it, which is what we appreciated most about the chef and the show. It was a departure from the status quo, allowing us to learn about another culture.

After her show got canceled, Sequeira continued to be a regular on the Food Network appearing on “Chopped All-Stars,” “Cutthroat Kitchen All-Stars,” and “Guys Grocery Games.”

No discussion about cooking shows would be complete without honoring Julia Child. Without her, we would not be where we are today in terms of culinary entertainment and education. “The French Chef” ran for 10 seasons from 1963–1973 on WGBH public television in Boston. It boasted 206 episodes, won a Primetime Emmy in 1966, and won Child a Peabody Award in 1965.

Critical acclaim aside, what made Child so special was her uncanny ability to connect with the audience. Her wit, slightly exasperated breathless tone of voice, unflappability, unabashed commitment to using copious quantities of butter and wine, and awkward gait made her an instant hit. What we appreciated most was that despite how entertaining Child could be, she was an effective and engaging teacher. If you watched the show, you would certainly learn something about French culinary technique and execution that would inevitably make you a better cook.

Thankfully reruns of “The French Chef” are still available in syndication for modern-day food enthusiasts to discover. If you only have time to watch one episode, we recommend episode 17, season 8, titled “Coq Au Vin Alias Chicken Fricassee.” Here she simultaneously executes both dishes, illustrating how these chicken dishes are similar and pronouncing at the end of the episode in classic Child fashion that if you serve them both, you “get to drink two wines!”

There is something inherently bizarre about the fact that chefs have become such celebrities that we want, nay, need to know about them outside of their shows, restaurants, and cookbooks. The Food Network built its popularity on creating personalities who are catapulted into celebrity status.

Enter “Chefography,” which ran for six seasons from 2006–2012. The show features a different chef weekly for a one-hour documentary-style program. While most of the chefs featured are from the Food Network, others eventually started their own shows as the boundaries of celebrity chef-dom expanded beyond the network walls.

While not a cooking show that taught us anything about how to cook, it did illuminate the different pathways in which people entered the culinary field, sparking the imagination of anyone who ever fancied the idea of becoming the next star of the culinary world. Our favorites included the episode about Sandra Lee, whose “Semi-Homemade” concept grew out of a wildly successful home-decorating idea inspired by her challenging upbringing. This business caught the attention of QVC, turning her into a multi-millionaire within a year. Her episode completely changed our views on the show, putting the premise into context and giving us a newfound respect for her ingenuity.

Healthy Appetite with Ellie Krieger

Slap the word “healthy” in the title of a show, and you are bound to run into two kinds of viewers: those who run for the hills and those whose curiosity is piqued enough to tune in. For five seasons between 2007–2011, registered dietitian and nutritionist Ellie Krieger invited viewers to tune into her program, “Healthy Appetite with Ellie Krieger, ” on the Food Network to learn how to create simple, healthy, and delicious food. Kreiger provided tips and trips to incorporate strategies for eating healthy under any circumstance from work to the restaurant to vacation.

Aside from a kind smile and bright eyes making you feel like you can trust her, Krieger brought legitimacy to her program. She holds an undergraduate degree in clinical nutrition from Cornell University and a graduate degree in nutrition education from Teachers College Columbia University. Krieger is also a New York Times bestselling, IACP award-winning, and James Beard award-winning author of seven cookbooks.

We enjoyed her easy delivery and the simplicity of her recipes. Her knowledge certainly shined through the television screen, inspiring even those who view the idea of healthy food through skeptical eyes. She continues to appear on Public Television in “Ellies Real Good Food.”

After 17 seasons, 37 Emmy nominations, and three wins for Outstanding Talk Show, the president of CBS Media Ventures Steve LoCascio opened up about the successful show ending.

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.

“We’re proud to have produced such a successful show with Rachael and her team for so many years. We’ll miss Rachael on the air every day, but we’ll always be family.”

“That is why I am looking forward to putting all my energies into my recently announced production arm, Free Food Studios.

The show, hosted by the TV personality of the same name, first premiered in syndication in 2006.

Kitchen Nightmares Was CANCELED After THIS Episode Aired!

FAQ

Did Alex Guarnaschelli leave The Kitchen?

What show was Cancelled on Food Network?

Who is the new host on The Kitchen?

Is Guy Fieri leaving Food Network?

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.

Did ‘the kitchen’ lose a chef?

In August, “The Kitchen” premiered its 29th season, per TV Guide, showing that the show has more than stood the test of time. Between then and now, however, the show has lost a chef and gained another. In April 2019, the Food Network announced “Iron Chef” Alex Guarnaschelli would be joining the show as a co-host, according to Variety.

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.

What happens on ‘the cooking show’?

For an hour every Saturday, the chefs take turns taking the reins of the studio kitchen to cook up something delicious while another serves as sous-chef. Meanwhile, the others sit around watching and engaging in a lot of conversation, which has become an ingredient almost as important to the show as the cooking itself.