Fast Facts
Title: The Chew
Hosts: Mario Batali, Michael Symon, Carla Hall, Clinton Kelly and Daphne Oz
Format: One hour talk show combining elements of a entertainment cooking show
Broadcast information: Airs at 1 p.m. on ABC in most locations, check your local listings
Tapes: ABC-TV Studios, New York City, N.Y.
Premiere Date: Sept. 26, 2011
Overview:
The Chew debuted on ABC on Sept. 26, 2011, replacing two long-running soap operas, All My Children and One Life to Live. And with that, this new lifestyle talk show began its first season with a lot to prove.
And it did, suffering a fair amount of snubbing from dejected soap opera fans pining for their lost stories. Critics weren't much kinder, calling the show erratic and too fast-paced (even at a time when talk show segments are getting shorter and viewer attention spans beg for speed and precision). But there was another tone to those tsks, tsks - namely, a desire for the show to succeed, if only because it feels a little fresh and a little different. (Though our opinion is that the show straddles the line between The Rachael Ray Show and The Martha Stewart Show.)
Shortly into its first season, the show discovered its audience and maybe found its voice (though these things take some time). Slowing its pace, taking time with the lifestyle portion of the program and concentrating less on witty banter and more on talk its hosts are expert in, The Chew, obviously a play off ABC's other talk show The View, could be a great success.
The show's stated goal is to celebrate and explore life through food, centering conversations on "everything from cooking, holidays and home entertaining to food trends like food trucks and urban gardens."
Meet The Hosts
Like many new talk shows these days (The Doctors, The Talk) The Chew gathers an ensemble cast of celebrity chefs - and Iron Chefs. Those hosts include:
- Mario Batali: A Food Network staple and the Iron Chef with the Italian food expertise, Batali was born in Seattle, lived in Spain for a short time while he was in his teens, returning to attend Rutgers University. He opened his first restaurant, Po, in 1993. Today he owns more than eight restaurants in New York, Las Vegas and elsewhere.
- Michael Symon: Cleveland native Michael Symon, the first winner of The Next Iron Chef and one of the more popular Iron Chefs today, owns several restaurants in Northeast Ohio and Detroit. Those include the four-star Lola in downtown Cleveland and Roast in Detroit. He's appeared on a number of Food Network programs.
- Carla Hall: Known for her stints on Bravo Network's Top Chef, Carla Hall is the resident pastry expert. She owns Alchemy by Carla Hall, a cookie company that specializes in "petite bites of love." Expect twists in her cooking techniques as she fuses her classic French training with her Southern cuisine upbringing.
- Clinton Kelly: Clinton Kelly brings the lifestyle to the lifestyle show. He's the style host of TLC's What Not To Wear and hosts a number of trends and fashion programs on that network. He's an author, commentator and consultant.
- Daphne Oz: If that last name is familiar, it's because Daphne Oz is indeed related to popular talk show host Dr. Mehmet Oz. Daphne is his daughter. And this Oz labels herself as The Chew's health and wellness enthusiast. She brings tips on healthy living and insights into good life choices - whether its food and day-to-day living. She focuses healthy living among young adults, and received rave reviews for her book, The Dorm Room Diet. She's also the founder of HealthCorps, a non-profit organization that helps teens by providing educational information about nutrition, exercise and stress management.
