14 DAY TRIAL // The first season of the Ryan Seacrest-produced “Food Revolution” with British celebrity chef Jamie Oliver got off to a very strong start – and even earned an Emmy in the process, guaranteeing a new season on ABC. The network has just pulled the plug on the show.
Season 1 of “Food Revolution” saw Jamie fight and manage to change the eating habits in schools in Huntington, West Virginia, named the year before that America’s fattest city.
For season 2, of which ABC only ordered 6 episodes with the possibility to do more depending on ratings, Jamie set his sights on the schools in Los Angeles.
Just like the first time around, his initiative was not welcomed warmly by the parents and the people responsible for the meals of the children in school, but that was to be expected.
What probably neither Jamie nor ABC saw coming was such a severe drop in ratings, which has just cost the chef the rest of the season with the network, The Hollywood Reporter says.
“Bad news for chef/TV personality Jamie Oliver. ABC has pulled the Ryan Seacrest-produced reality series, Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution, from the schedule during May sweeps,” THR notes.
“The show, which follows Oliver as he tries to change the way kids and adults eat at home and in school, will air its four remaining episodes beginning Friday, June 3 at 9 p.m,” says the e-zine.
“ABC says the Dancing With the Stars recap was a better complement to the DWTS results show on Tuesday nights, though emphasizes it is still behind the anti-junk food series. The network had pre-empted the third episode of Food Revolution for a DWTS-related hour last week,” THR adds.
The decision was prompted by a very steep fall in ratings: the premiere of the second season marked a 40% drop as compared to the first season premiere.
With each episode, the show alienated more and more viewers, to the point where ABC did not see fit to keep Jamie on air anymore.
No word yet on what will happen now with the chef’s initiative.