ABC Cancels 'The Taste' After Three Seasons

ABC is not renewing The Taste for a fourth season, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The show headlined by food world luminary Anthony Bourdain, LA-based chef Ludo Lefebvre, New York-based chef Marcus Samuelsson, and London-based cookbook author Nigella Lawson struggled for ratings throughout its three seasons on air.

Way back in early March rumors suggesting that The Taste would be cancelled began to swirl. Back then, a source told the Daily Mail that "staff have been told to take alternative employment and not to wait for The Taste to go back into production — it's over," adding that the show has been "hemorrhaging viewers." Eater reached out to the network for comment back in March but did not hear back. Meanwhile, the show's casting page is still live.

What was clearly a boon for Lefebvre and Samuelsson stateside and a formal introduction to American television for Lawson will not continue. THR notes that a third season of the show "seemed like a stretch," with sliding ratings despite the all-star cast. The Taste was ABC's attempt to compete with Fox's collection of Gordon Ramsay shows, and though Bourdain brought a smart element to the broadcast network, even he wasn't enough to keep it afloat.

So what's next for the four stars of The Taste? Bourdain's Parts Unknown is still going strong in its current season. Lawson will return to British TV in a series titled Simply Nigella. Meanwhile, Lefebvre and Samuelsson each have restaurant projects that are keeping them busy in the kitchen.