Valerie Bertinelli Slams Food Network for Deviating from Original Cooking Shows
By Samantha Ibrahim
Published April 11, 2024, 9:35 a.m. ET
Valerie Bertinelli, the 63-year-old actress known for her role in “Hot in Cleveland,” recently voiced her frustration with the Food Network, claiming that the channel has strayed from its original focus on cooking. In a post on Threads, Bertinelli criticized the network for its lack of instructional cooking shows.
Bertinelli reminisced about her love for the Food Network, particularly the in-the-kitchen (ITK) shows, like “30-Minute Meals” by Ina Garten and Giada De Laurentiis. She lamented that the channel has shifted away from its roots and is now filled with cooking competition shows and cooking rivalry content.
After being fired from hosting the series “Kids Baking Championship,” Bertinelli took the opportunity to express her disappointment with Food Network on Threads. The actress emphasized that she learned a great deal from her two-decade-long journey with the network.
However, she acknowledged that the changing focus is just a part of the business. Although Bertinelli and her fans are disheartened with the network’s current programming, she did receive support from her followers on Threads who share her desire for teaching-focused cooking shows.
Many comments echoed Bertinelli’s sentiments, expressing their weariness with cooking competitions and their desire to learn more about cooking techniques and recipes. Some followers urged Bertinelli to pitch her own food-centered show to other television channels.
Despite her disappointment, Bertinelli had a successful run on the Food Network. She hosted her own show, “Valerie’s Home Cooking,” from 2015 to 2023 and later appeared as a judge on “Kids Baking Championship” and “Food Network Star.”
Unfortunately, budget issues led to Bertinelli being let go from “Kids Baking Championship” earlier this year, leading to her revelation on Instagram about how much the show meant to her. She credited the show with saving her life during a particularly difficult period and expressed sadness over not being asked back.
In summary, Valerie Bertinelli’s criticism of the Food Network highlights her disappointment with the current direction of the channel, which has moved away from instructional cooking shows and towards cooking competitions. While her fans support her desire for more teaching-focused programming, they also encourage Bertinelli to explore opportunities with other networks. Despite her departure from “Kids Baking Championship,” Bertinelli remains grateful for the significant impact the show had on her life.
