Anthony Bourdain bolting from Travel Channel to CNN

“As long as it’s interesting, then I’ll keep doing it. But the minute it becomes a job, I will stop.”

— Anthony Bourdain, on continuing his work on Travel Channel’s Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations

It wasn’t much more than a month ago that Anthony Bourdain was talking with great satisfaction about the launch of Season 8 of his signature series for Travel Channel, Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations. He may not be stopping, but Bourdain will be changing venues. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the renowned chef, restaurateur and acerbic travel writer will be leaving Travel Channel for — hopefully — broader horizons on CNN, starting in early 2013.

With the move, Bourdain will become the spearhead of CNN’s efforts to cultivate its lifestyle programming. His as-yet-untitled new series is currently slated for Sunday nights and is expected to follow the format of No Reservations, with its host exploring “cultures from around the world through their food, dining and travel rituals.” Like No Reservations, the new series will be produced by Zero Point Zero Production.

7 Questions With … Anthony Bourdain

In addition to the new series, Bourdain will also contribute to other CNN programs. “I’m really looking forward to coming over to CNN,” Bourdain says. “I think the world is going to get a whole lot bigger for me. I hope that old fans and new ones will be excited about what’s coming down the road.”

With Bourdain’s track record for traveling to troubled locations — he won an Emmy for his Haiti episode, shot after the devastating 2010 earthquake, and another in 2006 for his visit to war-torn Beirut — the network seems like a natural fit for the globe-trekking gourmand. And seeing how Bourdain’s famously opinionated personality fits in at the news network could be more interesting than anyone in on the deal yet anticipates.

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Photo: Travel Channel

2 Comments

  1. Agree. Sunday nights are dominated now with original programming on HBO, Showtime and AMC (i.e. True Blood, Dexter, Mad Men, The Walking Dead). Even the big four networks can’t compete with the cable dramas with huge cult followings. How the #%@$ is Anthony Bourdain on CNN, on the last placed news channel going to have any chance whatsoever? This time the joke’s on Tony.

  2. I’ve really enjoyed Anthony Bourdain on The Travel Channel but I can’t see him having the freedom like he has on CNN. He gets away with a lot on his current show, often times being bleeped out. With CNN’s ratings problems plus having his new show on Sunday nights, I seriously doubt that he’ll gain a bigger audience. His No Reservations shows are repeated often throughout the week, something that won’t happen on CNN. The question is: what’s new or going to make this any different? He used to have nearly the exact same show on Food Network before moving to the Travel Channel. Will his fans watch yet another Bourdain show with him basically just traveling around eating? That concept in itself is getting old as Food Network is weening from that format with competition shows over people only traveling and eating. Good luck Tony but in my opinion, it’s a bad move.

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