WEDNESDAY CELEBS
Q: I always enjoyed watching the daytime show “The Chew” on ABC. I found it to be informative and entertaining. I was wondering what the cast members have been up to lately? I know Mario Batali had some issues along the way, but what about the others?
— M.P. A: “The Chew” was a cooking/talk show that took the place of the ABC daytime soap “All My Children” back in 2011. It successfully aired until 2018, when it was canceled. The “Strahan and Sara” show now airs in its place.
As for the ensemble of hosts from “The Chew,” famed chef Batali was dismissed after being accused of sexual misconduct, and Daphne
Oz left on her own accord a year before its cancellation. Daphne — now expecting her fourth child, a girl, later this year — regularly appears on her father’s syndicated program, “The Dr. Oz Show,” in a special segment each Wednesday called “The Dish on Oz.”
Carla Hall continues to demonstrate her culinary expertise on several daytime shows (including “Strahan and Sara”) as well as “Good Morning America Weekend Edition.” Michael Symon is still on television with the Cooking Channel’s “Burgers, Brew & ‘Que.”
Clinton Kelly was already famous before “The Chew” by doing surprise makeovers with Stacy London on the hit TLC show “What Not to Wear.” Most recently, however, Kelly hosted “The Spring Baking Championship” on the Food Network. “What Not to Wear” is actually coming back in 2020, but it hasn’t been announced whether Kelly and London will be headlining it.
Q: I read Meg Ryan and singer John Mellencamp are engaged. I thought they broke up years ago and he’s been dating Christie Brinkley.
— C.O. A: Mellencamp and Ryan dated from 2011 from 2014, broke up, but rekindled their relationship three years later. During their hiatus, he dated Brinkley for a year. Mellencamp has admitted he isn’t easy to live with, but that could be why Ryan chose to live in New York while he stayed in Indiana. Nevertheless, they are now engaged and reportedly are still going strong.
Q: I’ve loved watching Tom Pelphrey act ever since he played Jonathan on “Guiding Light.” I was thrilled when he got the role on “Iron Fist” on Netflix, but now it’s been canceled. I hope some other show is smart enough to cast him.
— G.E. A: Pelphrey won two Daytime Emmys for “Guiding Light” and had been working steadily in guest-starring roles before landing a contract role on the Cinemax drama “Banshee” and then Marvel’s “Iron Fist.” However, as loyal as daytime soap viewers are, Tom Pelphrey isn’t a name most people know. That could change as it was recently announced he’ll be a regular on the third season of “Ozark,” a a Netflix crime drama starring Jason Bateman and Laura Linney. Pelphrey has been cast as Linney’s brother.