Valerie Bertinelli’s departure from Food Network’s beloved show, “Kids Baking Championship,” marks more than just a cast change; it signals a shift in her long-standing relationship with the Food Network. Contrary to initial impressions, sources clarify to Variety that Bertinelli was not fired. Instead, her exit stems from Warner Bros. Discovery’s decision to not renew her broader exclusive contract with the network when it concluded in 2022.
Bertinelli’s extensive relationship with Food Network was solidified in 2018 with a multi-series deal. This agreement, initially set to expire in 2021, was extended for an additional year, concluding in 2022. Interestingly, the currently airing Season 12 of “Kids Baking Championship” was filmed back-to-back with Season 11 during this extension period. Since its inception in 2015, Bertinelli has been a constant presence on “Kids Baking Championship,” co-hosting and judging alongside Duff Goldman. This show is a popular spin-off within Food Network’s successful “Baking Championship” franchise, which includes various holiday and seasonal editions.
“Her deal expired, and they chose not to renew it. They could have offered me a contract specifically for ‘Kids.’ They didn’t. It’s that simple,” stated Marc Schwartz, Bertinelli’s manager of many years, to Variety on Tuesday, shedding light on the straightforward nature of her departure from the Valerie Bertinelli Food Network collaboration.
Sources within the industry reveal that the decision to not renew Bertinelli’s contract in 2022 was initiated by development executives who are no longer with the network. Courtney White, former president of Food Network, left in March 2022 prior to the merger between Discovery and WarnerMedia. Her successor, Jane Latman, took over but was then replaced by Betsy Ayala in December 2022. Ayala has since held the chief position.
Bertinelli’s contract ended over a year ago, and she currently has no active projects with Food Network. An insider familiar with the situation suggests that Food Network did not extend an offer for Bertinelli to continue solely on “Kids Baking Championship” because they believed she would decline unless her overarching multi-series deal was also renewed. This decision from Food Network to not renew Bertinelli’s larger deal was reportedly influenced by budget constraints and widespread layoffs at Warner Bros. Discovery following the merger, impacting talents associated with Valerie Bertinelli Food Network programming.
Both representatives for Food Network and Bertinelli have chosen not to officially comment on the situation.
In a heartfelt video shared on Instagram on Saturday, Bertinelli revealed that she had received confirmation the previous Friday about something she had been dreading: she would not be returning to “Kids Baking Championship” for its 13th season.
“Kids Baking Championship” is currently airing its 12th season, which features Bertinelli and was filmed consecutively with Season 11 in the summer of 2022. Variety has confirmed that Kardea Brown, host of “Delicious Miss Brown,” who co-hosted the 2023 “Kids Baking Championship” holiday special with Goldman, will return as a judge for the 2024 holiday edition. However, no decisions have been made regarding the talent for future seasons of the main series, which has not yet been renewed for Season 13. Notably, no episode of “Kids Baking Championship” has been filmed without Bertinelli prior to this change.
Bertinelli shared with her followers that she believes Food Network’s decision was driven by “budget cuts.” She also mentioned that the currently airing episodes of “Kids Baking Championship” were filmed during the summer of 2022, a particularly challenging period for her as she was navigating her divorce from Tom Vitale.
“Without exaggerating, the show was a lifeline for me,” Bertinelli expressed in her Instagram video. Valerie Bertinelli , who previously hosted “Valerie’s Home Cooking” and “Family Food Showdown” on Food Network, elaborated, “Working with such wonderful people, feeling productive, and being able to spread kindness, rather than just being consumed by my personal struggles, was incredibly helpful. It was like a flotation device. So, it’s truly painful that I won’t be able to return, see everyone, and acknowledge how far I’ve come.”
On Sunday, Bertinelli addressed a “tad misleading” headline from People magazine on X (formerly Twitter). The headline suggested that “talks stalled” regarding her return to “Kids.” Bertinelli clarified, “There were never any talks, so no talks could be stalled. I suspected I might not be asked back when I wasn’t included in the holiday specials. I received a text from a third party on Friday informing me that I wouldn’t be returning. Essentially, I was ghosted.”
In a subsequent post, Bertinelli added, “I harbor no ill will towards anyone at FN. I cherished every moment working with them, and they are all kind, hardworking individuals. I understand that business is business. However, I won’t tolerate misinformation. I am many things, but I am neither greedy nor dishonest.”
Fans and fellow celebrities, including Khloe Kardashian and Mark Hamill, have shown significant support for Bertinelli’s continued presence on “Kids Baking Championship” across social media platforms.
A source close to Bertinelli reiterated to Variety on Tuesday, “She is understandably disappointed. She genuinely enjoyed her time on the show,” but emphasized that “she has no animosity towards Food Network.”
Looking ahead, Bertinelli is embarking on a cookbook tour for her new release, “Indulge: Delicious and Decadent Dishes to Enjoy and Share.” She is also considering various offers from other platforms for upcoming projects and collaborations, signaling a new chapter in her career beyond Valerie Bertinelli Food Network.
She is scheduled to attend the upcoming Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival in Miami, from February 22-25, demonstrating her continued connection to the culinary world and Food Network community despite this particular change.
