Nicholas Brendon

FOX Closes ’Kitchen’ for Good

The re-opening of "Kitchen Confidential" earlier this week has turned out to be a one-night-only affair.

FOX has pulled the plug on the first-year comedy, which hardly got off the ground early in the season and was absent for all of November sweeps. When it finally did return Monday (Dec. 5), it did so to meager ratings, leading the network to pull the show.

Monday’s episode, featuring a mini-"Alias" reunion of "Kitchen" star Bradley Cooper and guest Michael Vartan, drew only about 3.4 million viewers, fifth in its half-hour. It also managed only a 1.7 rating in FOX’s core demographic of adults 18-49, fourth among the six networks for its time period. Reruns of "Arrested Development" will fill the timeslot for the next few weeks.

"Kitchen Confidential," based on chef Anthony Bourdain’s memoir of the same name, never really found a foothold on FOX. Paired with "Arrested" on Monday nights, the show averaged just over 4 million viewers over three airings at the start of the season. It was pulled, along with much of FOX’s regular schedule, for the baseball playoffs in October and then held back again during November sweeps in favor of "Prison Break" repeats, which did better in the Nielsens.

It’s doubtful that any other episodes produced will air, as FOX says the show "has had its final air date."