Emeril Lagasse: Bam! He’s Cancelled!

Longtime Food Network star Emeril Lagasse won’t be back, at least in a daily role. His marquee series Emeril Live, which turned the New Orleans-based chef into one of the country’s most famous, was officially axed yesterday after appearing on the network since 1997. According to the NY Post, “The cancellation of Emeril Live is another indication that Food Network is heading in a different direction. In September, it dumped Mario Batali, another popular network personality.” Lagasse, who enthusiastically seasoned dished by intoning “Bam! Bam! Bam!”, will continue to appear on the network in specials and his in-studio show Essence of Emeril. Earlier this month, Lagasse hosted his third annual wine auction, raising more than $2 million for the Emeril Lagasse Foundation, which benefits children’s education programs in the Gulf Coast region.