BBQ Pitmasters was a popular reality TV competition show that ran on TLC for 7 seasons between 2009 and 2015. The show featured barbecue cooks from across America competing to become the “Kingsford BBQ Pitmaster Grand Champion” and win cash prizes. However, after 7 successful seasons, TLC made the decision to cancel BBQ Pitmasters in 2016. There are several factors that likely contributed to the cancellation of this fan-favorite show.
Overview of BBQ Pitmasters Show
BBQ Pitmasters premiered in December 2009 and aimed to find the best barbecue cooks in America through a competition-style format. Each episode typically featured four competitors cooking a variety of meats over open flame during an intensive 8-hour cookoff. The judging panel consisted of renowned BBQ personalities like Myron Mixon and Tuffy Stone who critiqued the entries on presentation, taste, and tenderness.
Competitors came from all backgrounds and regions of the U.S. with diverse specialties in barbecue styles ranging from Memphis to Carolina. Through seven seasons, the show crowned seven Grand Champions and awarded over $500,000 in total prize money. BBQ Pitmasters provided an insightful look into the world of competitive barbecue and introduced viewers to up-and-coming pitmasters.
Factors That Led to Cancellation
While BBQ Pitmasters enjoyed a successful 7-season run, its cancellation in 2016 came as a disappointment to loyal fans. Several factors likely contributed to TLC’s decision:
Declining Viewership
The viewership for BBQ Pitmasters saw a steady decline over its later seasons. After averaging around 1.5 million viewers per first-run episode in Seasons 1-3, viewership dropped to under 1 million in Seasons 4-5 and under 500,000 viewers by Season 7. This decline diminished the show’s value for TLC from an advertising and ratings perspective.
Rising Production Costs
As a cooking competition featuring intensive 8-hour cookoffs per episode, BBQ Pitmasters required significant production resources for equipment, food costs, crew, and culinary/judging expertise. Over 7 seasons these costs likely mounted, reducing the profitability of the show.
Oversaturation of Cooking Competitions
When BBQ Pitmasters premiered in 2009, cooking competition shows were gaining popularity but had not yet saturated the TV market. By 2016 many networks offered similar programs (BBQ Crawl, MasterChef, Chopped), resulting in viewer fatigue with the genre. TLC likely felt BBQ Pitmasters no longer filled a unique niche.
Departure of Myron Mixon
Judge Myron Mixon was a breakout star of BBQ Pitmasters known for his stern judging style and signature catchphrase “Whose swine is it anyway?” His departure after Season 3 left many fans disappointed and may have reduced interest in the show.
Failure to Evolve Format
Aside from minor format tweaks, BBQ Pitmasters stuck to its core 8-hour cookoff and judging format over all 7 seasons. In a crowded TV landscape this likely led to a feeling of predictability among viewers seeking fresh excitement. More format changes may have sustained interest.
Impact of the Cancellation on the Barbecue Community
For barbecue enthusiasts the cancellation of BBQ Pitmasters left a noticeable void. Here’s a look at some of the effects on the competitive barbecue community:
- Reduced Mainstream Exposure – As one of few barbecue competition shows on TV, BBQ Pitmasters gave the sport valuable mainstream exposure. Its cancellation meant fewer opportunities for talented pitmasters to gain wider recognition.
- Loss of Prestige – Being crowned Grand Champion on a national TV show carried additional prestige for competitors. This prize no longer exists with the show’s cancellation.
- Decreased Sponsorship Opportunities – BBQ Pitmasters allowed sponsors like Kingsford to align themselves with competition barbecue through branding/advertising. The loss of this TV platform made sponsorships less attractive.
- Shift to Digital Media – Without BBQ Pitmasters, barbecue fans and competitors increasingly turned to YouTube, podcasts, social media for their competition coverage. However, most digital platforms lack the reach of national TV.
- Growth of Regional Events – Local barbecue associations saw an uptick in membership and participation following the cancellation as more cooks likely sought out competitions in their communities.
So while barbecue itself continued thriving after BBQ Pitmasters ended, the cancellation marked the end of an era for competition barbecue on TV. Dedicated fans still miss the insight, inspiration, and prestige the show brought to the smoked meat community.
Attempts to Revive BBQ Pitmasters
BBQ Pitmasters clearly had a passionately engaged fanbase as evidenced by calls to revive the show after cancellation. Here are some of the key attempts to bring Pitmasters back:
Fan Petitions
Diehard BBQ Pitmasters fans started online petitions urging TLC to reconsider bringing the show back. One Change.org petition generated over 5,000 signatures pleading for at least one more season or special episode. However, TLC did not yield to these fan requests.
Social Media Campaigns
Hashtags like #SaveBBQPitmasters trended on Twitter as fans rallied to express their love for the canceled show. Instagram fan accounts also popped up paying tribute to classic moments from Pitmasters. But these campaigns failed to convince TLC to greenlight a comeback season.
Proposed Revivals on Other Networks
Rumors circulated that networks like Food Network or Cooking Channel might attempt to revive BBQ Pitmasters on their airwaves. Smoke ring podcast even claimed Food Network was in talks with original producer Joke Productions about a Pitmasters revival. But so far, no other network has made the move.
Kickstarter to Crowdfund a New Season
In 2018, two Kansas City-based barbecue enthusiasts launched a Kickstarter campaign trying to crowdfund $500k to self-produce a new season of BBQ Pitmasters. They secured appearances from past competitors but failed to reach the fundraising goal after just $2,682 in pledges.
Despite fans’ best efforts, BBQ Pitmasters remains off the air. Some hold out hope for its eventual return, but after 5 years since cancellation, a revival seems unlikely at this point. Fans’ only options are re-watching old episodes or finding a new barbecue competition show to fill the Pitmasters-shaped void.
Where Are Past BBQ Pitmasters Competitors Now?
While the show may be over, many memorable BBQ Pitmasters competitors continue to thrive in the barbecue world. Here’s an update on where some of the fan favorites and Grand Champions from the show’s 7-season run are today:
Myron Mixon
As one of the show’s head judges, Myron Mixon did not compete on BBQ Pitmasters but remained a household name in barbecue. He currently stars as a judge on BBQ Brawl and appears at barbecue festivals/events while continuing to operate his restaurant Jack’s Old South.
Melissa Cookston
The only female Grand Champion in BBQ Pitmasters history, Melissa Cookston won Season 2 and impressed with her mastery of diverse barbecue styles. Today she owns a popular Memphis restaurant called Melissa Cookston’s Memphis BBQ Company.
Tuffy Stone
This decorated pitmaster won the first three seasons of BBQ Pitmasters. Tuffy still competes on the barbecue circuit when not cooking at his two restaurants Q Barbecue and Cool Smoke.
Johnny Trigg
After making several appearances, this Texas legend won Season 4 of Pitmasters. Johnny is now semi-retired from competition but remains a respected voice in the barbecue community.
Danielle Dimovski
She burst onto the scene as the underdog winner of Season 5. Danielle owns D’s BBQ in New Hampshire and has an active presence teaching barbecue classes/workshops for enthusiasts around the country.
Chad Ward
Introduced in Season 6, Chad Ward charmed fans with his southern charm and old-school cooking approach. He continues competing across the southeast U.S. when not running Fatboy’s BBQ Outfitters in Georgia.
While the TV show spotlight has faded, the former BBQ Pitmasters talent continues plying their craft and pursuing barbecue excellence. They are a testament to the show’s legacy helping launch and celebrate competition barbecue careers.
Other Barbecue TV Shows to Watch
While BBQ Pitmasters can never fully be replaced, several other television shows have emerged offering fans their competition barbecue fix:
BBQ Brawl (since 2009)
This series on Food Network features 16 top barbecue minds competing in challenges testing their fire management and smoking skills over 6 episodes. Judges include Myron Mixon and Melissa Cookston.
Fire Masters (2016)
With a format echoing BBQ Pitmasters, Fire Masters spotlights 12 elite BBQ competitors in a fierce 10-week battle for supremacy. Judges evaluate their smoked creations based on appearance, taste, and tenderness.
Smoked (2020)
Netflix’s documentary series Smoked offers an eye-opening look into the world of competitive barbecue through the lens of four renowned pitmasters. It captures their hits and misses on the road to chasing glory.
Grill Masters (since 2015)
Bobby Flay hosts this fast-paced Food Network series where four grillers face off in weekly battles cooking over live fire. While broader than just barbecue, it offers high-stakes grilling action.
BBQ Beatdown (since 2021)
This newcomer web series streams for free on YouTube, featuring top pitmasters competing in creative themed cookoffs judged by barbecue experts for $10,000 prizes.
The Continued Popularity of Barbecue
While BBQ Pitmasters is gone, barbecue remains more popular than ever in America. Here’s a look at positive signs pointing to a bright future for barbecue:
- BBQ Restaurants Thriving – Despite the pandemic, barbecue restaurants saw sales boom in 2020. The trend continues as establishments like Franklin BBQ, Kreuz Market, and Pecan Lodge attract huge crowds.
- BBQ Media on the Rise – From podcasts like The Scran Line to Aaron Franklin’s MasterClass, barbecue education/entertainment keeps growing via digital media.
- Backyard Smoking Surging – Home smoking experienced major growth over the past 5 years, with companies like Traeger Grills and Pit Boss Smokers struggling to meet demand.
- Mainstream Respect – Barbecue chefs like Rodney Scott are now James Beard Award winners, showing America’s cultural elite now recognize great barbecue.
- Regional Styles Shining – Local barbecue styles from Texas to the Carolinas continue developing their distinctive flavors celebrated by enthusiasts nationwide.
- Young Talent Emerging – A new generation is taking up backyard and competition barbecue, ensuring fresh talent and new styles emerge.
So while the cancellation of BBQ Pitmasters left its fans dejected, barbecue itself continues flourishing in America with no signs of slowing down. The culture and community around this tasty cuisine remains as strong as ever.
Why BBQ Pitmasters Should Be Revived
Given barbecue’s undeniable popularity, TLC would be wise to consider reviving BBQ Pitmasters once again. Here are some key reasons a Pitmasters revival could thrive in today’s TV landscape:
- Heavy Nostalgia Appeal – BBQ Pitmasters now enjoys a passionate nostalgia appeal among fans missing the old seasons. This built-in audience would likely generate strong buzz and viewership for a reboot.
- Fresh Talent to Showcase – With five years passed, there is an entirely new wave of rising talent in barbecue ready to be highlighted through a national TV platform like Pitmasters.
- Lower Production Costs – Modern streaming technology could reduce production costs compared to the original cable run. For example, judges could join remotely via video chat instead of on location.
- Unique Aspects Still Intact – BBQ Pitmasters’ emphasis on pitmasters’ stories and 8-hour cook drama remains compellingly unique compared to other cooking competitions.
- New Interactive Elements – A revival could modernize the show with interactive elements like fan voting through mobile apps to engage audiences in new ways.
- Second Chance at Evolution – TLC can take learnings from the original to enhance the format. A series of themed or traveling episodes could keep things fresh.
With cable TV now facing stiffer competition from streaming, TLC needs fan-favorite franchises like BBQ Pitmasters more than ever. The network would be smart to leverage the current barbecue boom by giving this hit show a second chance.
Conclusion
For seven mouthwatering seasons, BBQ Pitmasters delighted fans by providing an inside look into the competitive barbecue world through a thrilling competition format. However, several factors like declining viewership, rising costs, and format stagnation ultimately led TLC to cancel the show in 2016.
While the cancellation left a void for barbecue cooking shows on TV, BBQ Pitmasters helped inspire a new generation of backyard smokers and competitive pitmasters. The barbecue community continues to thrive thanks to the wider exposure and credibility Pitmasters brought to the sport during its successful run.
Fans remain eager for the show’s return given barbecue’s current popularity. If TLC reconsidered reviving the series, BBQ Pitmasters could once again become appointment viewing for smokin’ enthusiasts across America. But for now, fans must get their competition barbecue fix through regional events, digital media, and other TV shows celebrating the craft. One thing is certain – the impact of BBQ Pitmasters will continue being felt across the barbecue community for years to come.