Bravo has announced it has renewed Top Chef for a fourth season that will film in Chicago.
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Given the strong ratings that Top Chef's currently-airing third edition has drawn thus far, the show's renewal isn't a big surprise. Bravo's June 13 premiere of Top Chef 3 Miami -- the first Top Chef edition to film outside of California -- averaged 2.024 million total viewers and 1.407 million viewers in the Adults 18-49 demographic. Through its first four broadcasts, Top Chef 3 Miami has averaged 2.069 million total viewers.
In addition to Top Chef's fourth season, Bravo also revealed that Top Chef 3 Miami's 14-episode run will cuminate with a live finale this fall. The broadcast will mark the first time in Bravo's history that the cable network will air a live finale for one of its reality competition series.
Although Bravo didn't reveal any reason for doing away with the pre-taped finale format that Top Chef's first two editions used, the decision to broadcast a live Top Chef 3 Miami finale may be a reaction to spoilers that prematurely revealed Top Chef 2's winner. Last season, Food & Wine magazine -- one of Top Chef's prize sponsors -- posted an online interview that revealed Ilan Hall to be the show's second season winner two days before the pre-taped finale aired on Bravo.
About The Author: Christopher Rocchio