Restaurant Impossible reboot draws sharp Robert Irvine backlash
Robert Irvine says he will not watch Food Network’s new Restaurant Impossible: Last Call and accused the network of hurting the show’s legacy.
By Bianca Rossi · Entertainment Editor
3 min read
Robert Irvine is not raising a glass to the Restaurant Impossible reboot. The former Food Network host told fans on X that he will not watch Restaurant Impossible: Last Call, the new version of the show he fronted for 22 seasons, and accused the network of damaging what he helped build.
The new series premiered this week with chef Aarón Sánchez and restaurateur Jen Agg leading the format, according to Deadline. The show follows them as they work with struggling businesses and try to help them succeed.
Irvine’s comments came after fans asked why he was not part of the revived series. In posts on X, formerly Twitter, he said the show was “MY baby” rather than the network’s and credited longtime collaborators Tom, Tanya, Lynn and volunteers with the work done on the original run.
He also said he remains in touch with some of the families connected to restaurants he helped during the show’s earlier years.
Why is Robert Irvine upset about the Restaurant Impossible reboot?
Irvine said on X that the production’s decision to film in Canada was a breaking point because, according to him, it involved using a new crew, builder and designer. He wrote that he refused because he was loyal to his team.
In the same exchange, Irvine accused the network of reviving the title for financial reasons, writing that Food Network was hurting an “iconic show” and adding, “shame on them for tax credits.”
When a fan argued that the show should not use the Restaurant Impossible name without him, Irvine agreed. He said he had made the series with “a great team” for 15 years and claimed Food Network was “ruining the legacy” and “making a mockery of the talent.”
His harshest post took direct aim at the network while sparing the people appearing in the reboot. Irvine called the new series a “shit attempt to cheapen and revive what was a popular show across the world,” then said he blamed the “shameless network” rather than the individuals involved.
What is Restaurant Impossible: Last Call?
Restaurant Impossible: Last Call is Food Network’s new take on Restaurant Impossible, with Aarón Sánchez and Jen Agg at the center of the series. According to Deadline, the pair work with troubled businesses as they try to help them become successful.
The original Restaurant Impossible was closely tied to Irvine for viewers, which explains why fans flooded him with questions after the reboot surfaced. Irvine made clear in his X posts that he has no plans to tune in.
Deadline reported that it contacted Food Network for comment on Irvine’s criticism. No response from the network was included at the time of that report.
This story draws on original reporting from Deadline.