Television: Overview

Cooking shows have been a staple of American television since the advent of the medium. Fitting squarely into the how-to program category, they have long delivered practical information to receptive audiences and provided a fertile venue for advertisers. Traditionally seen as a basic service program type (before the emergence of “lifestyle” television), this subgenre evolved over the twentieth century to encompass and become effectively associated with entertainment programming. It has metamorphosed to address the changing styles of television production and cultural interests and knowledge of the viewing audience. No other program type, especially one initially conceived as routine and pragmatic, has experienced such a powerful upsurge in popularity over time.