The New York Times reports that Emeril Live taped it’s last show on the Food Network and laid off a half-dozen staff members, bringing an end to an impressive 11-year, every-weeknight run.

The story says that viewers will not see a difference for at least a year as the new episodes that have already been taped are shown. But industry executives are scratching their heads over why the network canceled “Emeril Live” — which they speculate became too expensive for its softening ratings — without having a new deal in place, given the role that his program played in the network’s success.

I don’t really care. Cooking shows have the spontaneity and creativity of line dancing. And the hosts all seem to practice terrible food safety. A food safety error every 4.5 minutes.