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Season 1 – I Bid You Peace: The Rise & Fall of the Frugal Gourmet

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TV chef Jeff Smith was beloved in the 80s-90s until multiple former teenage employees accused him of sexual abuse; exploring these allegations through interviews with survivors, colleagues and journalists.
I Bid You Peace: The Rise & Fall of the Frugal Gourmet — Season 1

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Cast & Crew

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Chris Johnson

Director

Chris Johnson

Writer

Chris Johnson

Producer

Episodes

Episode 1 Aired Jan 23, 2026 I Peddle Enthusiasm Raised in Seattle, Jeff Smith's love of food, religion, and teaching turns him into a beloved campus chaplain—and then an unlikely TV chef. As The Frugal Gourmet is born, early success collides with debt, illness, and choices that threaten everything he's built. Details Episode 2 Aired Jan 23, 2026 Keep Your Fingers Bent Under! A single TV appearance catapults Jeff to national fame. Bestselling books, global travel, and PBS stardom follow—but behind the charm are rages, excess, and growing doubts about who Jeff really is, both on-screen and off. Details Episode 3 Aired Jan 23, 2026 Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde Returning to Seattle, Jeff searches for reinvention as cracks widen behind the scenes. New projects mix food, faith, and spectacle, but chaos and troubling behavior mount—until one unexpected phone call threatens to shatter everything. Details Episode 4 Aired Jan 23, 2026 Whatever I Do, I'm Forgiven Public accusations explode into a reckoning. As multiple men come forward, long-whispered rumors surface, dividing supporters and exposing patterns once ignored. With a lawsuit looming, Jeff's legacy—and credibility—hang in the balance. Details Episode 5 Aired Jan 23, 2026 Peace? After the fall, "The Frugal Gourmet" fades from public life, isolated and haunted by unanswered questions. Friends, critics, and survivors reflect on his impact, struggling to reconcile generosity with harm—and asking whether peace was ever truly possible. Details
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I Bid You Peace: The Rise & Fall of the Frugal Gourmet — Season 1

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Season Info

Director
Chris Johnson
Screenwriter
Chris Johnson
Genre
Documentary
Original Language
English
Release Date
Jan 23, 2026