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

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

★ 7.0/10•2026•57m•Documentary
Similars

The meteoric rise and shocking downfall of America's most famous TV chef, The Frugal Gourmet's Jeff Smith, whose charm captivated millions—until it all came crashing down.

StatusEnded
Runtime57m
LanguageEN
First Air DateJan 23, 2026

Episodes

E155m

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.

Jan 23, 2026

E262m

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.

Jan 23, 2026

E341m

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.

Jan 23, 2026

E460m

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.

Jan 23, 2026

E557m

Peace?

In the aftermath, 'The Frugal Gourmet' fades from the public eye, isolated and haunted by unanswered questions. Friends, critics, and survivors reflect on Jeff's impact, struggling to reconcile generosity with harm—and asking whether peace was ever truly possible.

Jan 23, 2026

Actors

Jeff Smith

Self

Julia Child

Julia Child

Self

Graham Kerr

Graham Kerr

Self

Martin Yan

Self

Kenneth Kantor

Narrator (voice)

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