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

Miniseries

5 episodes · Jan 23, 2026

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.

Season Videos

0/5 watched

Swipe a row to mark watched · long-press to mark up to there

  • S1E1

    I Peddle Enthusiasm

    Jan 23, 202655m

    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.

    Reviews
  • S1E2

    Keep Your Fingers Bent Under!

    Jan 23, 202662m

    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.

    Reviews
  • S1E3

    Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde

    Jan 23, 202641m

    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.

    Reviews
  • S1E4

    Whatever I Do, I'm Forgiven

    Jan 23, 202660m

    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.

    Reviews
  • S1E5

    Peace?

    Jan 23, 202657m

    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.

    Reviews