New docuseries explores the life, career, and ultimate downfall of Jeff Smith — a longtime staple of WTTW and a formative figure in Chicago public television. He was a big deal not only nationally in the 1980s and 90s, but specifically Chicago. Through interviews with survivors, former colleagues in Seattle and Chicago, on-air collaborators, food-world figures, and journalists who covered his rise and collapse, the series reopens a criminal story that was never fully examined.
“I Bid You Peace: The Rise & Fall of the Frugal Gourmet”
ibidyoupeace.com
Facebook: I Bid You Peace: The Rise & Fall of the Frugal Gourmet
YouTube: @ibidyoupeace
35 Comments
That guy always gave off weirdo vibes even before getting accused.
I wonder if they talked to Craig, his assistant
I watched this as a kid. This doc sounds interesting.
He's been dead for over 20 yrs & so he's an easy target for additional scorn. I'm not saying I don't believe some of the allegations (nor am I defending him per se) but it's a given fact that in dealing with many Civil lawsuits, it cost way less just to settle than to pay out WAY more to sadly have to prove you're innocent.
I watched the show with my grandmother, she met him once and she said “I didn’t realize how tall you are”. He responded “I never realized how short you are”. It was all in good fun from my understanding, the only cookbook I own is a small paperback from him that has great interesting recipes. Too bad he had such a dark ending.
What happened to Craig?
I wasn't the least bit surprised when the allegations came out. He struck me as creepy, touchy and gay af.
Wasn't Jeff a reverend or priest??
I learned to cook initially watching his shows. Always enjoyed them. It was sad what happened.
I remember watching and enjoying his show. It was fun.
These idiot people who say the alleged victims are lying DO NOT REALLY KNOW!! THEY WERE NOT THERE!! Shame on them!! It's pathetic!! No, you can't just automatically believe every accusation, but you CAN'T call someone a liar, when YOU DO NOT KNOW!! If the victim is caught lying with proof, or making things up to hurt, or ruin someone, then that is a different matter. But calling them a liar is heaping more injury upon a devastated victim!! How cruel and evil do you have to be???!!!
Wow – didn’t know about the allegations
I LOVED this show as a kid.
🗞️ remember the Chaplain's Pantry civil suits here in the Puget Sound area
I always thought Smith’s personality was forced and phony. I disliked it when he told you what to believe and how to life your presumably to be more like him.
My wife loved his show. It was the first cooking show she got me to watch. I never thought he could be capable of doing what he did. But it’s been proven what a monster he was. I hope his victims are recovering.😅 3:06
I remember watching this show. With such a complex personality perhaps he was bipolar? He had children, sons I believe. I hope this documentary airs on TV so we can watch it.
My mom, dad, and I were huge fans. I still make some of his recipes. But we could tell that Smith sometimes treated his sous chef, Craig, badly. We have family in Portland, so learned about his crimes as soon as they came out. I feel so bad for his victims and his family.
Where can we view this?
There should be no statute of limitations on SA of any sort.
Years ago, The Smoking Gun website had a copy of the affidavit (if that's the right word) laying out the accusations against Smith. One of the things claimed was that his wife Patti was involved. The affidavit stated that she would identify teens she thought would be to Jeff's liking, and steered them towards his kitchens. It's been rumored that fear of her being implicated is what ultimately led to Jeff settling the lawsuits.
I don't know if Smoking Gun still has the document (I couldn't find it when I checked the site a few minutes ago), but it was pretty damning stuff, if true.
I was a kid watching his cooking show but even so I thought he was creepy…
Are the victims impacted??? What a dumb question, of course they were.
From an aging, medical perspective: As someone gets to their twilight years and dementia kicks in, their “True Self or Basic Nature” is exposed 🤔
Didn’t he have a theology degree?
Remember not one of them filed criminal charges when they could have. They waited until he was famous and then they went for the money.
I enjoyed 'The Frug's' shows, and learned a lot from him. I was very sad when we learned he was such a creep.
After he said we needed to by some super expensive mushroom I stopped watching. Certainly wasn't frugal in any way shape or means.
He was a CREEP.
Just ask Trump.
Never cared for this guy…creepy and a real pervy vibe.
“It does not follow, that because a particular work of art succeeds in charming us, its creator also deserves our admiration.”
― Plutarch (Lucius Mestrius Plutarchus, c. 46-120 AD)
Wow
I purchased and watched this documentary (it was $20.00 and well worth it). It was excellent quality and I'm surprised Netflix or some other big network didn't pick it up. The one thing that stood out was a victim went to his lawyer to sue Smith. The lawyer said he would not pursue it because he "liked Jeff Smith." That was the persona Jeff Smith gave to his viewers and he was brilliant at what he did in front of the camera. I also believe his wife, Patty, knew what was going on but kept quiet.
There is NOTHING complicated about this man. ALL narcissists wear a mask. That is why there are such conflicting versions of who he was. They are ALL like this. ALL.