wfn.org | UMCom suspends Frugal Gourmet series

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"UNITED METHODIST DAILY NEWS" by SUSAN PEEK on Aug. 11, 1991 at 13:58 Eastern,
about FULL TEXT RELEASES FROM UNITED METHODIST NEWS SERVICE (3416 notes).

Note 3416 by UMNS on Feb. 5, 1997 at 15:55 Eastern (2945 characters).

SEARCH: Frugal Gourmet, Jeff Smith, UMCom, allegations, sexual,
Odyssey
Produced by United Methodist News Service, official news agency of
the United Methodist Church, with offices in Nashville, Tenn., New
York, and Washington.

CONTACT: Linda Green                           62(10-21-71B){3416}
         Nashville, Tenn. (615) 742-5470              Feb. 5, 1997

UMCom suspends television series 
"Frugal Gourmet Keeps the Feast" 

     NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The sexual misconduct allegation
surrounding Jeff Smith, widely known as the "Frugal Gourmet," has
led United Methodist Communications (UMCom) to suspend "The Frugal
Gourmet Keeps the Feast," a series it has produced for the Odyssey
Cable Television Network.
     The popular TV chef and ordained United Methodist minister is
being sued by 36-year-old George Heitman of Tacoma, Wash., who
alleges that Smith, 58, sexually assaulted him when he was 15.
     UMCom has produced 26 shows to make up the series that has
been carried by the Odyssey Cable Network since 1995. The program,
hosted by Smith features foods from the Bible and the Holy Land
and has been one of the network's most popular shows.
     The suit against Smith was filed Jan. 23 and alleges that he
"pursued a pattern and practice of grooming high-school-age boy
employees for sexual intercourse" as he operated a Tacoma, Wash.,
restaurant.
     "We are saddened by the necessity to suspend the show," said
Wil Bane, head of UMCom's public media department. "We do not want
to be seen as having made a decision about the case," he said,
"but neither can UMCom act as though nothing has happened."  
     Bane also said the Odyssey Cable Network's policy has been to
remove television programs from its lineup when someone involved
in one of its shows has been charged with wrongdoing.
     Although he is ordained, Smith has not been under appointment
by the bishop and cabinet of the denominations's Pacific Northwest
Annual (regional) Conference since he "voluntarily located" in
1973.
     Smith, who has denied Heitman's charges, is also the host of
the "Frugal Gourmet," the highest-rated cooking program in
history. The show is watched in approximately 6 million households
on 300 public television stations. 
     Since the allegations became public, an ex-judge has come
forward with a claim that he witnessed Smith kissing and fondling
a busboy in the kitchen of a Tacoma, Wash. restaurant he operated
in the early 1970's. The judge's story is being used to support
Heitman's allegations that Smith forced him to have sex in 1976.
     According to Stu Kantor, director of corporate communications
for the Public Broadcasting Service, Alexandria, Va., "We will
continue to distribute the "Frugal Gourmet," in spite of the
allegations. He said local PBS television stations make the
decisions on whether a show is broadcast. 
                             #  #  #  

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