Claire
Julia Child didn’t just write cookbooks. She became a television icon. For over 40 years, she taught Americans how to cook through their TV screens.
From her groundbreaking debut on The French Chef in 1963 to the HBO series made about her life in 2022, Julia’s presence on screen has never really faded.
Here’s everything you need to know about watching Julia Child.
The French Chef (1963-1973)
What was Julia Child’s first TV show? The French Chef premiered on February 11, 1963, on WGBH (PBS). It ran for 10 seasons and 212 episodes until 1973. It was one of the first cooking shows on American television and won both a Peabody Award and an Emmy Award.
This is where it all started.
The French Chef wasn’t just a cooking show. It was a revolution. Before Julia, cooking shows were stiff and scripted. Julia was different. She made mistakes on camera. She dropped things. Learn more about Julia Child’s life and career →
She tasted the food and reacted honestly.
The pilot episode, “The French Omelette,” aired on July 26, 1962. When it generated an enthusiastic response, WGBH greenlit a full series.
Key facts:
- Premiered: February 11, 1963
- Final episode: January 14, 1973
- Total episodes: 212
- Seasons: 10
- Network: PBS (WGBH Boston)
- Awards: Peabody Award (1965), Emmy Award (1966)
The first episode of the regular series featured Boeuf Bourguignon. That recipe would become one of her signatures.
All Julia Child TV Shows (Complete List)
Julia appeared on television for over four decades. Here’s every show:
| Year | Show | Episodes | Network |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1963-1973 | The French Chef | 212 | PBS |
| 1978-1979 | Julia Child & Company | 13 | PBS |
| 1980 | Julia Child & More Company | 13 | PBS |
| 1983 | Dinner at Julia’s | 13 | PBS |
| 1989 | The Way to Cook | 13 | PBS |
| 1993-1994 | Cooking with Master Chefs | 16 | PBS |
| 1994-1996 | In Julia’s Kitchen with Master Chefs | 39 | PBS |
| 1996-1998 | Baking with Julia | 39 | PBS |
| 1999-2000 | Julia & Jacques Cooking at Home | 22 | PBS |
That’s over 380 episodes across nine different series. And she was in her 80s for the last one.
Julia Child & Company (1978-1980)
After The French Chef ended, Julia returned with a new format. Julia Child & Company focused on complete dinner party menus rather than individual dishes.
Each episode showed how to prepare an entire meal for guests. The companion cookbooks became bestsellers.
Julia & Jacques Cooking at Home (1999-2000)
This was Julia’s final regular TV series. She was 87 when it aired.
The show paired Julia with her dear friend Jacques Pépin. The format was simple: they’d cook the same dish side by side, each using their own technique. Sometimes they agreed. Sometimes they argued. It was always entertaining.
Jacques later said these were some of his happiest memories in the kitchen.
Julie & Julia (2009 Movie)
What movie is about Julia Child? Julie & Julia (2009) stars Meryl Streep as Julia Child. The film follows two parallel stories: Julia discovering cooking in 1950s Paris, and blogger Julie Powell cooking through Mastering the Art of French Cooking in 2002. Streep received an Oscar nomination for Best Actress.
This is the movie that introduced Julia Child to a new generation.
Directed by Nora Ephron, Julie & Julia tells two intertwined stories. Half the film follows Julia and Paul Child in Paris during the 1950s. The other half follows Julie Powell, a blogger who decided to cook every recipe in Mastering the Art of French Cooking in one year.
Meryl Streep’s performance is remarkable. She captured Julia’s voice, her height, her enthusiasm. The performance earned:
- Oscar nomination for Best Actress
- Golden Globe win for Best Actress (Musical or Comedy)
- Critics’ Choice Award for Best Actress (tied)
The film is based on two books: Julia’s memoir My Life in France and Julie Powell’s Julie & Julia.
Where to watch: Available on Amazon Prime, Apple TV, and for rental on most platforms.
Julia Documentary (2021)
A documentary titled Julia was released in 2021, directed by Julie Cohen and Betsy West (the same team behind the Ruth Bader Ginsburg documentary RBG).
The film uses archival footage, personal photographs, and interviews to tell Julia’s story. It premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival and later aired on CNN.
Where to watch: Available for rent on Apple TV, Amazon, Google Play
HBO Max Series “Julia” (2022-2023)
Is there a Julia Child TV series? Yes. Max (formerly HBO Max) released Julia, a dramatic series starring Sarah Lancashire as Julia Child and David Hyde Pierce as Paul Child. Season 1 premiered March 31, 2022. Season 2 was released November 16, 2023. The series was canceled in January 2024 after two seasons.
This dramatic series reimagines the making of The French Chef and Julia’s rise to fame.
Cast:
- Sarah Lancashire as Julia Child
- David Hyde Pierce as Paul Child
- Bebe Neuwirth as Avis DeVoto
- Fran Kranz as Russ Morash (the show’s producer)
The series received positive reviews, particularly for Lancashire’s performance. Unfortunately, Max canceled the show in January 2024 after two seasons. There will be no Season 3.
Where to watch: Max (formerly HBO Max)
The Julia Child Challenge (2022)
A cooking competition series that debuted on Food Network on March 14, 2022.
The show features home cooks competing in a replica of Julia Child’s famous kitchen. Contestants face challenges inspired by Julia’s recipes and cooking philosophy.
Where to watch: Food Network, Discovery+
Saturday Night Live Parody (1978)
One of the most famous TV moments involving Julia Child wasn’t actually Julia at all.
On December 9, 1978, Dan Aykroyd performed a parody of Julia Child on Saturday Night Live. In the sketch, “Julia” is demonstrating how to bone a chicken when she accidentally cuts her finger. Instead of stopping, she continues cooking while blood spurts everywhere, eventually collapsing while insisting “Save the liver!”
It’s dark comedy. It’s also one of the most iconic SNL sketches ever made.
The best part? Julia Child loved it. She reportedly kept a personal copy of the sketch and showed it to guests at her home.
Where to Watch Julia Child (2026 Guide)
| Content | Where to Watch |
|---|---|
| The French Chef (original) | PBS app, DVD collections |
| Julie & Julia (2009 film) | Amazon Prime, Apple TV, rental |
| Julia (2021 documentary) | Apple TV, Amazon, Google Play rental |
| Julia (HBO series) | Max (formerly HBO Max) |
| The Julia Child Challenge | Food Network, Discovery+ |
| SNL sketch | YouTube, Peacock |
| Cooking with Master Chefs | DVD, PBS archives |
| Julia & Jacques | DVD collections |
Many of Julia’s original PBS shows are available through local PBS stations or the PBS app. DVD collections are also widely available and make great gifts.
Timeline: Julia Child on Screen
| Year | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|
| 1963 | The French Chef | TV Series (PBS) |
| 1978 | Julia Child & Company | TV Series |
| 1978 | SNL Parody | Comedy Sketch |
| 1980 | Julia Child & More Company | TV Series |
| 1983 | Dinner at Julia’s | TV Series |
| 1989 | The Way to Cook | TV Series |
| 1993 | Cooking with Master Chefs | TV Series |
| 1995 | In Julia’s Kitchen with Master Chefs | TV Series |
| 1996 | Baking with Julia | TV Series |
| 1999 | Julia & Jacques Cooking at Home | TV Series |
| 2009 | Julie & Julia | Feature Film |
| 2021 | Julia | Documentary |
| 2022 | Julia | HBO Dramatic Series |
| 2022 | The Julia Child Challenge | Food Network Competition |
| 2024 | Julia (canceled) | No Season 3 |
Frequently Asked Questions
The French Chef, which premiered February 11, 1963, on PBS.
212 episodes across 10 seasons (1963-1973).
Julie & Julia (2009). Streep won a Golden Globe and received an Oscar nomination.
Yes. Max canceled Julia in January 2024 after two seasons. There will be no Season 3.
David Hyde Pierce (known for Frasier).
Yes. She reportedly loved Dan Aykroyd’s 1978 sketch and showed it to guests.
As of January 2026, no new Julia Child TV shows, movies, or documentaries have been announced.
Sources
- Wikipedia – The French Chef
- Wikipedia – Julia (TV series)
- Wikipedia – Julie & Julia
- Wikipedia – The Julia Child Challenge
– Claire
