Why Anthony Bourdain's Final Episode Of Parts Unknown Will Never Air On TV

Anthony Bourdain died by suicide on June 8, 2018. He was in France filming an episode of his show "Parts Unknown" at the time with his friend and fellow chef, Eric Ripert. It was Ripert who discovered Bourdain the next morning in his hotel room. For many, Bourdain's death was a profound shock. A man who loved restaurants all across the country and appeared so raw and authentic on camera also had a hidden side that even close friends and colleagues could not have predicted. His passing, and with it, his unique passion for not only food but also art and the human experience, was a great loss.

Although filming had already begun in Alsace, including a conversation with chef Jean-Yves Schillinger, producers opted not to use any of the footage they had filmed during their time there. An entire episode was planned, but because of Bourdain's death, they chose to never even try to assemble something from what they had filmed beforehand.

Instead, CNN and the production company used footage from five earlier shoots with Bourdain to assemble the show's final season, excluding anything filmed in Alsace. The production team wanted to "honor the work with a final season," according to US Weekly, so they used what was completed to that point. They added an additional episode as a tribute to Bourdain that included interviews about him with friends and colleagues sharing memories and opinions.

It's unclear who ultimately controlled the Alsace footage, CNN or the production company. Though they have chosen to keep it private, who has custody of it or what they plan to do with it, if anything, is unknown. Rather than completing and releasing the show he was working on in Alsace, audiences will take one last journey with Anthony Bourdain through New York's Lower East Side, exploring the area through his eyes. 

In the 2021 documentary "Roadrunner," which covered much of Bourdain's life after he became famous, some behind-the-scenes moments were thought to be from the Alsace footage. While some of what was included in the documentary was B-roll from that time, none of it included scenes with Bourdain. Still, most people wouldn't have noticed it. 

The producers of the documentary did not have access to any footage of Bourdain himself — CNN would not allow it — they used some of the scenery from Alsace, including footage of a horse in a field, as well as some bees. They felt the background helped set the tone in an authentic way to tell the story of the end of Bourdain's life.

Years later, Bourdain's loss is still felt, but his work is equally celebrated. His insight, his perspective, and his love for food have never truly been replicated. He continues to be missed. "Parts Unknown" can still be seen on Netflix in many locations.

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