Could a Parts Unknown season 13 happen without Anthony Bourdain?

The idea of Parts Unknown without Anthony Bourdain on CNN is a difficult thing to consider moving into tonight’s final episode featuring the host. After all, this was an iconic show starring an iconic man – a chef with a passion for people and understanding the world around him. It was educational, but it found a way to do that without being pretentious. Instead, it allows its viewers to just step into Bourdain’s shoes and see the wonderful world through his eyes.

As of right now, there are no immediate plans to continue the Parts Unknown franchise with another host. Yet, down the road we do wonder if it is something that the network could consider. The first thing that CNN would have to be aware of is simply this: There is no replacing Bourdain, so there is really no point in finding a carbon-copy of the chef somewhere else. It would need a different host, a different style, and a different sort of personality.

We will always be an enormous fan of Bourdain and everything that he brought to the series. If there is a new version of the series someday, it takes nothing away from what he did. The real merit to CNN considering a revival down the road is this: It continues to spread his message. It allows for them to continue to push forward with great stories all over the world, ones where new cultures and people could be explored. If a new Parts Unknown could expose a new generation to the world and break down barriers, how is that a bad thing? It feels like if done the right way, it could be a net positive – it’s all going to depend on getting the right chef for the job.

Yet, there is no reason to rush this. Bourdain visited so many places across twelve seasons that a good bit of the world was already traversed. There is always more, but there is no reason to rush to make more. They could wait a couple of years and at that point, maybe find a way to reach a younger audience who may not have seen the earlier seasons of Bourdain’s show. If it doesn’t feel right, then don’t move forward. If it does, then give it a shot. There may be backlash, but at the same time a new show could still be hopeful, relatable, educational, and at times even fun.

Of course, there’s also a way in which for CNN to continue Bourdain’s message without doing more of Parts Unknown — ordering a different show with a slightly different focus other than food. It just seems like this is the perfect vessel for a travel show since it is one of the few universals that everyone can agree on. Everybody eats!

Do you think that CNN should ever consider the idea of more Parts Unknown without Anthony Bourdain? Share in the comments. (Photo: CNN.)