PrintE. V., Oh No! 'Rachael Ray Show' in Danger
The New York Post reports that the Rachael Ray Show may be axed:
The problem is Ray's ratings. When she debuted two years ago, she had a meager 2.5 rating, which her syndicator, King World, nonetheless trumpeted as "The biggest syndicated debut since 'Dr. Phil.' " In fact, one insider said, "They had hoped for more. 'Dr. Phil' beats 'Oprah' and gets like a 5.0 rating—and Rachael's set is very expensive and elaborate; his is just chairs."
While the Post speculates that Marie Osmond (are you kidding me?!!?) might step into the vacuum, reps for the Ray's show deny the rumor.
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22 Comments:
Stop teasing me! Yummo has got to go!
JerzeeTomato at 10:22AM on 03/13/08
Good riddance to bad rubbish. Rachael Ray is a pimple on the face of food television, and annoying to boot.
schwartz at 10:22AM on 03/13/08
Cancellation? It would be a dream come true.
aharste at 10:38AM on 03/13/08
I happen to like "30 Minute Meals" and "Tasty Travels". But what the hell does she need a talk-show for? (We ARE talking about the talk show, right?) Of course, I can only take her in small doses. Maybe if her face wasn't everywhere you look she wouldn't come off so annoying.
RichardCrystal at 10:39AM on 03/13/08
I may have to take a little break from SE, or just stop reading comments...it's getting a little tabloid/negative for me right now...I really enjoy the food discussions and news, but the gossip and name-calling (both posts and comments) is getting me down.
Cary at 10:41AM on 03/13/08
Thank goodness-she is SOOOO overdone!!! Last time I looked, she had at least 3 tv shows and about 5 magazines to say nothing of her endorsements. She is incredibly obnoxious and very taken with her "culilnary" abilities (or should I say lack of them???). I am convinced that her along with much of the Food Network is just entertainment and those who watch do just that watch and never step foot in the kitchen to try any of this!
suschef at 10:48AM on 03/13/08
It's hard to swing a dead cat without hitting one of "Yummo Rays'" shows, I mean how many times a day does one need to be on before people get burned out on it?
Pavlov at 10:52AM on 03/13/08
The odds of Rachel Ray disappearing at the height of her celebrity are slim and none. The talkshow may go, but I doubt anything else will.
jayfallon at 10:56AM on 03/13/08
I'm not a huge RR fan but I must admit to watching 30 min meals occasionally. I have some respect for the fact that while she does use some prepkgd stuff, most of her food is food and not slap dash throw together foodlike glop. Unlike certain others that shall not be mentioned, however Robin Miller is still much better at quick and reasonable.
huney_bumper at 11:01AM on 03/13/08
I'm with Cary on this one. The anti-RR and anti-Sandra Lee rants are getting annoying. I'd much rather discuss strange food names or what to eat at Easter.
I have to admit, I like RR in 30-minute doses, but at this point, she's getting on my nerves. Her cooking might not be the height of sophistication, but it makes me believe that a normal person like me, with a normal kitchen and a terrible cook for a mother, can actually cook something.
@suschef- I'm absolutely one of those people who consider Food Network to be just entertainment. I watch it all the time, yet I rarely cook anything beyond scrambled eggs or an ice cream sundae for dinner. This is Serious Eats, not Serious Cooking or Serious Chefs. To me, the "Eats" implies the many avenues from which a food enthusiast can arrive.
LiveToEat at 11:45AM on 03/13/08
I'm in the demographic that actually watches her show, but I sure don't. If I'm watching TV, I'll opt for a cooking show on PBS or FN if it's one I like. There are a few "hosts" that I have to turn off the moment I hear their voice. SL is one, Gina Neely is another, and the moment I hear RR say Hey, Kids! I run for the remote. I wonder if others in my age group find that phrase as annoying as I do. She didn't talk like that or act so manic when she first started and I thought she was adorable and enjoyed her show, and yes, even some of her food. That all changed. She annoys the heck out of me now. FN is now promoting some new "talent", one looks like RR with a tan and another looks like a male RR. Time will tell, but I've lost faith in that network. Only a few real talents left. Who cares if RR is cancelled and Oprah loses a few bucks? Not me.
PerkyMac at 11:48AM on 03/13/08
@jayfallon. I agree she won't disappear totally but overexposure is just as bad as none at all. Personally, I'm in love with Nigella Lawson.
RichardCrystal at 12:05PM on 03/13/08
Cary, honey, I've seen worse name-calling and taunts outside of this blog (i.e. Rachael Ray Sucks @ LiveJournal). I wouldn't give up on Serious Eats just yet.
As for Rachael Ray's show being allegedly canceled: it's a rumor, nothing more, according to the Huffington Post. The NY Post just hates people on the Food Network IMHO.
heartnibbler at 1:55PM on 03/13/08
Oh, I hate when my links don't work: Direct link:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/03/13/report-rachael-ray-getti_n_91288.html
heartnibbler at 1:57PM on 03/13/08
I know there are much worse, I just hate to see SE go that route, even occsionally. It seems to be simply mean-spirited...none of these people affect our lives, only the lives of those who wish them to. If we don't like them or what we think they stand for, all we have to do is not look, or change the channel. Passing on the rumors just fuels the fire, and for no good reason...
That being said, I enjoy SE and the comments and discussions too much to "give up" on it; that's why I put my two cents in!
Cary at 2:33PM on 03/13/08
I HATE perky. I don't find her style interesting. I don't GET why she's a "celebrity" to the point of "endorsing" Ritz fraggin crackers and putting "recipes" on them (I think; I admit i've never looked at a box with her picture on it, but wouldn't be surprised.) The nepotism, as it were, of tv with RR on Dr Phil, Dr P on Oprah, Oprah on Ellen, Ellen on godonlyknows boring talk sow tv (um, I think Tyra Banks has/had one) is great for those who think these people have insight and/or talent. That ain't me. The Food Network, like other cable networks, seem to believe that if 1 show is good, 3 is better (2 Emeril shows?) and for some, I guess it's true. But for the same reason cited above, i can't watch that Samantha Brown person perking her way around the globe. Everything is always so FABulous with this peabrained people. Bring back Michael Palin, PLEASE!
Fluffnik at 2:37PM on 03/13/08
Anybody with as much exposure as Rachael Ray provides an easy target for all us media-obsessed folks. I think her appeal is based on making her audience or readers feel empowered. Her admirers and fans find her approachable and real. In a world in which many people feel powerless, Rachael Ray offers a lifeline. She's never pretended to be a great cook or a chef. She's someone who shows us how to get something vaguely tasty on to our plates as quickly as possible.
Like any other instant celebrity she's trying to seize the moment and make as much money as she can. Rachael and her people realize that her stardom is not going to last forever. Hence the headlong dive into magazines, the web, and a syndicated talk show NOW.
I have never watched an entire episode of a Rachael Ray show, but I have stopped denigrating her. She knows who she is, and a lot of people seem to like that persona. There are plenty of other worthwhile shows to watch and magazines to read, and that's just what I do with my leisure time.
Ed Levine at 4:09PM on 03/13/08
Ray's totally annoying
Giada De Laurentiis > all the rest
Talmagelisabeth at 10:38PM on 03/13/08
"I'm with Cary on this one. The anti-RR and anti-Sandra Lee rants are getting annoying. I'd much rather discuss strange food names or what to eat at Easter."
Then why read the comments all the way through on a thread about RR? If you just want to read about what people are doing for Easter, why not just relegate yourself to the Easter threads?
schwartz at 8:29AM on 03/14/08
Gatemouth has made enough dough. She has had more than her 15 minutes. Next.
djzouke at 9:23AM on 03/14/08
"She's never pretended to be a great cook or a chef." Ed Levine.
I caught something about RR where she took great pains to point out that she is NOT a chef, but made it clear that she has a great deal of respect for chefs.
She works hard and she doesn't hide who she is, I can respect that.
wookie at 12:16PM on 03/14/08
So Rachel Ray is "Not" a chef. Duh.
So how the heck did she catch this star train?
She must have been born under a lucky star 'cause for darn sure she's got more chutzpa than talent!
Sammies and Yummos and E-V-O-O, Oh MY!
cher128 at 1:42PM on 03/23/08