"Every Freaking! Day" with Rachael Ray.
It's 2:30 a.m. and I've been working all night because I'm stupid and like to procrastinate on deadlines during the day, but that's besides the point-
I just found out from an editor that I will be reviewing a Rachael Ray parody book called, "Every Freaking! Day with Rachael Ray." Apparently it's a pretty cruel take on her Thirty Minute Meals shtick, but these meals are made in 30 seconds.
So, what do you think: When "celebrity chefs" have plastered their annoying faces and catch lines on every imaginable surface, is it ok for the public to poke fun in rather cruel ways? Will you check the book out or is it too mean spirited for your tastes?
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23 Comments:
I'd have to check it out before knowing what's meant by "mean-spirited" and to what extent it is. In fact, once this one's done can you post a link to your review please? I'm kinda curious now!
LunaPierCook at 6:23AM on 09/11/08
I will not be checking it out - for the simple reason that anything to do with that name drives me nuts.
Lilartist at 6:38AM on 09/11/08
I can't stand that woman...she talks to her audience like they were idiots...
Did anyone see the live show where the elderly lady asked her how she managaged to make her meals in 30 min. because the elderly lady couldn't get it done in an hour...Rachael says " 1/2 hour, hour, what the heck"
I change channels everytime I see her on...
cookingnaz at 6:45AM on 09/11/08
I will check it out but I am NOT going to purchase it because it is bad enough seeing that "chipper" face and "catch lines" everywhere I go let alone inviting that into my house. At least with the T.V. I can change the channel or turn it OFF!!
pjracz10 at 6:52AM on 09/11/08
The public has every right to poke fun of anyone. But I don't really feel the need myself to buy a book of someone else making fun of her. Besides, by writing the book, they just created one more place to find Rachel Ray. I actually find this more annoying than her being everywhere.
blankplate at 7:27AM on 09/11/08
I really doubt this type of thing bothers her, after all for good or bad it puts her name out there, and that seems to be all she cares about. I used to have an iota of respect for the woman, not my type of cooking, but she filled a niche. Obviously all she cares about is getting her name out there. I've used a few of her, not recipes but ideas and they werent bad for a quickie meal after a bad day. I don't hate RR but I have lost all respect for her, she obviously knows what good food is but when she started shilling for Nabisco and DD it became painfully obvious she intends to become a more sucessful version of SLop.
huneybumper at 7:37AM on 09/11/08
This is a sign of her success. Remember when SNL did the Martha Stewart skits?
Love her or hate her, her unique style and personality make her an easy target for parody. It was inevitable, really. To get where she is, I'm sure RR has developed a pretty thick skin.
I love Martha Stewart, and I found the SNL skits very funny. I think Martha has a wicked sense of humor and can laugh at herself - which serves her well.
To answer the question, I probably wouldn't buy it for myself, but I might give it as a gift to my snarky chef brother.
SSMom at 7:47AM on 09/11/08
Goes in the sadly pathetic pile of stuff (a growing one these days). I completely understand not liking her style on TV, but this kind of thing is just unnecessary in my mind, regardless of the target.
The ironic thing is that (from what I've seen of 30 Minute Meals while I'm in the hospital) the food she's making in the newer episodes is actually almost entirely from scratch and looks a whole lot like the food that people I know who are serious about food whip up during the week themselves. She's moved away from the hot dog casserole days (I think) but its gotten lost because she's also become so ubiquitous at the same time. (I'm making these judgments based on watching a few old and a few new episodes of the show a couple of times a year....so I could really be so wrong on this.)
ccbweb at 8:00AM on 09/11/08
I probably wont check it out, even though I cant stand her. The way she talks and her use of grammer drive me crazy. I'm not an idiot and sometimes she makes the viewer think that they don't have one ounce of intelligence in their brain.I really dont't like her style of cooking. She also doesn't care what she puts her name on---any product, etc...She probably loves the idea of this book. Probably thinks it puts her in the same category as Martha (which she never will be). Watch her hour long talk show and after 5 minutes you will have a migraine.
dinnermama at 8:27AM on 09/11/08
'Every Freaking! Day with Rachell Ray' Parody Book
Raphael at 9:11AM on 09/11/08
OMG they gave that to you. I saw something about this last week.
Martha did take a lot of abuse but at least she can bake.
I cannot stand Retchel. She is like nails on a chalkboard.
I heard last night she is worth 1 Billion now. Apparently being annoying pays. Why did I not figure that out before?
JerzeeTomato at 9:47AM on 09/11/08
One word: Nutrish.
But hey, the lady bathes in money, so clearly she found a market for her (crappy) product. I wouldn't buy the book, but I wouldn't object to laughing at the commentary I find about it on the internets.
savecara at 10:50AM on 09/11/08
I'll borrow it from the library and flip thru it, although I wouldn't buy it.
My mom and I can't stand her.
I swear everytime I see a clip of her cooking she's making another version of some huge, gross burger.
Her 'eating on the cheap' show used to be tolerable, but once Oprah got ahold of her it's been annoying overkill.
gastronomeg at 11:22AM on 09/11/08
I've never seen one of her shows so the book would be way over my head as far as the jabs. I'd look on YouTube, but my work blocks YouTube and many other sites. When I go home, I'm too busy to look her up. :P
When you're in the public at your own choosing, I think you have to expect people to harrass and poke fun at you, even if it's extremely mean. Now expecting and it being okay are two different things. I never really understood why people have to be so cruel to each other other than jealousy. Perhaps, in this case, it's just to make a quick buck.
I thoroughly enjoy cooking shows that can [more or less] cook meals in 30 minutes. There's a Japanese segment that my father enjoys each week called Today's Menu.
Cassaendra at 12:16PM on 09/11/08
Until you've read it, you won't know if it's cruel or not, but either way, I don't think the book will hurt her. People who already dislike her will be amused, but people who like her won't change their minds, and will probably defend her even more because of the book.
As for me, I wouldn't buy it. There's only so much free time in a day, and if I'm going to read a book, it's going to be something I really want to read. This just isn't the type of book I'd grab first. If it was in the lobby of the doctor's office, I might pick it up, though. If someone gave it to me, I'd probably read it, eventually.
From what I understand, though, "book" is rather loosely defined here. Isn't it really, really short? When I saw the page count and the price, my first thought was that it would have to be pee-in-my-pants funny for it to be worth that much, and I doubt it's anywhere near that funny.
My guess is that this is the kind of book that will get purchased as a gag gift, and then passed around to multiple people. Given the short length and the price, I don't think many people will buy it for themselves.
dbcurrie at 1:09PM on 09/11/08
@gastronomeg: Oprah has that effect on people. Of course, I think Dr. Phil really didn't need any of her help in that department; he's got enough obnoxious qualities all on his own.
As far as the book, makes me think of that saying, "There's no such thing as bad publicity."
buffy at 5:44PM on 09/11/08
Who is Rachel Ray?
izatryt at 6:19PM on 09/11/08
People have been taking jabs at Martha Stewart for years. And I'm not talking about hilarious Saturday Night Live skits.
Anyone who has a public career puts him or herself out there for scrutiny and ridicule. They generally cry all the way to the bank.
therealchiffonade at 8:16PM on 09/11/08
Hey, I think it's kinda funny. It's so true. It feels like Rachael Ray is everywhere every day...And hey, free speech!
Hillary
Chew on That
Chew on That at 1:28PM on 09/12/08
iza - u so funneee :)
In all seriousness thou I must admit I get her magazine! Oh am I ashamed, BUT I hate all her shows so I guess I like her magazine because she is silent.
love2cook at 2:00PM on 09/12/08
What irritates me with RR is how she thinks certain foods are "fun"....like "sammies". Argh! And sometimes she will say that adding cheese or something will make a totally gross food appealing to the "kiddies". Whatever! There is nothing that you could add to some of that stuff that would make some kids eat it. Mine included. However, she is laughing me all the way to the bank, so I'll just shut up now.
floridagirl at 7:12AM on 09/13/08
@db-- I agree with you, pretty much on all those points.
Bottom line though, in regards to RR, say what you want, write what you want, but she's laughing all the way to the bank. The girl is making a fortune. She's found her way in this world, when did that become a bad thing? She's not selling porn, she's not selling crack, she's not defrauding the government.
If Oprah called me one day and said, "I want to develop a show for you and then syndicate it. You will be a household name. You will make millions. You will become the butt of many a joke. You will have to be freakishly chipper every moment there is a camera around. Do you want to do this?"
I'd say "Hell, yes." And let my money take care of me and my family. The money should also lessen the sting of nasty comments.
wookie at 11:58AM on 09/13/08
Rachael Ray does fill a niche: one for persons who don't know how to make a sammie without directions, who don't have any food sensibility, read palate and those who don't mind being screetched at. I have to confess I do use her abbreviation, E.V.O.O as it's handy on my grocery list....
lesleyprince at 6:19AM on 09/30/08