Watching Rachael Ray

Sanjaya Tells All
We’ve got the secrets of next week’s American Idol finale straight from Sanjaya himself! And of course, behind-the-scenes scoop and the hype behind his hair! Then, it’s the last mystery taster of the season and this one’s got 2 Oscars, 6 Golden Globes, an Emmy, and is a self-proclaimed metrosexual! And for dinner it’s Rachael’s take on a Middle Eastern specialty.

Ty Pennington
The Extreme Makeover star shares his time-saving double-duty household tips and is helping Rach make a healthy version of the Sloppy Joe. Then, remember brutally honest dating? Now it’s time for brutally honest real estate when we ask renters and realtors to tell the whole truth. Find out when sharing too much information can sabotage your chances at closing the deal.

Jamie-Lynn Sigler
Meet three amazing designers who are only 12 years old! Project Runway’s Tim Gunn has a challenge for them, and Rach is throwing in a big surprise! Then, with the countdown to the Sopranos finale on, will Jamie-Lynn Sigler spill the family secrets? She’s sharing behind-the-scenes photos and a huge hint of what’s to come!

3 Dates in 3 States
Rachael sends her buddies Gina and Colby on three dates in three states. One’s a cheap date and the other’s a big spender, and they’ve got ideas for some fun in Atlanta, San Francisco and Miami. (But why is Colby getting pulled over on the road?) Then, get designer looks for less when Gretta reveals her favorite summer trends that won’t bust your budget. And cancel those dinner reservations so you can stay in for a cozy night with Rach’s date night supper!

Prom Night - Teens vs. Parents
It’s every parent’s worst nightmare and every teen’s rite of passage: prom night. Can we help a concerned father and his 15-year-old daughter meet in the middle? Tune in to find out how to keep your teen safe. Then, go inside the Avon lab with Gretta to see how they really make makeup and the coolest nail polish ever!

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There’s been a great deal of hubbub about Rachael Ray doing the new Dunkin Donuts commercial - most of it snarky. As we don’t have Dunkin Donuts up here in the wild North of Alaska, I hadn’t seen the commercial - only the hype. One person on the RRSucks site had mentioned that Rachael Ray “left black marks on the floor and just didn’t care!”

So here’s some clips and details on the commercial via YouTube and CelebTV.com:

And now? That I’ve seen the commercial? BWAHAHAHAH! Aw, she left black marks and didn’t even care! Kinda like maybe it was IN THE SCRIPT or something…. hm? I mean srsly people!

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I’d heard Craig Ferguson was funny, but even I don’t stay up late enough to watch the Late, Late Show most nights, and so hadn’t seen much of him at all. You know - he’s funny! I laughed right along with Rachael and the audience as he made himself at home at the Kitchen Table, in the Kitchen, and helped play Stump the Rach! He’s accent, his easy humor - and hello, he’s not horrible on the eyes, either!

When asked for advice since he’s passing his 500th show, while Rachael has merely done 150 or so, he had this to say:

“When I started, I asked my boss, David Letterman, what do I do?” Craig remembers, “He said, ‘It’ll come to you, just keep talking. Whatever you do, just keep talking.’ So I think you’re going to be OK!”

And when Rachael asked him where to go for a good meal when she visits his homeland of Scotland this summer? “England.”

Be sure to check out the video of why he’s a confident man, if you missed it!

And don’t miss tomorrow’s show - Mother’s Day with Paula Deen! It’s bound to be a hoot!

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Looks like the taping of the upcoming Friday’s episode with Paula Deen was a party all the way around! That Paula, she sure is feisty!

Shake it, indeed!

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Clearly, this site is very big on loving Rachael - but I love all you visitors too, whether you love her or hate her, and to show my love, I gotta point you out to this highly amusing piece of satire.

Nicholas Bowman, of BlogCritics Magazine, published this in April, but I just stumbled across it yesterday. It’s a hysterically funny look at Ray as the harbinger of the Apocolypse.

In the case of Ray however, there is evidence that something much more devious is unfolding. That’s right; I am talking about the Apocalypse. Beyond the perky persona and frantic body language, the signs are all there.

He covers all angles - from EVOO, the five headed beast of the apocalypse, to the time it takes to make her meals in relation to ‘hell time’, to the rearranging of her name into a wicked demon name only pronounceable by wicked tongues of devils and worshipers!

Beware, folks! “The time of Chyarlaaaaeic is upon us!”

And no, laughing at this in no way diminishes my love of Rachael Ray! Having a sense of humor is FUN!

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Rachael’s reactions crack me up!

“that’s not bad.”
“it’s not on”
“OH!”

Monday: Yeah, I know it was yesterday, I have it on DVR to watch tonight! Robin McGraw, Dr. Phill’s wife, shared her beauty secrets, swimsuit makeovers for members of the audience, Tuna Pan Bagnat and Shrimp Cocktail Salad Rolls.

Tuesday: After the prom for Enterprise High. Students and families are in the audience to reunite and see how things are going on. Mandy Moore stops by.

Wednesday: Patricia Arquette and Rachael rate red carpet looks and showing off the natural look sans makeup.

Thursday: Craig Ferguson from The Late Late show helps with Stump the Rach and tests a new burger recipe. A family with three daughters and three weddings in one year, wedding trends and wedding on a budget.

Friday: Mother’s Day with Paula Deen, who stops by to give Rachael a baking lesson. Colby Donaldson takes his mom on a hot air balloon ride, and shares a list of Mother’s Day gifts.

May sweeps is in full swing! Don’t miss it!

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E! THS showcased Rachael Ray as promised on Saturday night. While E! THS is known for snarky and less the favorable portrayals of stars (and receiving criticism lately for going ’soft’), I felt the show was balanced and true to what we know of Rachael Ray.

They interviewed her teachers and councilors from High School, her mother and sister, as well as former employers, her crew and even l Roker - who got her the big break on the Today Show after seeing her on a spot during her local news.

From her start in her parents restaurants, to dishwasher at Howard Johnson’s to working (by choice!) from 5:45am-midnight at Agatha and Valentina.

Her first commercial for the restaurant featured Rachael behind the omlet station, and Joe Desantis says “She was great right off the bat. You could just see it, she had a presence.”

I loved what her teachers said of Rachael in High School. She was a cheerleader and they loved to “throw her around” as she was “game for anything.” And her French teacher proved that Rachael Ray and I have something in common: “I could always tell when she was participating. I could hear her voice… sometimes above all the others.” Ha! I gave my French teacher a set of chattering teeth the day I graduated. He said he’d never gotten a more appropriate reminder of a student before. Awesome.

Rachael worked her way up through the gormet food section of Macy’s after dropping out of Pace college, but parted ways when they wanted her to become a buyer for accessories - but she wanted to work in food, she loved the marketplace, and all the ins and outs of the service and food industry.

In 1993, she found herself at Agatha and Valentina, where she took her cues from her Mother’s strength for dealing with customers and the more old fashioned oldtimers who would be rough on a girl:

1. Never ask someone to do something you wouldn’t do yourself.
2. Understand you aren’t there to be buddies
3. Speak directly and look them in the eye
4. Tell them what you need and never insult them, and
5. Never accept an insult from anyone.

This is a tried and true method for earning respect with all those we work with and for.

After being held up by the same teenage boy twice in the same week, she left NYC and went home to regroup, before getting a job in Albany at Cowan & Lobel which was an hour away. She had to get her drivers license, and tells the story of her first test during which she killed a cat. She did get her license, though and that is where the 30-minute meal concept came to be after polling her customers on why certain things weren’t selling. Naturally, it was a huge success, and she garnered the attention of the local news crew.

It was the beginning of her success, of the Rachael Ray Empire.

Lest you think it was all sunshine and roses and biography background, they also went through her love life, her ex-boyfriends, and the times where she wasn’t sure where her next paycheck was coming from. And, of course, there was the interview with the owner of the Rachael Ray Sucks website community, Misty Ling who can’t handle Rachael’s cut sayings and perky personality.

“Her movements became more exaggerated, she became a cartoon of who she was…. the constant arm movements bother me. Evoo.. if your going to abriveate it, abbreviate it. It’s overkill, enough is enough. All thinks Rachael we make fun of.”

As Rachael herself says “They are perfectly entitled to think so! I don’t need to make the dumplings to feel fulfilled.” And about the tabloids “If that’s the price you have to pay, hey - it’s worth it.”

The show was well worth watching, so catch a replay if you get the chance on one of these dates: Monday, May 7, 11:00a - Wednesday, May 9, 10:00p - Saturday, May 12, 4:00p.

While it probably will be termed as overly positive - I think that is more indicative of the subject, then the spin of the show. Love her or hate her, Rachael Ray is a dynamic, energetic workaholic who gives her everything to each and every project. You can’t fault her for that - especially when we get the benefits of her down to earth, easy-going ways.

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Just ask her, she’ll tell you! At People.Com, Rachael Ray has answered some questions via video from her fans concerning her relationship with hubby John Cusimano, and of course - Food.

Check out her answers here!

Want to see a little preview of the E! True Hollywood Story: Rachael Ray? Click here! From how she got started, they follow the rise to stardom and the hotly debated term “America’s Sweetheart” - they’ll cover it all.

The part of the preview that amused me the most was the owner of the RRSux community. Now, I’m a fluffy and curvy girl myself, and my hourglass figure holds a hefty 3 and a half hours, but for a community that bags mostly on Rachael Ray’s appearance and weight….

Well. I’m just sayin’.

(As an Aside: why can’t we women quit that anyway? Thinner is not always better! Healthy is wear it’s at, and anyone can see that Rachael Ray is healthy and happy. Me, I’m just… built for comfort. Lots and lots of comfort. Ha!)

I’ll pop back in with a recap of the show this weekend! Have a good weekend and hey - eat something good, huh?

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Those folks that hate seeing Rachael Ray’s face everywhere sure aren’t gonna like looking at the magazine rack at the store this week! Yup, Rachael Ray graces the cover, gets personal, and talks about her marriage as well as rumors and critics.

“I can’t give a man an enormous amount of attention,” Ray, 38, tells PEOPLE matter-of-factly in this week’s cover story. “And John is totally down with that. When men I have dated over the years whined about, ‘Oh, you make no time for me’ – see ya! I just dumped them. I don’t need that pressure in my life.”

She speaks of her decision not to have kids honestly, acknowledging that she just doesn’t have time to be an effective parent, and even talks briefly of the rumors of her husband, John Cusimano’s infidelity. She takes it up with her usual plain spoken humor.

How about the tabloid claim that Cusimano had cheated with two women during their marriage?

“I think they said six actually,” she says. “I’ve known where he is every night since we’ve been married.” According to Cusimano – who moonlights as lead singer in the rock band the Cringe, currently touring to support a new CD – “It’s fun to come home after a hard day’s work and just cook dinner. The place I’m happiest is curled up in bed with Rachael and the puppy.”

His wife agrees. “We’re very turtlelike,” she says. “We listen to music, pour a glass of wine and watch Law & Order.”

For more, pick up this week’s people on Friday, May 5th.

Also! Set you’re DVR/TiVo’s for E! channel on Saturday, where Rachael Ray is the subject of the E! True Hollywood Story!

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With success always comes the haters - and no one knows that so well as Rachael Ray. She recently had a chat with Michael Stokes of the New York Post, and got her two cents in concerning her personality, and the people who talk - nonstop in some places - about it.

“Yes, I am wild, I am goofy, I didn’t go to cooking school, blah, blah blah - so sue me,” she said yesterday, a day after wrapping the first season of her syndicated show.

“I can’t be all things to all people. My family taught me that,” she said.

“What am I gonna do, call people who hate me and say, ‘Please like me?’ I love my job and I think I listen to our viewers and to people when they stop me on the street or at a book signing,” she said.

“But reading a bunch of criticism? How can that be healthy for anyone?

“I still make a pretty decent dinner and there are just as many people who find what we do to be really inspiring and fun.

“And those are the people I work for.”

The Rachael Ray Show is reported to have the kind of numbers and buzz that hasn’t been seen on the air since Dr. Phil launched five years ago. Always busy, she will spend the show’s hiatus filming abroad for the Food Network, and says that when the show returns next season, to expect more of the same - A show for, and by, the viewers with a dash of “A bite out of life” with celebrities on the side.

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More then 1,000 students were trapped in the buildings of Enterprise High School in Alabama when a tornado touched down in the center of the school on March 1, 2007. Rachael Ray and her co-workers and friends were touched by the stories of strength and courage, as we all were when she shared them with us during Monday’s show.

Eight of their own lost their lives, 120 were injured, and the emotions fairly leapt off the screen as we were told Katie’s story by her family and friends, as well as the courage of a pregnant teacher who shielded students with her own body then helped pry the students loose. “You do everything you can for your kids.”

The stories on Monday’s Rachael Ray show were poignant, and told with respect and true sensitivity as Rachael and her friends worked feverishly to give the students of Enterprise High a Prom, a celebration of life and love, that they will never forget.

Many people came together to help and with donations, each student was given formal attire, and Rach’s glam squad made the rounds to assure everyone was looking their finest. As a special treat - Mandy Moore arrived to get the party rocking, and partied the night away with the EHS students.

Be sure to tune in next week, the students will join Rachael Ray in the studio.

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