Watching Rachael Ray

Hey - the schedule told me this was a repeat -good thing I checked anyway! It’s a brand new episode with Scott Baio, Kat Von D and more!

From Happy Days to Scott Baio is 46 and Pregnant, he’s still a pop culture icon, and continues the trend wiht his latest project, Confessions of a Teen Idol, co-produced by his friend Jason Hervey of The Wonder Years.

He joins Rachael in the kitchen with his baby girl Bailey. She is SO CUTE! Then mama takes baby back stage and Rachael and Scott have a seat at the Kitchen Table. Bailey even has her own foundation, to help kids who have metabolic disorders as she was falsely diagnosed early on. “it’s the least we can do with these families” he says of the Bailey Baio Angel Foundation.

Of his fame? He says he’s insanely lucky, and blessed to work non-stop, acting directing or producing. Would he encourage Bailey to go into the biz? He says he’d discourage it, probably, as he wouldn’t want her to go through all of that - the rejection and manipulation. His advise to those who want to get into the business? “Don’t. And if you do? Save your money.” Good advise!

Scott asks her if she wants children - and Rachael says she has her dog - she can’t imagine taking the time to be a parent. Scott gives her some advise and says she’d be an amazing mom. From a guy who thought it would be weighing to be a mom, he can’t imagine not seeing his daughter every day - it comes.. you never know where you get it from, it just happens.

And everyone loves the new show - Confessions of a Teen Idol, Teen Idols from the 80s and 90s - and Scott calls it an examination of fame. It’s the story of the guys, and American Culture, and three of the guys pop in to say hi - Christopher Atkins, Jeremy Jackson and Eric Nies. Rachael jokes “It’s an easy day at work for Mama, lemme tell ya!”

Don’t forget to check out Scott Baio’s Celebrity Soundoff!

After a quick stop in the prep kitchen for Irish Nachos (yum!), it’s time to talk some tattoos. Three sisters, ages 16-21 have made a pact to get tattoos when they turn 18, while Mom and Dad are completely against it. Dad says they’re too young and it’s too permanent, while mom doesn’t want to see them walking down the aisle with tattoos anywhere! They worry that people will look down on the girls, while the girls think the stigma has eased, it’s no longer a form of rebellion.

Dad runs a motorcycle dealership and says it’s acceptable there, but not on young girls. Carrie says that it’s a generational thing - it’s not defacement, it’s expression. They all plan on doing it together when the youngest sister turns 18.

Kat Von D from LA Ink (IVE BEEN THERE!) is on hand to give some tips to consider when thinking of getting that ink, and to pimp the new book which is stunning - High Voltage Tattoo. Kat says that it’s important to find that one thing that will be good for you forever, not something you’ll grow out of. She admits that they’re constantly trying to talk people OUT of getting tattoos, because they’re rushing into it, or doing it for the wrong reason. There is still something of a stigma attached - people notice, so make sure you’re stable with your career.

More tips -
Find the right artist for you and make sure they understand your vision. See them in person - if you see a tatto you like, go ahead and ask where they got it and don’t be afraid to travel to get it.

Size and shape matter, as does placement! You don’t want to stick things on like stickers.

Watch the sun - it’s the enemy of tattoos. Use sunblock, because the sun will fade twice as fast without sunblock.

Laser removal is not an easy fix - it’s extremely painful. “It’s not fun.”

Has this changed Mom’s mind? No - Dad’s? If Kat does it, it’s ok, as long as it’s somewhere no one can see it.

Don’t forget to hit up the giveaway button down there for your chance to win a copy of Kat’s book, High Voltage Tattoo.

What’s for dinner? Bolognese with Pappardelle.

It’s cold in New York - so Rachael’s brought in someone to keep the line warm outside - Jillian Michaels! Jumping Jacks and everything, and even calling out one woman hiding in the back before they ’storm the building’! Then Jillian joins them on stage, and Rachael says she heard everyone down there, and Jillian says they’re dedicated fans, standing out there for two hours! Jillian jokes that the cold is why she lives in California - she doesn’t even miss the seasons. It works for her.

They talk about the last show, where Rach grabbed Jillian’s butt and Jillian laughs and says she’s been “crushed out” ever since, while Rach says she liked it - a very firm tucus! That aughta get the rumor mills started, hm?

New Years resolutions? Jillian says anyone can change on any day, and New Years - anytime is the right time. Go for it. Of course, most have slipped from the resolutions already, and Jillian’s on hand to help inspire with a couple of tips. First off - write it down as well as with all the reasons you want to change - it’ll inspire you, and then change your thinking. Educate yourself - if you think you are able, you will be.

Jillian says that it’s not rocket science - eat less, move more - but you have to get into those inner demons too, get to the underlying levels. Jillian admits to feeling insecure and feeling like a failure, a fraud and not being able to do it - The Biggest Loser, Season 7 has really challenged her in every single way.

Has she everbeen afraid that she’s pushed someone too far, and they might get physical? Jillian says on occasion - on the Australian show she was boxing, and she was pretty sure he really wanted to hurt her for a minute, so she decided hey! we’re done for the day! Then they put Jillian in the box at Made in LA fitness giving work out tips. From pregnancy workout tips - don’t get the heart rate up above 140, or heat up the body, wall sitting is a good workout - to keeping motivated -do something fun!

The number one question? The Plateau which Jillian says that it’s a myth. It’s fluid or metabolism adjusting, and shouldn’t last longer then a week. They might have stopped counting calories, not working out as hard, or shaking up the routine. After the Biggest Loser - she doesn’t believe in the plateau any longer. She then gives a few easy (HAHAHHA!) exercises to help with arms, bellys and butts. Check out a bit more behind the scenes.

After a quick stop in the prep kitchen for a No Fry Stir-Fry, Jarod is back with some backyard animals. Today he has a possum, black bears, a groundhog, and a skunk too!

What’s for dinner? Pizzoccheri (Cabbage and Potato Pasta).

Today we start out at the kitchen table where Rachael is joined right off the bat by Eric McCormack! It’s been 11 years since Will and Grace (no way, 11?!), but he hasn’t been just sitting around, and now he’s back where he belongs - primetime, with TNT’s new series Trust Me. Where Madmen is about the beginning of the ad age, Trust Me is about the end, and the struggle in this DVR age, how do you get them to listen, and he becomes the boss of a friend and there’s more tension.

When deciding what to do - he didn’t want to do a sitcom, because he was spoiled with the first one, and he kinda wanted to be straight for a change. He didn’t want to be a lawyer or doctor - and here comes advertising where it’s cut throat and creative. He hit it off right away with co-star Tim Cavanaugh, and says that whoever invented caffeine got the idea from him. The show is written by two ad men who were on the Chicago scene, and is about their friendship, so there’s lot of chemistry, and the ads they do are real and can be real campaigns and it’s a huge product placement thing sometimes. Eric jokes that the SAG is screaming in pain. He says it’s an interesting marriage though, because the product owners now can’t tell them how the characters react and talk about the product itself.

When Debra Messing was on, she matched Hollywood starlets with their ex-husbands in The Ex-Factor, so Eric tries to beat her time by pairing famous TV characters with their on-screen bosses in Who’s the Boss… can he do it? Debra’s time was 45 seconds, but Eric does his group in just 25! Click here for some backstage moments with Eric.

Next up, it’s a meal fit for a President, and Executive Chef Andre Cote took us behind the scenes at the Bi-Partisan Dinner where President Obama honored Senator John McCain, and 1,100 of the nation’s elite. Talk about pressure! But Cote says, beaming “Anytime you can serve a president, it’s quite an honor!”

Is YOUR closet a disaster? Gretta is on hand with some tips and tricks as she helps out Alicia who is in desperate need of a closet makeover. Alicia says her closet is so bad she doesn’t even know what’s in there anymore - and she ends up recycling the same hoodies and sweaters over and over again. She even has clothes in her son’s room! It’s G to the rescue!

Not only that, but Rachael’s friend gets the help of Amy Sui to organize her daughter’s closet, through the use of the Elfa system from the container store, bins, pullout drawers and huggable hangers that helped alphabetize the clothing. Amy also suggests keeping like items with like, and no overflow - only keep what you love and use. She also says to keep the closet inviting - pop the back wall with a bright color, and use curtains instead of doors to make it ‘friendly’.

Check below, after the cut for some closet organizing tips from Gretta - and hey, what’s for dinner? Greek Baked Ziti and No-Time-for Breakfast biscuits.

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It’s Human Lab day! Today it’s some instant solutions for some former Beauty Queens! Miss America 1975, Shirley Cothran tryes out the Shape FX Dress, which is part of a line of “strategically designed garments”.

Jill Privateer, Miss New York 1985 tries Liftits, a clear adhesive tape that can lift your breasts up to two inches, working on cup sizes A to D in “instant perk-ification!”

Maria Caporale, Miss Connecticut 1988 tries Bumpits to give her hair a bit of boost (My daughter and I laugh at the commercials for this EVERY TIME. Her: Who would WANT to DO that? Me: Someone from the SOUTH! Ahem.). You insert it and it gives you that bump of hair without all the teasing and lasts all day. Though she might not have big hair to start with - she certainly has a big outfit, and oh man, 1985 called and wants the shoulderpads back, ok? Srsly. She looks HUGE, a huge SQUARE and… yeah, it’s just unfortunate.

Leanza Cornette, Miss America 1993 tries Abs in a Box, a makeup kit used to sculpt six-pack abs.

All the products actually live up to the expectations, though the 6 pack abs look pretty fake to me. Check some of the results here!

After a quick stop in the prep kitchen for some Chicken Cutlets, it’s time to tackle a viewer problem.

What to do when your family doesn’t do Leftovers? Her husband can’t stand them, and brings something home to fend for himself if it’s looking like last night’s pork chops. The kids are equally picky - they love Mom’s cooking the first time around, but not when it’s leftovers. Rachael loves leftovers, of course, for lunch or midnight munching, and she has a solution for Jill too, taking ingredients that are leftover in the house to create a new dish like leftover pasta turned into Frittata Pizza!

Wjat’s for dinner? Two more choices - Yellow Chicken and Rice, and Meatloaf Baked Ziti.

Rachael starts out telling us that the nice thing about being in the biz is that people are primping and making her look good - people never recognize her when she’s not working because she doesn’t do any of that. Some people aren’t that lucky though. One viewer is always late because Lisa has to primp and prepare - she spends up to 20 hours a week making herself look “presentable”. Her hubby is flabbergasted - he can’t believe it takes her so long to get ready, while she doesn’t know how he can get ready in just 30 minutes then has time to check his email, etc.

Mally is on hand thought, to help Lisa streamline her routine, which shouldn’t take any longer then 30 minutes. Some ofher tips include using Lash Illusion to make lashes thicker and longer in one step, and line the upper inner rip of the eye that makes the lashes look really thick. Do the creams at night - eye, neck, retinol and then only a moisturizer and primer in the morning. Use a good powder foundation in a circular motion that will be a concealer, foundation and setting powder all in one and for her hair? Moisturizer to make it less crunchy from all the hair spray, and for a straight look use the t-3 flat iron that works on wet or dry hair.

Next up - it’s the queen of daytime drama, Susan Lucci, who’s on hand to give her workout secrets! (Like she ever needs to work out - she’s like 2 pounds of nothing on top of toothpick legs. I always think she’s gonna break!) NAturally they talk about Dancing with the Stars, and Rach tells her how fabulous she was (…i wasn’t that impressed, but whatever.) and how it was wonderful that Susan was able to eat everything not nailed down because of how much energy it takes. Susan says she found out it’s very disciplined and she gained a huge respect for them, it’s a sport and they’re in great shape but she had the best time. She says Pilates is what helped her and keeps her in shape now!

And a couple of trivia facts - she recently filmed All My Children’s 10,000th episode, and she’s played Erica Kane for 38 years!

They ride around to Susan’s Malibu Pilates Chair, where Rach joked that she wore the most complicated thing possible so as not to have to risk getting on it and making a fool of herself. Susan demenstrates the chair, as well as helps a staffer get in a brief demo too. Hit up the giveaway button for a chance at winning your own, and click here to watch Susan share the details on her upcoming HSN stint demonstrating the chair.

After a quick stop in the prep kitchen for some Croissant Egg Boats, it’s time for some Amazing Kids! 13 year old Caitlin Sanchez is the new voice for for Dora the Explorer. She went to Nintendo World in NYC for the premiere of the Dora video game, and met some of her fans - she says people freak out, it’s amazing! She’s also done an episode of Lipstick Jungle, and has a movie coming out too but she’d love to do Dora forever! She’s a very cute girl, and confident - especially for being 13!

Next, it’s T-Man Latz, who’s a Blues Guitar Hero - he’s gaining notoriety for his incredible blues guitar talents. He started at age 4, and has performed with Buddy Guy and Jackson Browne. WHen asked where it comes from, he says “it comes from my soul - it’s always been in me!”

OMG, 12 year old Reina Hardesty is the Text Message QUeen! She sent 14,528 messages in one month of winter break. Fortunately her parents have an unlimited texting plan - though they still had a little talk with her when they got the bill. In fact, Dad immediately texted her! They’re all going to give their thumbs a rest, and try to get the habit under control.

And yup - it’s dinnertime: Cassoulet Stoup.

Now that’s the way to start a show - with a snack! Not just any snack, but Mini Deep-Dish Pizzas. Yuuuuuuuum. Then it’s time for Diane Sawyer to join Rachael on the sofa to chat a bit about the Inauguration Celebration.

Diane is getting ready to do a 48 hour marathon of coverage of the Inauguration, starting at 3am before going straight through all the parties - and she can’t wait! She admits that all the caffeine in the world won’t keep her awake, but the excitement will keep her going this time around. The people, and what’s happening, we’re watching history and standing together, and she hopes that everyone will rise to the occasion, and collectively re-dedicate ourselves to the country.

For the presidential lunch, Obama has chosen Lincoln’s menu, including a variation of Mary Lincoln’s apple cake. Diane says that her meals will be whoever fights for the cheetos - and she’ll win. It’s the one day they’ll be fueled entirely by cholesterol!

They talk a little abit about the controversy about the sermon, etc, and President Obama wanted to prove he meant it, that we can agree to disagree and still stand together. There are 10 official inaugural balls, including the neighborhood ball, the block party with hundreds of big name celebrities attending. Diane will be in her news clothes - and won’t be doing any embarrassing dancing in front of President Obama, though she expects it to be the highlight of her 30 years of inaugural coverage. “It’s rich with history, it’s a family that we are really interested to watch. This will be different.”

They talk a bit about the family, and Diane hopes we all have the decency to allow the girls to be kids, and no feel like they’re responsible for the country. They’re kids, let them be kids.

After a stop in the prep kitchen to learn how to do Jello Aquarium, it’s time for some Great American Animals with Jarod Miller - with an American Quarter Horse, a wolf, and a Bald Eagle.

Next up, some of Rachael’s viewers share some cool things they got for Christmas - from the Beverage Caddi, the Wallies Peel and Stick Chalkboard, the Perpetual Kids’ Faucet Light and the HP Mini 1000 Vivienne Tam Clutch.

All of that and Dinner Too? You know it. Today it’s Cheeserburger Chili Mac and Cheese.

We start out today with Rachael talking about the Curious Case of Benjamin Button - and how they were on the lookout for someone who looked older or younger then their real age, and use it as a segue to talk about Jen, a 23 year old high school teacher and Carrie, 44, who are often asked if they are much younger, or much older then their current age. Carrie feels that her appearance is a hindarence as people as if she’s her sister’s mother because she’s been prematurely gray for years - and says dying it is too expensive (…drugstore stuff, baby. I KNOW I got no gray! Purple, yes. Gray, no!), and Jenn is constantly mistaken for a student instead of the teacher she actual is.

Have no fear - Kyan Douglas of TLCs “10 years Younger” is on hand to help give them a new look - in an hour! He says that confidence is the magic ingredient - you need to find it and it will help you look the way you are supposed to look. Which of course makes it really hard to do.

Kyan gathers up the ladies, and we move on to celebrities and the Grand Dame of celebrities that don’t age - through whatever means necessary, Joan Rivers! More Benjamin Button, and she was all “How boring was that - 2 hours of him looking awful, and 10 minutes of him looking good in the middle!”

Joan calls Rachael a bitch! HA! Joan says she watches movies on airplanes - she went to Mexico on AirTaco - a green airline. They feed everyone Mexican food, everyone farts, and pthbbb everyone’s propelled to Mexico. Rachael laughs and says “it gives new meaning to up up and away!” and Joan points “That’s very good. Bitch.”

Brilliant. Even though Joan drives me insane. Laughter all around!

Anyway! It’s no holds barred, as she talks about the movies that are out, and then the red carpet, of course. They talk about the Golden Globes, and the dresses, in typical Joan fashion - Heidi Klum’s dress made her look like an ornament off Seal’s Kwanzaa tree, and J’lo’s behind that you can serve sandwiches off off! Who looked perfect? Kate Winslet, simple and sleek.

Of course it’s time to plug the book - Joan Rivers, Murder at the Academy Awards - a fiction novel due out soon. She says she wanted to write a funny mystery, and about what really happens on the red carpet.

How does she look good? Botox. And good DNA. That’s it, of course! The other book, of course, is “Men are stupid and they like big boobs.” which speaks plainly about getting plastic surgery that talks about everything for every possible thing that could happen. Click here for an excerpt!

Joan and Melissa are going to be on the Celebrity Apprentice soon, and she says that it’s an absolute bloodbath, even though there’s a lot of wonderful people - it starts in March. Then it’s time for Stump The Rach! Today we have the Loo-Read Toilet Paper holder Magazine Rack, Wine Glass Holder Necklace - which someone in the audience actually guesses, because she HAS one! Ha! Also on tap is Spread Heads - toppers to squirt Ketchup out the birdy nose. Yum, and last but not least, the Over the towel bar hair dryer holster.

After a stop in the prep kitchen for some Freezer to Oven Entrees,
Justin Kredible is on hand with a bunch of Celebrity Look-alikes - from Joan Rivers to Elvis to Cher, to Whoopi at the Sunburst Convention in Orlando, Florida.

Then we’re in the kitchen for dinner - the Belgian Joes with oven Fries with Cheddar Horseradish Dipper.

And then, finally - it’s time for the Reveal! Check out this link for the transformation and, of course, the both look fabulous! Jen’s all grown up, and Carrie looks 10 years younger then her real age now, if a little wobbly on the heels. Kyan laughs and says the bad news is no more senior discounts!

Wow - Rach’s outfit today? a TOTAL win! She looks slim and trim and well put together in a long black skirt, black boots, long sleeve black shirt, and a dark sage green vest with a skinny belt. TOTAL WIN.

It’s the return of Potluck Thursday! Two choices for what’s for dinner - the audience chooses, and the meal they decide to eat is the snack of the day, and the other choice is given to the local homeless shelter. Today’s choices, Chipotle Sloppy Joe vs. Neapolitan Baked Ziti.

The winner? We don’t know yet. Instead, it’s time for more Eat this Not That - the Supermarket Survival Guide’s David Zinczenko. He’s on hand to help us make better choices at the store - which he calls like an episode of Lost, and half the times the labels that make things sound healthy mean nothing. Less fat is often more sugar and salt. Simple swaps - like one scoop of ice cream - mint chocolate chip, made with skim milk, every day? You’ve actually able to eat what you want and lose 17 pounds.

David says that there’s a conspiracy - it starts with portion distortion. The way mom and grandma was eating 30-40 years ago is not the way we eat today. Salty snacks have 93 more calories per serving size… and we supersize. 17 percent more money to get 55 percent more calories make you invest in fat. High fructose corn syrup is added to everything where you don’t expect it to be, and causes us to put on unnecessary pounds. And when you go out to eat, we underestimate by almost 100% the calories we are taking in. Even the chicken today is 17% fattier then they used to be! David suggests organic or free-range chicken is leaner. Go for boneless chicken, flank steaks and lean cuts of beef, and pork tenderloins.

Even fruits and veges are not as healthy as they used to be - 6 out of 12 nutrients have seen major decline due to faster growing times and soil issues - calcium, vitamin C, iron… so go for the best of the best. Sweet potatoes, strawberries, spinach - Think of a traffic light. If ou see yellow, green and red - stop and get some!

So - some tips! Shop on Wednesday nights. 4% of people shop on Wednesdays, and you have the run of the store - get your stuff and get out. Go after dinner, so you’re not hungry.

Use the self check-out lines - nothing to distract you and makes less impulse buying.

Shop the perimeter - the good stuff is along the outside, produce, dairy, meats. THEN go inside and only spend 25% of your time there.

Pay attention to serving sizes! Know that a 3 or 4 ounce beef or fish serving is the size of a deck of cards. Measure your cereal too - it’s tricky! You could possibly be consuming half your calories for the day by pouring that big bowl of cereal!

In the Bread - look for 3 grams of fiber per 100 calories, and only 6 or 7 ingredients, not 50.

Produce - don’t be deceived by the waxy glistening look Pick it up, it should be sturdy and has all its moisture and hasn’t dried out. It should be fruit and have a strong clean scent. Rachael says to try to find road stands, and local produce - it’s straight from the ground to your table. (we have no such animals up here in Alaska, but whatever. Heh.)

For frozen foods - make sure there’s not a lot of frosted ice, look for vacuum sealed and watch for salt content - like a chicken pot pie, that’s the amount of sodium that’s in 30 strips of bacon.

Bottom line - read the labels!

Back to the Potluck Thursday decision - and the winner is… Neapolitan baked ziti!

Next up - it’s the Rock Star dad from Gossip Girl - Matthew Settle. He loves being on the show - even getting the scripts and reading them, he thinks they’re just brilliant. He’s always getting tidbits of great literature, and he’s learning from the show things he never knew before since he didn’t get a formal education. He thinks it’s a bridge between age groups, and it’s opened conversations between teens and parents. Matthew says the line gets pushed a little every generation, and change is scary and the show deals with the reality and consequences of actions.

He’s glad to be learning so much as he’s about to be a dad in real life! He says when he first found out, he was sweating bullets. THey have a name chosen - Angelica Aven, which means Angelic Mountian Flower - a Welsh, English, Irish thing and they knew it was perfect, as they agreed on it right away. He’s not worried at all about his wife Naama keeping things in order as the family grows. Says Matthew “She used to be a drill sergeant in the Israeli Army! She can march me around the house -she knows how to give orders.” He jokes his life goes so well because he just surrenders.

Matthew is a preacher’s kid - and when asked about what his family think about the show, he says he’s pretty sure mom and dad don’t watch it. His brothers and sisters do, but they lie about it to mom and dad.

What’s his new years resolution? Check it out!

The audience gets a chance to ask questions - What strange combo foods does Rachael eat? She loves it all, so she wouldn’t notice if it was weird. Her sister though - she eats mayo on french toast, and thinks it tastes like egg salad. Ew! What would she do if she wasn’t recognized at all for a day? Rachael says she goes in flats, sweats, and no makeup - and no one recognizes her. When she is though, folks just say “Hey Rach!” and move on. Except when she’s grocery shopping, she has to budget like 3 times as much time as it should take to shop to answer the questions.

Next it’s dinner time - and everyone’s munching on the Ziti.

Today, it’s time for another human lab segment - this time tackling Acne Treatments, which Rachael was surprised to discover how many adults it affects.

Nicole was crushed when her 10 year old asked her why she had zits all over her face. Nicole tries Acne Care Frutels. Chocolates! That are loaded and supposed to clear the skin.

Lachanda wants to scream when she has an outbreak - she feels that’s what people focus on, she’s tried everything, even rubbing grapefruit on her skin. Lachandra tries the Zeno-mini Acne Clearing Device that claims to zap away the zips with low-level heat.

Carrie doesn’t let anyone see her without makeup and has spent thousands of dollars on peels and micro-derm and diets. Carrie tries the Clear Wave Light Therapy Skin Care System which claims to attack the bacteria with light.

Dr. Cheryl Karcher is on hand to chat about it too, and says it’s hormonal. They change when we get older, as well as stress. Hormones simulate oil, which clogs pores, and bacteria eats the oil and tada, pimple. The two things to do are unclog the pores and kill bacteria. Many products contain things to do both - salicylic acid unclogs the pores, and benzoyl peroxide kills bacteria.

After four weeks, Nicole says things got worse before it got better. She took a break, then started taking the Frutels again, and things have cleared up and she’s hopeful and expecting the best. Lachanda had issues - she could only hold it to her skin for half the amount of time. She’s stopped using on her face, but used it on her neck instead. It just didn’t work well, and it seems to make the pimples larger. Carrie’s skin got notacbly worse, but it might not be the products fault as she stopped the treatments she had done before. Her husband makes fun of her the entire time - but she is learning spanish by listening to lessons on her ipod during the treatments. She’s not seen real results yet, but it said it takes 6 weeks.

So we’re back in the studio at the 8 week mark. Nicole says that as crazy as it sounds - her skin cleared up, and she loved eating chocolate every day of the week. She ate 3-4 a day. the Doc says it’s chocolate with vitamins, and you can’t argue with the fact that she got better but it is possible that her stress decreased too, it might have been even a placebo effect. The biggest thing to do for your skin is to be healthy - it’ll show in your skin.

Lachanda said that she might have been too sensitive for the product, it was painful. She quit using the product. Doc says that it’s the latest trend - taking doctors remedies from the office into the home. There are other technologies that are the same thing, but you only need it for 2 seconds rather then 2 minutes. The science behind it is good science, and it is useful to kill the bacteria.

Carrie says it looked like she was going to a tanning booth, and she says that honestly it didn’t work. After 8 weeks, she didn’t see an improvement, and maybe it would have worked if she kept up with the micro-derm and derma peels at the same time it would have been better, but she was worried about it being too much. Doc says that it likely didn’t work because she stopped her entire regimen, and didn’t unclog the pores. It wouldn’t harm the skin in any way, and so Rach says maybe go back to the normal regimen and try the light then - go back to Spanish classes.

The bottom line is, get the products that unclog the pores and kills the bacteria - that will help keep you clear, along with being generally healthy.

After a quick stop in the prep kitchen, where Rachael shows you two alternatives to using pasta in your favorite lasagna, it’s time to learn how to turn old gold into cash! ONe way is to go to a Gold Party. It’s an opportunity to sell your dusty gold jewelry. You put it int the package, and they appraise it and send you a check. And if your friends do it too, you get a bonus. It’s for silver, gold, platinum, premium watches, etc.

A viewer says she had a Gold party by Red Swan.com - she started with her own, and got $1000 back. Once that happened, she decided to sell her “old boyfriend” jewelry and got double what she did the first time. She told people, and she got thank you checks, and it’s a surprise every time as she doesn’t know who send it in, she just gets referrals. Rach had three audience members turn some stuff in to be appraised. Sandra is offered $250 bucks, and Sandy takes it, no problem. Kimberly brought in a ring with a safire, and she gets $300 bucks, and Kimberly takes it as well. Now… Laurie brought in an engagement ring from a past relationship - and Red Swan offers her $3000 for it. Lori says she’ take it (duh!) and all three ladies leave cash in hand.

And if you get the check, and you decide you want your jewelry back, send the check back within 10 days, and you get it back, no questions asked.

Next up, Rachael had challenged people to grow their own gardens and show them off, and Apollonia took that challenge and supersized it! She’s known as the Zucchini Lady for growing a 6-foot tall Succhini! She says she didn’t do anything special, just grew it right there in Brooklyn, New York. “I never thought my succhini would become world famous!” Poor Rach - she’s giggling so bad she can’t really talk for a bit. It didn’t even fit in the trunk of the car - but they made it! They can’t eat it anymore, because it’s getting hard (there goes Rachael again! As well as half the audience!) so they’re going to use the seeds for next year. Rachael made her a personalize Zucchini recipe book from the show.

Share your garden photos in the garden gallery.

Which all leads into dinner - Zucchini-sagna.

Rachael always said she’d never be a “Who’s your daddy” kind of show, but she’s doing it today with DOGS, and Dr. Ernie. Yes, there are now tests for dogs to determine who their parents and grandparents are. It’s apparently good for rescue dogs for health reasons, as well as to find out just what kind of breed your mutt is.

Here to help is Bernadette Peters, who’s adopted two dogs from NYC shelters, a pit bull named Stella, and 9 year old Kramer, of an unknown breed. She thinks he has the ears of a Briard, some body characteristics of a German Shepherd and a thick undercoat of a chow. He’s also had to have an eye removed due to cancer, and she wonders if he’s susceptible to tumors due to breed. She uses the Wisdom Panel Mixed Breed Analysis Kit and joins Rach and Dr. Ernie on stage to get the results.

The test is a blood test, requiring a tiny bit of blood and the results are 90% accurate. Who’s Kramer’s daddy? He’s about 50% Golden Retriever, 25% ChowChow, and 25% was mixed beyond what could be decided. Cancer is the number one cause of death among Golden Retrievers, and Bernadette still needs to be an alert.

Doggie DNA testing is important for people looking to adopt a dog as well, as it’s valuable information for your Vet. It makes it easier to find the best fit for you as well - how big will he be? Ho agressive? Docile? so on and so forth.

Next up, a staff member, Meridith finds out the makeup of Archie, her rescue dog - who has a “Muttagree”. The producer fell in love with Archie when they were producing the segment in the shelter. He’s jack russel terrier, and labador retriever…. wow. that’s a combo!

After a quick stop in the kitchen for Turkey Swiss French Toast, it’s time for another in the “I hate my…” series. This time, it’s “I hate my neck!”

Mally is back on hand to chat about our necks. It’s an area that’s often overlooked, as we take care of skin and face, but forget our necks and throats.

Gwen, 54, says her neck is getting saggier, and saggier, and she feels she’s becoming a turtleneck-aholic due to her waddle, and her nieces call her Aunt Turkey Neck. She has a different turtleneck for all occasions. She feels it ages her, and she feels older. Mally has several solutions - a neck cream to help tighten everything up, then she uses a shaping powder, from the back of the ear to contour the jaw line. It tends to get a little soft, which makes the neck look a little hangy. To draw attention away, wear dangling earings - and accentuate her positives - her nice chest! Don’t cover it up, give them something else to look at! She also shows a bit of elastic and tape that can be used on occasion, but not often as it’d make the problem worse. Then - when you get your picture taken, put your tongue against the roof of your mouth - it lifts everything up.

Next, Terri, 53, says she has a short and stubby neck - so much so that she has started to feel that her head should be two inches higher. She’s tried everything, v-necks, necklaces, sitting a certain way, makeup, and she’s at a loss. Mally uses a contour powder to create a stronger jawline, and shading to make her neck look longer. Other makeup tips were to point out some faux-pas - she made her eyeliner point down, which pulls the focus that way. So they lifted everything up - smoky eye, a little bit of lifted cat eye too. She also styled her hair that pulled the attention away from the neck, instead of drawing attention to it. She suggested that she grow out her hair, but wing it back for now so people focus on the hair, not the neck.

What’s for dinner? Braised Pork Chops.

We get right to it today, with Bob Greene joining Rachael on set at the sofa’s where they start talking about why people are overweight. Rachael says that sure there are some underlying reasons that people get fat, but some just carry extra pounds because they like pasta. Bob disagrees - and says the ones that chronically struggle, misuse food for an emotional reason, using food to take place of something missing. Rachael admits that she does eat when she stresses, and Bob says those things can be adjusted.

What does Bob do for his new years resolutions? Is it just “Done”? He says that he hates the resolutions, and says they are part of the problem. His is simple to wake up every day and treat himself well.

Next up, they put Bob in a Box - one of the “doctor’s are in” boxes in the middle of the Food Emporium. The expert is in! They talk about everything from eggwhites, to the right kind of peanut butter (Smart Balance is Bob’s pick!) to put on multigrain flatbread.

They chat a bit about The Best Life diet, and the revisions - his two year old daughter on the cover, and she’s expecting a brother in May! They need names - so send them in and they’ll get them to Bob - ha! Bob listened to all the comments at The Best Life Diet.com - new info for new foods, and more aggressive in the beginning of the program too.

Many people get gratification only from the scale number moving downwards, so you need to work on other parts of your life too - your friendships, work, etc. The key is living life to it’s fullest. The key is working through the barriers we put in front of ourselves - and the number one is thinking we don’t deserve it. We then sabotage ourselves, and it doesn’t work.

Bob suggests that people identify the things that are going well - then the things that aren’t so good, and that’s where the magic is, where your excess weight can actually be an oppotunity to identify some meaningful way to change your life.

Bob is also developing a Wii exercise game and also a project which that will educate people about osteoarthritus and teach people how to exercise, and a diet plan. Then, Bob shows Rach how to make a no-cheese vegetable lasagna from The Best Life Diet Cookbook. Rachael said it looked fantastic (…uh..) and tasted delicious. I’m sure it did - but gimme some CHEEEEEEEESE! Click here to get some more tips! (Maybe I’d better watch, huh? *L*)

After a quick stop in the prep kitchen for a lighter version of sausage balls, it’s time for Anya’s 2009 Fashion Resolutions. Right off the bat, I resolve to do my best not to stare at the train wreck that is her eye makeup, and pretend that she knows what she’s talking about. Ha!

Anya takes Lara’s look from ET, and showing how you do to it cheaply. Even Lara is wearing Lara Lookalikes now - she wore a walmart dress that cost $12 last week. Anya’s resolutions are:

Take inventory of what you have in your closet. Reinvent, recycle, reuse. If you’re a real fashion nerd, create a photo album of everything in the closet and outfits that go together. Rachael adds that you can do a mini-yard sale after cleaning out your closet for your friends, and give it to your favorite charity. Rach does that herself, and it benefits Yum-o!

Shop Smarter. It’s ok to be a bargain bragger. But when you’re shopping - walk away for a little bit, sleep on it, if you have to have it, you’ll know. Then ask yourself if you’d pay full price, or even double the price, would you still like it, or is it only because it’s on sale? You don’t save anything if it’s only going to sit in the closet.

Empty your purse before putting it in your closet. You could end up walking around with pounds of pennies! Empty the bags!

Pick a key accessory and make it your own. Take cue from cartoon characters - Marge Simpson same necklace, Wilma Flinstone, white pearls. Anya, her big ring. It doesn’t have to be costly, it’s just something you wear every day that makes it your own signature look. Accessories are the key - mix and match and extend the life of your wardrobe. You can wear the same dress a couple times a week, just change the look with accessories!

They chat about the inauguration, and what Michelle Obama might wear - the whole world will be watching and everyone wants to dress her. She predicts a one-shoulder gown, perhaps regal red or purple. (It turned out to be one-shoulder, off-white.) There’s a lot of attention on this one dress. There’s even a website where folks can register their dress before going to the balls, so no one wears the same thing. Ha!

Want some more tips from Anya? Check here!

So, what’s for dinner? Yakitori Noodle Bowls.

Rach is wearing a little tied on plaid skirt number that… I think I like. I’m not sure yet. Ha! Rachael comes out holding a prize - a GPS with a Camera, to give to an audience member who wins a game called “bride n seek”. The game involves giving the name of the actress and film from a still of the movie, and clues. The first is Runaway Bride - which my daughter and I get from the picture and first clue. Ha! The second is Sex and the City the movie, and the contestent gets it right off. And the last one, of course, is Kate Hudson in Bride Wars - and Kate is right behind her! Which of course, we knew already, if ya read the title. Ha!

Kate and Rachael take a seat at the kitchen table and talk about their low key Christmases. Then they move on to Kate’s upcoming 30th birthday. She says she’s excited about it, the 20s are weird, and transitional, and then 30 is just really fun, and she thinks 40 will be AWESOME. She feels then you’ll have experience and be sure, where now she’s still trying to figure it out. Rachael says “You know what’s cool about aging now?” and Kate snaps off with “Botox!!” And everyone cracks up.

Kate says she’s got a great role model in her mother - all energy, and fire and she glows - but if you get her mad, “you get a different Goldie!” And Kate loves that, strong women are just impressive. She could make them stop as kids with “The Look”. They chat a bit about Kate’s son Ryder, and she feels he’s already smarter then her.

Then, it’s time to talk Bride Wars! Kate calls it a testament to the power of female friendship. Kate’s been working on Bride Wars for 5 years, producing it and she’s extremely proud of the film. Her friendships with her girlfriends are important, and the movie is a comment on how and why we need our girlfriends in our lives to help us get through everything - they’re our rock. She and Anne Hathaway battle it out, sure, but it’s really about the friendship that endures. It’s a buddy movie that doesn’t involve men - it’s a buddy movie for women!

They did go a little too far in one scene though - Kate admits to hitting Anne in the face so hard she got a red mark and needed an ice pack. “It was so bad! I really clocked her! I was like take THAT tabloids.” She then shows us her recipe for an Effortless Triffle.

Next up, it’s a young man who’s every parents and teacher’s dream. Young Wyatt, from Kansas, decided to wear a tie because he saw his daddy wearing it and he wanted to look good just like him. Mom thought it was for dress up, but he started to wear it to school, and soon it spread to other boys around the school too. There was many different comments - from friends and teachers, and some boys decided that he looked cool so asked his mom for one. ANd the girls think he looks handsome too. Awww!

Mom calls him a dream - he doesn’t want her involvement, he picks his own clothes out, and even keeps his ties clean. Wyatt says that he wears them to parties too. He says maybe he’ll even try a bowtie next, then gives everyone a lesson on how to tie a tie.

As it’s hard to find regular ties for little kids instead of clipons, Rachael gives Wyatt a complete collection from Ralph Loren.

Then - Dinner time! Sausage and Spinach-stuffed Roasted Chicken with Roasted Garlic Fettuccine.