Comparisons have never really been made between Martha Stewart and Rachael Ray, since the two women really do very different things. Rachael is about casual, easy and the quick-fix. Martha is about doing things from scratch and trying to make things perfect, putting as much attention and detail into them as possible. Now that they seem to be working in the same field with their TV talk shows, it was only a matter of time before there was a bit of conflict between the two domestic (or semi domestic, in Rachael's case) divas. Page Six had a little story about how the producers of RR's show bumped up a prerecorded episode featuring Barry Manilow to air at the exact same time as an episode of Martha's show that also feature the singer. Martha's show, however, was airing live. She said that although she had never met Rachael and was sure she was a nice person, it really wasn't fair to the artist to play the two at the same time. "Barry is on two shows at once. He's live with us, but it's really not fair to the artist because these performers deserve to reach as big of an audience as possible. But anyway, we have him here. Live."
Martha, of course, had a good point - but does it seem like she might be just a bit testy about RR's show? With Martha's commitment to class, it seems unlikely that the pair will end up in a daytime TV catfight, but it wouldn't be surprising to see a few more barbs thrown from either side as they solidify their viewership.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
11-03-2006 @ 8:49PM
rainey said...
I lost all respect for Martha (well, I was low on it after finding out what a shrew she really is anyway) after the insider trading thing. I never had any for Rachael.
As far is I'm concerned you can heavily arm then and put them both in a remote enclosure and anyone who gets out alive and can make it back to civilization can carry on. ...but it won't be necessary to let me know about the outcome.
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11-04-2006 @ 6:09AM
Mary Pagones said...
People who are criticizing Martha have NOT seen her recent show. Her most recent show is filled with great, healthy, dishes, and fun cooking lessons with interesting chefs and celebs. I found the Paula Dean recipie disgusting, frankly, and much prefer Martha's own more nutritious dishes.
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11-04-2006 @ 9:48AM
squid said...
According to a friend who was a guest chef on the Martha Stewart show, the lines are clearly drawn. Martha's production people openly say that they want her to be the anti-Rachael: chaotic, spontaneous, funky, real. They encouraged my friend to say improvised things in his native tongue to force her to adlib. They feel that this is where Rachael is vulnerable. I'm sure that Rachaels handlers are equally aware of Martha's foibles.
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11-04-2006 @ 2:33PM
Spitzmaus said...
Neither of them are true cooks; rather, they're both "food personalities," each with a specific market niche (nor do I fit in either niche). Martha's a Type A businesswoman with a superb ability to market herself, much like Oprah and Madonna have done. Rachel? A giggly girl who made good; I don't begrudge her the celebrity, but I certainly don't get it.
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11-05-2006 @ 12:05PM
Larae said...
Martha and Rachael have completely different views on "entertaining". They have a lot to share and I love them both. I have learned a lot from watching them both.
Of course it would be nice to live the "martha life", but get real.....who can pull that off? So, I like to take her ideas and simplify them, kinda like Rachael!
Hey, did anyone see Martha with Paula Dean? WOW! what completely different personalities.....if I had to chose, I would definatly hang with Paula!
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11-05-2006 @ 4:18PM
steve said...
hmmmm... the domestic diva vs the domestic doofas!!
"it's "dum-o" thing"
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11-14-2006 @ 10:37AM
Sean said...
I guess this is a New York thang because in my DC market, Martha and RR don't directly compete at the same hour, but Martha does have a point and I'm sure she will neither forgive nor forget this slight.
However, I totally see Martha and Rachael as competition anyway, though I like them both. (Actually I can watch almost any cooking show on any channel, because I am an admitted food porn addict!) The way I see it is that Rachael is the new Martha in that RR's influence on food, decorating, style, and entertaining is unmistakable and obviously ascending. Also, RR's 30 Minute Meals concept has forced everyone in the cooking sphere to acknowledge the fact that food and cooking need to be accessible to everyone, not just people with fancy equipment and expensive kitchens intent on wowing their guests with elaborately prepared meals. RR--and The Food Network--came along and shifted the food prep paradigm from Martha's gourmet emphasis that showed delicious food and decorating ideas that were difficult to source and usually difficult to prepare as everything had to be done from scratch. Martha had tapped into something in her era just as Julia had in a previous generation. Now along comes RR who's had enough of that and her influence on the quick and easy concept has been picked up by most of the old guard (Martha with Everyday Food, Rick Bayless with Mexican Everyday, Jacques Pepin with Fast Food My Way, etc.) and other popular chefs/cooks (Giada, Paula, Ina, Sandra etc.) who all emphasize simplicity! Martha actually gets to have it both ways, but I think Rachael appeals to the all important younger demographic. And Martha, who has been synonymous with perfection and excessive attention to detail is having a hard time showing that she appreciates simplicity because that is just not her image and it's certainly not the focus of her show.
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