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Why do people hate Rachael Ray? Is it because she's bubblier than a human-sized Alka Seltzer? Or so sunny that her television shows should come with skin-cancer warnings? Maybe it's her vowel-heavy, baby talk catchphrases, or her love of cuisine more suited to suburban block parties than fancy restaurants?
The reason Rachael Ray attracts so much scorn is because we hate it when nice people finish first. And finish first she has: Rachael Ray is a mini-empire unto herself. With multiple television shows, best-selling books, numerous endorsements and products and annual earnings upward of $15 million, she's a small-town girl who has done good on an epic scale.
Recently the doyenne of domesticity herself, Martha Stewart, was involved in a public dust-up with Ray, her homemaking rival. It was, of course, much ado about nothing. In an interview, Stewart pointed out that Ray is an entertainer, not the teacher Stewart sees herself as. And Ray responded graciously, pointing out that her skill sets are not as refined as Stewart's. It's true, of course. Martha Stewart could build a two-story gingerbread house fit for a fairytale witch with one hand, while rolling out a hectare of perfect puff pastry with the other. Rachael Ray still seems to have plateaued at the most lamentable food trend of the past two decades: the wrap.
Even still, Martha Stewart is easy to rally against. She comes off as an ice princess. And perhaps that's what it takes to spawn intimidatingly attractive pastries. She carries herself with the confidence of someone who knows they are good at something -- an insufferable trait, even if it's earned. Stewart does not come off as warm and accessible. But the history of artistic expression is full of prickly individuals who find redemption in their work. And in a way, the public demands that it's best come ready -- made with flaws. The former felon seems, especially these days, to be more human than ever.
Rachael Ray is doubly infuriating, because she just seems ... likable. She's the girl-next-door who could afford to buy the entire block. Her food is simple, designed to appeal to harried parents or busy singletons. It's middlebrow, useful fare -- casseroles, salads and pastas. Boring when compared to Stewart's studied craft. There's also a cursory nod toward "healthy," which is a code word for "diet." The bouncy way she chirps through recipes recalls those popular girls in high school who were always so blasted sweet to everyone. You loathed them for no good reason other than they seemed lucky, while you spent gym glass getting thwacked in the solar plexus by a rubber dodge ball.
But Ray's biggest social crime is her sincere earnestness. She is a woman devoid of "snark." The woman doesn't seem to have a sarcastic bone in her body or a sneer on her lip. Snark is wit without wisdom, criticism for the thin-skinned, a teenager's cruel judgment of a world that actually terrifies the brat. Which is why this daytime TV diva is mercilessly mocked – it's easy. Takes for example "Yum-O" -- that's something a technicolor cartoon bear would say. Rachael Ray is boldly goofy, and she is rewarded for it, as well as derided. She seems to have become successful because she's pleasant. Occasionally saccharine, sure, but not disingenuous. You know, nice. That runs counter to everything we're taught that behind every accomplished person is a jerk.
Think about that next time you're rolling your eyes at her "Irish Nachos."
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12-24-2009 @2:53PM sfmitch said... The only thing worse than being annoyed by somebody is being told why that annoying person isn't really annoying. I have no use for Rachael Ray - I don't find her likable or entertaining and I don't respect her cooking ability. I have nothing against the lady, just not my cup of tea.
Isn't it still OK not to like people? Is everyone supposed to like the same things?
Rachael Ray has lots of fans - that's great. Just because she's popular doesn't make her more worth watching / liking. There's plenty of stuff that's popular that just plain sucks (music, movies, tv shows, people, etc.).
Why is John Devore coming to the defense of Rachael Ray? Is there some large scale attack against Ray? Are people mischaracterizing Ray? I don't get it?
Reply
1-02-2010 @2:14PM vic terno said... love love love her she's pretty smart talented sweet!!!! great wifw!!! people today are jealous sefish......... what have we become as a specious of god's children...............????
1-02-2010 @2:19PM Stephen said... Then get this: the contents of the article on Ray is mere chatter, the sort of thing that takes place over a cup of coffee.
1-02-2010 @11:45PM Hart said... Couldn't have said it better myself! Thanks, sfmitch.
1-02-2010 @3:25PM bdmiller said... Martha looks better in stripes.
1-02-2010 @10:03PM Jay said... You have revealed your true self.
1-02-2010 @2:36PM Jackie Murray said... People with a vocabulary don't use the word "awesome" in each sentence.
She needs to be back at the soda fountain at the Howard Johnson's.
1-02-2010 @4:41PM Ron Alonzo said... Or, maybe she gives herself all the credit and glory; she sloughs off that she learned everything from her Italian mother and ignores he New Orleanian father. She is a cute cupcake,
1-02-2010 @2:40PM Leslie Hall said... I thought she was great the first 3 or 4 times I watched her. Then I was over the silliness of her show. I love to laugh probably more than the average TV buff, but I like that "down home feeling". Like when I watch "my Paula"! I think alot of Rachel's shows are just not "real" enough. Its like Martha said she is an entertainer, she has no homestyle, natural "FLAVA" to her roots. Or if she does she does not share enough of them on her shows. I like to feel like I know someone I am watching, like I am right there with them. Trust me, I think she is a beautiful person and I do like to watch her on the show with her and her (ex?) husband when they go different places. But there again she tends to show off a bit, in her own cute little way she will say "and all of this dessert for only 8 bucks." I'm sorry but 8 bucks is alot to spend on a peice of pie when you can make the whole thing for 5! What ever, I am a Southern girl and my roots tend to grow more in Paula's direction! But everyone is different and thats what makes for good conversation RIGHT!
1-02-2010 @7:27PM Theresa Dolan said... Leave Rachael Ray alone. She isn't hurting anyone. HATE those who physically & mentally hurt others. Rape or kill someone.
Rachael hasn't had it easy. It doesn't come easy to be successful. She has worked her BUTT off to get where she is. Would you want to be talking & filming and cooking over & over again in the middle of the night.
1-02-2010 @2:49PM Master Chef said... Different people hate Rachel Ray for different reasons. Professional chefs hate her because too many Americans think she knows how to cook fine food, even though she tells everyone she is NOT a chef so many times that it is practically her motto. Some guys hate her on a subconscious level because you WANT to really like her with that upbeat attitude and kind of eternal youthful spirit, but her body is a disaster. That upside-down figure is as bad as it gets, which is like a classic Greek tragedy with her beautiful face and sparkling charisma. Some women hate her because she's everything that they aren't. Ray manages to be charming and successful and genuinely sweet at the same time (or at least that's how she appears to be.) Take heart, ladies - she isn't so sweet all the time in real life. Trust me.
1-02-2010 @2:56PM larry said... i dont care for Rachel Ray cause she seems to be in your face and she is very annoying and her food never looks like you would even feed it to your dog..I love my dog to treat it that bad.
Larry
1-02-2010 @3:09PM Marilis said... what in the world ????.....have some respect for individual differences
1-05-2010 @7:11PM Charlie said... There are so many cooking shows on television to watch, so there is no reason to single out just one of the many culinarial (?) talented people to hate or berate. I have watched Rachel Ray show many times but find Sandra Lee very informative, also. And then there is the "mayonaise queen", Paula Deen. I love to watch them all. I actually have seen Martha Stewart a few times but can't afford most of her advice. I think Rachel Ray appeals to your every-day normal life people.
Good-O for Yum-O
1-02-2010 @7:55PM sharon said... hmmm.....Racheal Ray has it all and is what Martha Stewart wishes she'd been..Thanks for denfending her.........
1-02-2010 @3:18PM becca FROM WICHITA, KS said... I like Rachel Ray she is one of my favorites to watch and the only the I can say why people dont like her is they are jealous and they wish they were her... She knows how to cook, she has a great personality. she is so generous to her viewers and I think people need to quit being haters. I have gotten alot from her from being more generous to getting great recipe ideas from her. There are somethings I have to readjust due to my allergies but i make it work and my family loves it.... SO LEAVE RACHEL ALONE YOU HATERS.... I LOVE HER SHOW AND SHE IS GREAT TO WATCH
1-02-2010 @3:27PM carol said... sfmitch - are you sure there isn't a typo in your name; i.e., substituted m for b? I'm betting Ms. Ray could care less what you think of her, but I'm saying if you have that solid an opinion you must have watched her a great deal or you couldn't be so critical. But then again, you may be the kind of individual who knows right away that everyone is beneath you???
1-02-2010 @3:26PM michael said... Shame on you MARTHA
1-02-2010 @3:41PM Jessica said... I agree. Her voice annoys the crap out of me. I could care less if she can cook, and she sells herself out on commercials. That's not someone I'd like to look up to. I don't care if she's popular. Usually when someone's famous, it's because they cheated or scammed their way to the top. Just because there's no proof so far that she hasn't done that, doesnt neccessarily mean that she didnt in the past. I honestly don't believe she got to the top by being a perfect, honest, goody goody.
1-02-2010 @3:45PM Schmice said... You're right, you don't get it.