Hatred of Rachael Ray can be a powerful uniting force

bostonglobe ^ | November 26, 2006 | rob walker

[stainlessbanner]

Consumer culture and indeed popular culture revolve in large part around shared admiration, shared likes: Fandom, in a word, is a thing that can bring us together.

But what about shared dislikes? Can a community form around that? What is the opposite of a fan club? The answer is the Rachael Ray Sucks Community.

[HitmanLV]

Emeril is cool, but when I see him these days he seems distracted and unlike his old self. It's just a bit forced.

He was king of Food Network for a while and even had his own sitcom for a couple of weeks. Of course cooler heads should have prevailed and he shouldn't have been put in that position. He strikes me as anxious to regain his 'King' status but unsure how to do it. Rachel Ray is the new Queen, and until she gets knocked off, there's no vacancy at the top.

I like Emeril though. I hope he gets that 'edge' back.

[HitmanLV]

Yeah, I know. But Ray is in way over her head. Bad call by Oprah. And after all that success with her 'Dr Phil' project.

[Vicki]

I like Rachel Ray. She seems to be a hometown girl and down to earth. My favorite is Paula Dean. I watch a lot of the Food Network.

[stainlessbanner]

I think she was the product of the marketing department to put a new young face on cooking shows. She's being stretched too thin.

Marketing really does the full blitz on things nowadays. Almost to the point we get sick of seeing it. A little moderation in rachel ray would be nice, so would those Peyton Manning commercials and endless Chevy song commercials.

[pandoraou812]

I find it very relaxing to watch. I just wish I could bake like some of them do. I watch in awe when they do the cake bake offs and decorating. I have learned how to make dinners more interesting for sure.

[HitmanLV]

I know what you mean. I love to cook, but baking is something I seldom try. It's much more of an exact science than most cooking. FN is probably one of my three or four favorite cable channels!

I also loved when they used to run the original Japanese Iron Chef! AWESOME!

[Echo Talon]

my Oldest brother likes her... he says, "she's pretty hot" LOL
I guess that he would hit it.. ;)

[Echo Talon]

[cherry]

alton Brown no question is the most entertaining and fun and most watchable of all the shows........even my husband and kids like him......everyone I know likes him....

Rachel Ray has been stretched too thin, and I think Paula Deen is a bit overextended too.....

Bobby, Ina Garten, some Sara Mouton, some Emeril.......

I love the challenges and the Iron Chef contests are a hoot......

[cherry]

I forgot Mario.....like him alot just for his use of Italian......

[Jeff Chandler]

I also loved when they used to run the original Japanese Iron Chef! AWESOME!

I liked those, too. I could always tell who was going to lose: the contestant who made fish ice cream!

[Jedi Master Pikachu]

That's a bit mean. Ms. Ray seems to be a tad too bubbly, potentially purposefully, but still.

Martha Stewart would seem to be a more probable candidate, but even then it would be bit mean. Just don't watch them.

P.S. This was not directed at you, stainlessbanner.

[neb52]

The problem with baking is that every oven varies. You can't go by the measurements and thus you are compelled to make a few attempts before getting it right.

[Howlin]

but ALL of them use way too much oil in their cooking, and Paula is the worst of them.

It's the B U T T E R with Paula.

I love her, but since I found out she's a HUGE Jimmy Carter fan.....well, you know.

[Silly]

I love her, too! How about THAT?!

[ken5050]

Baking is very satisfying. Try bread. The aroma is wonderful.

[ken5050]

Sara Moulton is all reruns..they canned her a few years ago. She's off the network..

[meowmeow]

I like Emeril though. I hope he gets that 'edge' back.

His Orlando restaurant is awesome. We always plan our visit there as carefully as we plan our other Orlando excursions. Basically after you eat there, you're good for about 48 hours before you need to eat again. It is calorie intense.

[poobear]

My fave chefs are Giada, Mario Batali, Alton Brown, Michael Chiarello."

Michael is a bit of Napa Valley snob. His recipes are good though. Tyler Florence, now that's cooking!

[CTOCS]

I find Ray's delivery a bit forced. Way too bubbly.

My favorite is Giada DeLaurentis on "Every Day Italian." She's Oscar's grand daughter.

She is an absolute babe. Bunch of us older-guy cooks get together at our local watering hole in the afternoon to watch her. We call it "Cooking With Cleavage"