Rachel Ray Before & After

Often on weekdays while I’m making dinner, I have the TV tuned to Food Network’s 30 Minute Meals, hosted by Rachel Ray. I’ve always liked cooking shows: there’s something about the simple instructional aspect that makes it feel educational, and having it on around dinner time makes me feel motivated to cook creatively. 30 Minute Meals isn't as entertaining as Iron Chef or full of odd facts like Good Eats, but its mission of encouraging healthy, flavorful, easy-to-make food every day is important in an obese society addicted to take-out.

When Martha Stewart went to jail last year, Food Network replaced the 6:30PM timeslot for From Martha’s Kitchen with a second episode of 30 Minute Meals. So now a new episode of Ray's show airs at 6:00, and an older rerun from a few years back immediately follows. As a result, viewers see the 2005 version of Rachel Ray at 6:00, and what I’m guessing is the 2002 or 2003 version of Rachel at 6:30.

You’d think I would enjoy a second helping of show I’ve always liked, but watching an old episode and a new one back-to-back has made for an odd revelation.

The earlier episodes 6:30 show Ray to be a normal-looking person who would fit right in at a PTA meeting: maybe a little too perky for some tastes, but refreshingly genuine. Compare that Rachel with the modern version at 6:00, however, and you realize that she’s been overzealously glammed-out.

Rachel’s everyday brown hair is now a giant mane with more highlights than an extended SportsCenter episode. (Highlights to me are today the biggest cliche in hair care.) She loudly throws her voice as if you’re in the next room, or there's no microphone a few feet away. Her makeup is caked on like Tammy Faye (well maybe not that much, but I’d still recommend buying stock in Loreal). And what was once an endearing array of cornball expressions (“Yuh-hum”, “get some of these guys goin’ on”) has been exaggeratedly turned up to eleven.

I don’t feel completely comfortable, as a male or as a viewer in general, micromanaging another person’s personal style. I don’t want to sound like some obsessive fan who mistakenly thinks he has the right to get personal about someone who in all likelihood is very nice. But I think the point is still worth making that TV professionals have a revolting tendency toward heavy-handedness when it comes to handling grooming for people on the air—especially women. I find local TV news virtually unwatchable, for example, not just because of the general lack of substance to the reporting, but especially because the on-air personalities are presented stylistically like upper-class suburban psychos drunk on too much hairspray with a perma-grin that's more Stanley Kubrick than June Cleaver.

Rachel Ray got on national television because of her culinary expertise and her passion for getting people to make cooking a greater part of their everyday lives. I respect her and 30 Minute Meals for that. But inevitably watching a particularl TV show on a regular basis you develop a familiarity with the host. And I find it a legitimate distraction when that host is glammed-out by the handlers. If this were food, it would be revoltingly over-seasoned. I say let Rachel be herself, a simple woman from rural upstate New York, not another Nordstrom-ensconced lemming whose perfume you can practically smell through the cable box.

Comments

[Valarie]

I was in a meeting with 8 other women recently and I realized I was the only one who didn't have blonde highlights.

[Rose]

I've noticed the change in Rachel Ray as well. She's definitely glammed up. I figured it was because of one of her other shows, the one where she meets celebrities and has them cook their favorite dishes. I like the old look better.

I think I may be the only woman at work with no highlights. Not that there's anything wrong with highlights, of course. Just something I noticed after Valarie's observation. On dark hair they're hard to pull off and the upkeep is atrocious, IMHO.

[Lori Montgomery]

I agree about Rachel. I liked her old look better & it made me feel better watching her & learning to cook from her because she seemed like all the rest of us - just a common person & someone I could really relate to. She used to look like the girl-next-door & I think that gave her a kind of sweet innocence. Now she looks all glammed out like a movie star which I don't think has anything to do with her cooking skills. I guess maybe it is because she is traveling a lot with the other shows & meeting celebrities, but now I feel like she is untouchable because she has hit the BIG TIME. I doubt her sweet personality has changed, but I don't know why she had to change her looks just because she is more successful now.
Martha didn't.

[jug]

You know, this may sound odd, but I like the new version of Rachels' style. I thought she looked kinda'fuddy-duddy in the earlier episodes of 30 minute meals. I have gray hair at 40...and I could care less whether RR puts highlights in her hair! As for her make-up, I stopped wearing makeup
years ago...but hey, maybe it works for her! I'm happy for her and her new style! Maybe she likes the new her...that's her bussiness. And as for her shouting as if there's no mic in the room, well, in t.v. , if htey tell you to shout,then ya' shout. It's a job folks, it doesn't necesarily mean she herself has changed inside. Try and realize that, ok? Bravo to RACHEL RAY!-JF

[Irvin Ray Sepulvado]

Rachael Ray, Are you going to write a diet cook book? Because my wife is cooking all your recipes and she has gained so much weigh. I noticed you have put on some weight your self. You are way to young and hot to be gaining weight like you are. Could it be you are eatting too much of your own cooking? Don't get me wrong you are a wonderful cook even my Daughter has put on quite of bit of weight. I work out alot and I noticed even my self has gained weigh. Please write a 30 min diet cook book.
I'm one of your number one fans.

Irvin Ray

[Julie]

How is it possible to adore someone for the exact same things that make you cringe after awhile? Used to love her, now I can't stand the sound of her voice, her stupid jokes, the whole EVOO and GB (garbage bowl) thing. I truly believe this is a case of extreme over exposure. The empire that is Rachel Ray rose too fast. I predict a crash. She needs to watch her waist line or the media will eat her alive. Look what they did to Oprah.

[Theresa]

Rachel makes me feel that Im deaf and she's motioning sign language. Her make up is so heavy such as Ophra's . Ophra's show is now casted as an infomercial.Now ask Dr. OZ! Rachel ray, Dr.Phil , I pose his name as Dr.Fail. He is NOT unique. When do you think Ophra will close her lips, it seems shes trying to catch flies.

[Audrey]

What's wrong with Dr. Phil? Too bad most shrinks over the last 35 years wouldn't tell people what they needed to hear [there are no shoulds here]. We might not have so may clueless adults with no discipline, morals or empathy trying to raise children in our "it's all about me" society.