Rachael Ray and Martha Stewart: Straying Too Far from Their Original Formats

Though cooks at heart, both Rachael Ray and Martha Stewart have embraced the broader format talk show, a fractured hour of self-help, celebrity interviews, and, yes, cooking segments. Despite successful transitions, their respective sources of fame - for Stewart, entertaining, and for Ray, cooking and eating on the cheap - remain their best outputs.

Like her or not, you have to marvel at Rachael Ray's success. She first branded her name on the Food Network, and added an hour-long talk show to her resume after catching the almighty Oprah's eye. Courtesy of an unpretentious demeanor, and heavy, heavy marketing - yes, that's Rachael grinning at you from the Triscuit box - Ray has become the anti-Martha Stewart.

Where Stewart undertakes recipes and crafts suitable for only the nimblest fingers, Ray freely admits to her culinary limitations. She targets the time-deprived, average American with her quick recipes, many of which in some way involve ground meat. And you certainly wouldn't hear Martha tag on a raucous laugh to a cooking demo.

That the talk show covers more than just food is the biggest drawback for Ray. Good Morning America, Oprah, and Dr. Phil have the human interest, fashion, and makeover stories covered; Ray should stick with the skillet and EVOO. Granted, she feeds off the audience with great ease - a skill that her cooking programs do not permit her to showcase, and an advantage that she clearly holds over Stewart. Listening to Stewart's Q&A session with her studio audience is awkward. The questions always sound scripted, and Stewart's responses sound equally rehearsed.

Celebrities cooking - this a hit or miss segment that has become standard on both Ray and Stewart's shows. No sitting on a couch deflecting personal questions; it's all about chopping the veggies and proving to millions of viewers that, yes, before the personal chef, this celebrity could cook! Some celebrities bring kitchen competence to the table; others bring an ability to hit "defrost." Honestly, it's more enjoyable to watch Stewart handle the latter category. Rachael Ray is understanding and good-natured in dealing with a guest's minimal food prep knowledge. By contrast, Stewart wears a pursed, unnatural smile, and you just know that she wants to grab that spatula and frost the cake herself. Watching a control freak begrudgingly loosen the reins is quality entertainment. This is not the Martha Stewart of yore, with nothing but a camera man and the occasional florist violating her space. Her post-jail program forces her to interact with the masses.

All in all, Ray and Stewart's original programs still rule supreme. For Stewart, no audience distractions - just a perfectionist mastering her craft. For Ray, give her $40 and set her loose.