TV production industry

I’ll admit it, I am somewhat smitten by Rachael Ray, her genuine goofiness and beaming smile is hard to resist. I first noticed Rachael Ray on the cooking channel or foodtv. I never knew such a thing existed until it showed up on our favorite channel list, (added by someone in the family) about 7 years ago. At that time a famous chef from New Orleans (Emeril lagasse) ruled the foodtv network along with a few others.

Rachael Ray bursts on the scene in 2001 and it’s been a rise to stardom from there, First featured on a local CBS affiliate as a segment on “30 minute meals.”

Foodtv made it into a feature show on their network. The executive who decided to add her made a wise choice.

If you haven’t seen the show, it’s a lot of fun to watch. Rachael Ray rarely uses measurements and it’s a drag race against the clock to get a fully prepared meal on the table in 30 minutes. If you are looking for a step by step guide to how to make a meal then this maybe this show may not be for you.

As the viewer you may not get a step by step guide, but you will get some very solid concepts about how to cook in general. I have come to realize that following a recipe does not always bring success. Following basic concepts and being allowed to be creative allows you to succeed or fail on your own efforts and not have the excuse of “blame it on the recipe”.

Rachael Ray puts the fun back into cooking, her energy and enthusiasm comes through. Rachael really seems to love what she is doing. Taking cooking from her Italian and Cajun heritage she demonstrates that using basic concepts you can create great dishes in a short amount of time.

If you have not see her show then check out the food network for it. You may soon find yourself saying “EVOO” and “How good is that”!!! (evoo stands for extra virgin olive oil, now part of the Cambridge dictionary, yea! `) The show is set in a “retro” kitchen with a 1950’s oven and other simple gadgets that make you feel at home .

Rachael Ray’s career has blossomed into a talk show and magazine .She continues to dazzle her fans and make new ones. While I have seen more of her cooking show then her talk show ,I did receive an advance copy of her magazine and decided to subscribe after a few minutes of scanning it.

The magazine “Everyday with Rachael Ray” has become one of the top selling magazines in the industry.

Her magazine is low on fluff and has insights into easy recipes and time saving tips. The writing is genuine and Rachael Ray is the editor in chief. The recipes are easy to follow and sometimes give a price per serving breakdown.

NICE!! As Rachael would say.

BOTTOM LINE: Strong, emotional and heart-felt film with superb performances from Nicholson and Freeman as the unlikely duo taking on life one more time before they kick the bucket.

THE GOOD: The idea of taking stock of your life and asking yourself if you’ve actually lived it to its fullest is an old one that’s been given a beautiful treatment by director Rob Reiner in this film. What’s so good about this film is presenting the theme, “there’s no time like the present!”; even if it means in the case of Carter (Freeman) and Cole (Nicholson) that they only have six months to live. The masterstroke of the film of course was to cast both Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson as the unlikely odd couple who end up living life to the fullest in the final months they have left. It could have been all silly and contrived but instead we get two rock-solid, genuine performances from two of Hollywood’s heavy-weight actors in sequences that are believable and amusing. The funniest scene? Perhaps when Freeman tells Nicholson he’s never been with another woman other than his wife. Nicholson’s mischievous response of, “that’s definitely going on the list!” makes for a good laugh. “The Bucket List” is filled with such glorious moments, and it manages to do it while imparting a message that getting caught up in life’s trivialities should never stop you from experiencing life the right way. Nicholson’s billionaire businessman character is testament to that; he’s been married four times, has an estranged daughter and lives alone - but he has a lot of money. Freeman has a wife, family and peace of mind - but he’s poor. The two go together perfectly. One genuine surprise in the film is that you actually get a sense of what it’s like for someone who’s sick - early on we see scenes of Cole’s character reacting to chemo treatment which are not pleasant, as we do Carter’s. “The Bucket List” is a film that makes you think about life, gives you a good laugh, gives you two enjoyable acting performances, and doesn’t overstay its welcome or go over the top.

THE BAD: It always seems inevitable that a film like this will enter into sentimental territory towards the end of the film and “The Bucket List” is no exception. Rob Reiner has tended to go in this direction in a number of his previous films but thankfully the sentiment is not poured on in bucket loads (pardon the pun). That said however, despite some schmaltzy scenes at the end which basically make you feel good about life and the lives of the characters, the film is blessed with having two real solid acting stars making completely believable performances; so in the end, it’s not all that bad.