As they say, the proof is in the pudding. Rachel is cute, but the things I made from her cookbook never tasted all that great. The first one to really grab me was Giada on Everyday Italian, because she was cooking the way I wanted to learn to eat, and every recipe I tried was GOOD! Once I had her cookbooks, though, I didn't need to watch the show anymore. My new obsession is Jamie at Home. He's cute, he's entertaining, his recipes are fabulous, and he's cooking straight out of his garden! If only someone would teach him to look into the camera, instead of off to one side.
I cannot STAND Rachel Ray. I cannot STAND her.
Did I mention I cannot STAND Rachel Ray?
She has no extraordinary talent in the kitchen and personality-wise she makes me just want to HURL.
I don't watch the Food Network as much as I used to, for the very reasons you're giving. The only programs I watch with any regularity are Iron Chef America and the Food Network Challenges, especially if they deal with cake decorating (Colette Peters is amazing). I'll also watch any special they have featuring Mario Batali - even when they do the unspeakable and team him up with , ugh, Rachel Ray. The man is just a genius.
How do you think Jan really feels about Rachel Ray? 
Ha! I love to cook! I need to start tivo-ing some cooking shows I guess cuz I never seem to be home to watch them and I think I would love them.
I am bored with Food TV, too. It used to inpsire me now it is often just background noise while I am doing another task. I have switched over to vintage French cook books!
I enjoyed many of the cooking shows, but the ones that turned me off were hosted by squeaky clean pretty things who pontificated about healthy eating. I recall this one pencil-thin broad carefully carrying two lettuce leaves over to the sink and washing them carefully back and front while the faucet poured out a bucket and a half worth of water over them. While she washed, she noted in a rather schoolmarm way that this was how everyone should wash lettuce and that she insisted it be done this way at her restaurant. She was about twelve years old. First, I found it hard to believe that she had a restaurant. Second, no restaurant can stay in business and take that much time with one individual piece of lettuce. You rinse it, shake it dry and move on, baby.
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