Receiving love letters from women in prison, busting guests for lying on TV, flying Usher to the studio in a helicopter. These are just a handful of the stories longtime producer, Andrew Scher, remembers from his chaotic and thrilling days on The Ricki Lake Show. He tells Ricki and Kalen about why every day on TRLS felt like a party, how he’s seen daytime TV evolve in the last 30 years, and why he’ll never forget a shocking 2:00 am phone call he once received from a guest. Plus, Kalen reminisces on his time on The Ellen Show and Ricki gets real about whether or not her show would be successful today.
Pop culture expert Danny Pellegrino knows what TV shows are worth watching and when it’s time to change the channel. Danny, a New York Times Bestselling author and host of the Everything Iconic podcast, has seen everything from early 90s...
Would you go on national TV and admit that you steal things? That’s exactly what these guests did in The Ricki Lake Show episode that Ricki and Kalen dissect today. From stringing along children to stealing from people’s homes, Ricki and Kalen discuss the scam artists featured in this episode: Brandie, who got caught shoplifting with her friend’s baby, MD, who picks up retail jobs and pockets the cash behind the register, and Rachel, who enjoys taking bizarre used things like toothpaste. Plus, Ricki and Kalen consider whether the episode played into stereotypes, reveal if they’ve ever stolen anything, and examine how the topic would be covered on TV today.
Believe it or not, there was once only one channel where we could watch new music videos, hear celebrity gossip, and catch stars like Mariah Carey give private tours of their luxurious homes. This might be before your time, but for journalist and Add to Cart host SuChin Pak, MTV was the launching pad that jump started her career. She joins Ricki and Kalen to talk about starting off in the industry as a teen reporter, becoming the first Asian-American and only woman correspondent at MTV News, and landing the sweet gig narrating MTV’s Cribs. Plus, SuChin reveals her secret connection to The Ricki Lake Show, and bonds with Kalen over the pressures of being a “relatable” person of color in a predominately white industry.
In places beyond Memphis, deadly police squads remain in operation. In Hobbs, New Mexico, abortion clinics have been banned. In Ohio, thousands of homeschooling parents have been teaching white supremacy. How is all this happening? V explains what’s going on in all these states, then gets joined by “America’s Government Teacher” to fill in the rest. V sits down with Sharon McMahon, host of the podcast Here’s Where It Gets Interesting, to talk congressional committees, impeachment, and the history that got us here.
Long before shows like Love Is Blind and Blind Date caught our attention, The Ricki Lake Show set shallow singles up on blindfolded dates to see if they could find a love match without knowing what their date looked like. Ricki and Kalen discuss the three superficial guests featured in this episode: Tamara, who believes she can “sense ugly” through a blindfold, Don, who says it’s dumb to date someone you don’t find attractive, and Amanda, who doesn’t think there’s anything wrong with picking pretty guys. Plus, Ricki shares some of what she’s learned about love in her life so far and encourages Kalen to be more open to it in his.
In The Ricki Lake Show’s last season, the Gay Pimp gave people and spaces makeovers, taught us about “metrosexuality,” and tested out some dubious aphrodisiacs. Today, the man behind the Gay Pimp character, Jonny McGovern, joins Ricki and Kalen to talk about the origins of the Gay Pimp, where his career went after his TRLS appearances, and even sings some of his hit song “Soccer Practice” for Ricki and Kalen! Plus, they discuss the myriad reasons why Jonny would not name a character the Gay Pimp today.
Lauren Lake has done it all – music, TV, books, law, interior design – and she says it’s all because of her appearances on The Ricki Lake Show! Lauren tells Ricki and Kalen about the dating docuseries she was in that caught the attention of TRLS producers, her time as a life coach and relationship expert on Ricki’s show, and how those appearances led to Lauren laying down the law on Lauren Lake’s Paternity Court and We the People with Judge Lauren Lake. Plus, Lauren reflects on the pressures put on Black women in the TV industry and how she pushes back against them with her signature wit, strength, and style.
Britney Spears. NSYNC. Usher. Salt-N-Pepa. The Ricki Lake Show featured performances from some of the most iconic pop stars of the 90s and early 2000s. Ricki and Kalen talk with former MTV VJ Dave Holmes about the amazing artists who visited TRLS, looking back at the teen pop craze knowing what we know now, and the surprising places Ricki and Dave find new music nowadays. Plus, Kalen tells the story of when he hosted the announcement of Britney Spears’ Las Vegas residency that didn’t go exactly as planned.
Grab a friend and some snacks – we’ll provide the tea. We’re traveling back to the 90s, when The Ricki Lake Show was the place for drama and fun unlike anywhere else on TV. Ricki and Kalen are joined by Stuart Krasnow, former supervising producer of The Ricki Lake Show, to talk about the show’s beginnings and its lasting impact on a new generation.