Talk, Talk

Posted Sep 12, 2006 by Jaymi Curley

Updated Sep 13, 2006 at 08:17 AM

Well, it seems Dr. Phil’s wife, Robin McGraw is finally speaking up. I knew she was more than just talk show arm candy for the big wind from Texas.  Her new book “Inside My Heart” hits the bookstore shelves today, and I for one am looking forward to lassoing myself a copy.  In it, she dishes about her difficult childhood with her dad,  and her courtship and marriage to the advice-doling Doc.  (Frankly, I’d be interested to know what the attraction was.)  I’m not the least bit surprised that she didn’t show old Phil any of her drafts before publication.  He’d have shanghaied the project quicker than Jesse James after a gold train.  At least this way we will get a look at what’s going on behind that lovely smile, minus any of Phil’s Texas whitewash.

Speaking of the talk show game, congrats to Tyra Banks.  Apparently her leap from the catwalk is turning out to be a big success, as she has just booked her second season of workin’ it on her own stage.  Tyra has managed to drag Nicole Ritchie in for a no-holds-barred chat about stardom, the Paris flap, and most importantly, her scary weight loss.

And since Tyra is such a big gun on the subject of girls and body image, I don’t expect her to let Nicole get away with any softball questions on the subject.  But I admit,  I am much more interested in what she’s gonna dish about Paris H.  As you know, Paris has only said about her split with her former BFF that “Nicole knows what she did.”  So, okay Nicks, if you know, start talking!  Paris herself is so fabulously gauche, I can’t even imagine what Nicole could have done to offend her Hilton Highness.

Last, but not least, Rachael Ray, the cookin’ cutie of the Food Network is striking out with her own network talk show.  Oooops, did I say “striking out?”  Just kidding.  At least for her sake I hope so.  She seems to have all the tools for a good run at it…lots of teeth in her smile,  lots of star power in her corner (Oprah is one of her guests in a food prep session…OPRAH!) and the name recognition to draw a crowd.  Plus, she seems to be sticking to what she knows best—food and travel—with no sobbing kleptomaniac housewives or cross-dressing bankers who raise Labrodoodles gumming up the risotto. Yet.  But popularity is a harsh task-mistress.  A little too much of the limelight can wreck a girl’s complexion, and with three shows in heavy rotation on FoodTV, books, a magazine, and a line of cookware all sporting her name, there is the distinct sound of the backlash rubber band being stretched to its limit and ready to snap any time now.