Sally Jessy Rafael is Still Alive and Still Pissed

Author Joel Katz

October 10th, 2022 9:00 AM

She came before Kelly Clarkson, Ellen Degeneres, Tamron Hall, Kelly Ripa, Wendy Williams, and, yes, even the mighty Oprah Winfrey. Many would agree that she paved the way for the aforementioned successful talk show hosts.

If you’re old enough to remember Sally Jessy Raphael, then you remember her daytime talk show and her signature red-rimmed glasses. She was the first woman to host a syndicated television talk show, and again, she preceded the larger-than-life Oprah. She’s now 87 years old, still wears the red-rimmed glasses, and is still very angry over the cancellation of her talk show in 2002.

Sally appeared on the Raised By Ricki podcast titled “Sally Jessy, You ARE the Mother…of Talk Shows!” and talked with Ricki Lake and Kalen Allen about many things including her continued grudge against NBC Universal. She is still upset over the reason her show was canceled.

She mentions that when her show began in 1983 she would “interview Presidents and very famous people, it was mostly celebrities and interviews with celebrities.” Sally continued that NBC “got a hold of it and wanted ‘who’s your baby mama’ type of show, that’s when it went all downhill.” Sally was not interested in that kind of broadcast but agreed because she didn’t own the show. “NBC Universal owned Jerry (Springer), Maury (Povich), and me, and I’m the one who wouldn’t do the stuff so they let me go…they fired me,” Sally shared to the shocked Ricki Lake.

According to Sally, she had two hundred and fifty employees and when the network told her that she was being renewed she told her staff, “ok go buy a house, have a baby, we’re gonna be renewed, everything is fine.” T

hen she recalled that she was told that they would not be continuing the show. Sally felt that because they [NBC] “liked Jerry and Maury more,” she was the one they decided to cancel. The Jerry Springer Show debuted in 1991 and ran until 2018. The Maury Show first aired in 1991 and is still on the air.

Time's 2022 '100Next': 14 Entertainers We're Thrilled Made the List

• Sydney Sweeney

  Share

  Sydney's 'Euphoria' sister, Maude Apatow described her "front-row seat" of watching her grow up. She said of her acting, "I’ve never met anyone who works harder or who is more inventive. One moment she will make you cry tears of laughter and the next she will break your heart. Sydney is an unstoppable force." In addition to her acting work Maude praised Sydney's abilities to "produce a movie, fix a car, fight you MMA-style, and dazzle on the red carpet all in the same day."

• Keke Palmer

  Share

  You may remember Keke Palmer from 'Akeelah and the Bee,' but the child star turned into a serious acting threat, also expanding into singing and hosting. Queen Latifah said that she "is one of the most talented human beings I’ve ever met," adding that "this young champion has been inspiring adults for many, many years."

• FKA Twigs

  Share

  FKA Twigs music career exploded after the music video for "Cellophane" came out, where she is pole dancing in a beautifully elegant yet haunting way. Courtney Love said her dancing was "like a lightning rod." She adds of her most recent mistape 'Caprisongs' that Twigs spills her guts and that the music is "in every muscle in her body."
• Finneas

  Share

  Billie Eilish's brother has made quite a name for himself in the music industry by showcasing what his writing can do with the success of his little sister's music career. Glen Hansard loves Finneas' approach to music-making. "What I love most about Finneas is that he’s concerned with the songs first. And then what those songs sound like, and then where they fit, and then, culturally, how they function." He adds that what sets Finneas and Billie apart is that they are "just themselves, and the result is paradigm-­shifting and powerful."

• Machine Gun Kelly

  Share

  Machine Gun Kelly's tour mate Avril Lavigne says of watching him performing, "You can’t help but love him even more because he puts on such a good show. You never know what he will do next. He might hang from a helicopter, climb up 60 feet of scaffolding, or zip-line across a stadium." The sk8er girl adds that MGK is "constantly raising the bar for himself and for the world around him. That attitude can inspire a new generation."

• Lily Collins

  Share

  Darren Star says of the 'Emily in Paris' actress that "her smile can light up a room or a screen. Her warmth lifts everybody up with her. Romantic comedy is much harder than it looks, but Lily makes it seem effortless."
• Sadie Sink

  Share

  The 'Stranger Things' actress became a star in the last season and people definitely took notice. Co-star Winona Ryder wrote her name down after watching her on "The Americans" and knew she was someone "extraordinary, someone to watch." After working together on the Netflix show, Ryder adds, "Sadie is this creative acrobat and she’s on this balance beam that very few have the courage to walk. And she just goes and does it—all with such great focus and poise."

• Yahya Abdul-Mateen II

  Share

  Yahya Abdul-Mateen II has played some pretty impressive roles in his acting career, from Black Manta in 'Aquaman,' to Bobby Seale in the historical legal drama 'The Trial of the Chicago 7." Jason Momoa said of his fellow DCEU actor, "It’s extremely challenging to transform your body into playing these superhero characters." Respecting his craft, Momoa has told him that he wants to know if he sees a "role where I get to support you in something."

• Jack Harlow

  Share

  Jack Harlow's "What’s Poppin?" went viral on TikTok in 2020, but what really catapulted him into pop culture was his feature on Lil Nas X's "Industry Baby." Jimmy Fallon said that the first time he heard the song, "I couldn’t have pulled my phone out any faster to Shazam the song." He added, "This is just the beginning for Jack Harlow."
• Lashana Lynch

  Share

  Starring as Maria Rambeau in the Marvel Cinematic Universe films, Lashana Lynch has landed some pretty impressive roles, like 'The Woman King.' Co-star Viola Davis said she is "she holds bold, quiet, unapologetic confidence and the wisdom of knowing what she was put on this earth to do—and a willingness to inject it in others. It is that rare gift that only lives in our heroes."

• Jennette McCurdy

  Share

  Jennette McCurdy has had a breakout year thanks, in part, to the release of her bold memoir 'I'm Glad My Mom Died.' When honoring McCurdy, Molly Shannon said of her work writing the book, "She had to find her voice to survive. And what a powerful voice it is! She really brings you into her world of being a child star, living out her mother’s unfulfilled dreams, and then finding recovery. Her mom as a character jumps off the page along with Jennette as a kid—I sometimes felt like I was in the car with them on the way to an audition."

• Joe Alwyn

  Share

  Besides being Taylor Swift's longtime boyfriend, Alwyn starred in this year's 'Conversations With Friends.' Ryan Reynolds said of the actor, "Joe Alwyn will surprise you. He’s managed to do all this while evading the industry’s tried-and-true ability to label and pigeonhole a performer. He lives at the intersection of enigmatic mystery and fun drinking buddy."
• Jonathan Majors

  Share

  Jonathan Majors has played in some really cool roles in the last few years. From 'The Last Black Man in San Francisco' to 'Lovecraft Country,' Majors has shown so many layers. Michael B. Jordan agrees, saying, "He’s a chameleon. As he dissolves into these different characters, you can’t help but be blown away by his talent. There’s something really captivating about his presence, and the choices he makes as an actor." He said of his 'Creed III' co-star, "He allows people to go on the character’s journey. That’s a really great quality for an actor to have because it invites you into the film’s world."

• SZA

  Share

  SZA has shown what it means to be an R&B singer in 2022, breaking down barriers. Lizzo said of her debut studio album 'CTRL,' "It was a cultural f---ing reset. She changed the world! The authenticity in her craft—the way she’s able to tell her story and the way she uses melody—is extraordinary. No one can replicate that."

Sign me up for the Magic 98.3 email newsletter!

Be the first to know about our awesome ticket giveaways, the latest updates with your favorite artists, and more.

First Name *

Last Name

Email *

Subscribe

By clicking "Subscribe" I agree to the website's terms of Service and Privacy Policy. I understand I can unsubscribe at any time.

Author Joel Katz

Category:

• Celebrity News
• Joel & Maryann In The Morning
• Joel Katz

Tags:

Oprah Winfrey,Talk Show,The Ellen Show,The Kelly Clarkson Show,The Wendy Williams Show