RACHAEL Ray’s company with her husband, John Cusimano, was once sued for allegedly stealing an idea for the cooking show that put her on the map.
Before Rachael, 56, graced audiences with her recipes on ABC’s The Rachael Ray show from 2006 to 2023, she starred on Food Network’s Inside Dish with Rachael Ray.
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The U.S. Sun has uncovered a 2005 lawsuit against Watch Entertainment Inc., her husband John’s company, along with Television Food Network, CBS Television Distribution Group, and other defendants.
In the lawsuit, which was ultimately dismissed, Jeffrey Zella and Ross Crystal, who characterized Watch Entertainment as furnishing “the professional services of Ray,” sued for copyright infringement and breach of implied contract.
The court papers claim in November 2001, Zella and Crystal contacted a business colleague, who was president of Food Network, for a television show pitch for their series Showbiz Chefs.
They claim the president responded to the show idea by saying, “Thanks for thinking about us and sending along the sample script. We have no interest in celebrities at all. Every time we do something of this nature it fails.”
A new president for Food Network then took over in 2004, as Zella and Crystal claimed the Network’s managing partner, Scripps Networks, copied the work as the basis for Inside Dish, which Food Network launched in November 2004.
The pitch for Showbiz Chefs is a “30-minute interview/cooking for featuring celebrities cooking their favorite dishes in their own kitchens.”
“In addition to sharing their favorite recipes, celebrity guests will open their homes to the viewer providing a glimpse into their lifestyles,” the description in the lawsuit reads.
“Along the way, we will gain insights into their latest projects – books, films, television series, etc.
“Showbiz Chefs will be filmed on location in and around the Los Angeles area and will feature a host/interviewer who will participate with the celebrity guest in the cooking experience.
“A typical episode may include a quick tour of the home/grounds – a few surprises – or, a clandestine grocery-shopping trip to the local market with the celebrity guest.
“We inevitably adjourn to the kitchen where the celebrity (with the help of the host turned inept but well-meaning sus chef) prepares his/her favorite recipe. The mood is relaxed, informal and fun.
“Showbiz Chefs’ final segment will feature an interview with the celebrity about his/her latest project in a comfortable setting.”
The lawsuit then mentions Food Network’s promotional description for Inside Dish, “Join host Rachael Ray as she takes us to the homes – and kitchens – of some of America’s biggest celebrities.”
Twenty-one episodes of Inside Dish were produced, as Zella and Crystal believe the episodes were “copied from the work… and are substantially similar to the work.”
“All feature a host/interviewer who will participate with the celebrity guest in the cooking experience,” according to the lawsuit.
The premiere episode of Inside Dish, “opens with a ‘stand up’ by featuring Ray on the grounds of Franz’s property describing, among other things, how excited she is to be at the home of the celebrity in Southern California and how she, together with Franz and his daughter, Tricia, will be preparing one of his favorite dishes in his home kitchen,” per the lawsuit.
“The Franz episode ended with the Franz family sharing lunch on the Franz property in a relaxed open patio setting with Ray.”
The lawsuit continued, “Plaintiffs are informed and believe that Defendants consider the Inside Dish “a great success” and a launch pad for Ray as a talk show host, not just a chef with a television show, Ray was able to move from the farm team (basic exhibition) to the big leagues (syndicated free-over-the-air television broadcast).”
Plaintiffs believe the Inside Dish helped the star snag the Rachael Ray Show on ABC.
“Rachael Ray, distributed by Defendant CBS Television Distribution, has been called a monster hit,” the lawsuit continued.
“Rachael Ray was the top premiering syndicated show of 2006 and on or about January 17, 2007, Rachael Ray was renewed for two seasons, through the 2009 -2010 season. Rachael Ray runs among the top five syndicated talk shows and averages a 2.1 household rating.”
The lawsuit continued, “Plantiffs are informed and believe that without their submission of Showbiz Chefs to Food Network in 2001, Food Network would not have developed Inside Dish, which was the necessary intermediate step to the launch of Rachael Ray.”
Plaintiffs requested $150,000 for “the copyright willfully infringed.”
Scripps Network, LLC and Television Food Network responded to the lawsuit.
The Scripps defendant admitted they were sent a pitch for Showbiz Chefs and denied the idea at the time, but they “lack sufficient knowledge and information to form a belief as to the truth of the allegations, and on that basis deny such allegations.”
The defendants denied allegations that they copied the idea of Inside Dish from Zella and Crystal.
They requested a judgment be filed in favor of the defendants.
In the defendant’s motion to dismiss, they say their claim for relief is “fatally flawed” because they “cannot own unoriginal ideas.”
In 2008, a judgment in the case was filed that granted the defendants’ motion to dismiss and that read, “Plaintiffs Jeffrey Zella and Ross Crystal, shall take nothing by their complaint against the CBS Defendants, and their complaint is dismissed on the merits with prejudice.”
Rachael and John were not listed as defendants in the lawsuit, as just the company they run their business under was listed.
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HUSBAND’S HELP
John has been heavily involved in Rachael’s career and success.
The U.S. Sun previously reported Rachael filed for John to be her Power of Attorney months before their 2005 wedding.
The document obtained by The U.S. Sun read, “The powers you grant below continue to be effective should you become disabled or incompetent.
“Caution: This is an important document. It gives the person whom you designate (your agent) broad powers to handle your property during your lifetime, which may include powers to mortgage, sell, or otherwise dispose of any real or personal property without advance notice to you or approval by you.
“These powers will continue to exist even after you become disabled or incompetent.”
The document then states, “This document does not authorize anyone to make medical or other health care decisions. You may execute a health care proxy to do this.”
Rachael appointed her power of attorney to be John.
Rachael only gave authority to John for “real estate transactions.”
Rachael and John signed off on the document on July 19, 2005, just weeks before their September 24, 2005 wedding.
ATTORNEY SPEAKS OUT
Beverly Hills attorney Adam Michael Sacks explained a power of attorney could be granted for certain reasons, including if the requesting party has health issues.
“It is something that would be done if you are sick,” Mr. Sacks told The U.S. Sun. “The power of attorney can make certain decisions. There are certain things you have to sign if you own a house that needs to be sold and you’re, for example, in a coma. With power of attorney, it lets that person sign for you.
“Attorney means someone who acts for you. If I am your attorney, I can go to court and act for you. He would make the decision if she’s unable to.”
The Beverly Hills Attorney continued, “It’s not common. One of the reasons is when you know you have a problem, like you’re sick or getting older.
“It has to be someone you completely trust, like a spouse. You would have them make decisions as though it were you.”
Other than health reasons, Mr. Sacks said power of attorney could be for financial help.
He explained of her potential reasoning, “I’m a chef, I can’t deal with money, I trust my husband or lawyer, he can take care of it.”
BUSINESS PARTNERS
Rachael’s husband is a lawyer and she did admit he helps her with the legal aspects of her career.
She said on the November 5 episode of her podcast, I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead, “One of the things that has been essential to my life and my success, over the years has been the partner that I chose.
“I love my husband John. And John works with me and has built our business and our brand together.
“Husband and I didn’t get married until very late in life, 37 and 38 years old. It was very important to me that I marry him because I thought, this person could be a true partner in what I believe in.
“In helping people and building, not a business, but a community.”
She continued, “He’s a lawyer and a musician. I am not a musician and I am certainly not a lawyer. I hate reading legal documents and official stuff.
“But we balance each other in a weird way. We allow each other to be open to different worlds.”
HEALTH CONCERNS
Rachael sparked concern on her episodes of Rachael Ray in Tuscany when she appeared to be slurring her speech during the cooking show.
“Omg is she ok? What happened?” one fan reacted to the Instagram video.
Another wrote, “This is concerning. Something is not right.”
A third commented, “I love you but are you ok? I’m seriously concerned.”
Rachael has not addressed the concerns, as she instead filtered the comments on her videos.
She continues to post cooking videos from episodes to her Instagram page.
Rachael Ray Television Shows
Rachael Ray has been on TV since 2001, cooking up recipes and working with other celebrity chefs. Here are the TV programs that she has hosted
30 Minutes Meals – 2001 to 2012, Food Network
Rachael Ray – talk show, 2006 to 2023, ABC Network
Rachael’s Vacation – 2008, Food Network, five-part mini-series
Rachael Ray’s Week in a Day – reality TV cooking show, 2010, Food Network
Rachael vs. Guy: Celebrity Cook-Off – co-hosted with Guy Fieri, 2012, Food Network
Rachael Ray in Tuscany – 2024 to present, USA Network
RACHAEL’S CAREER
Rachael appeared on ABC’s Rachael Ray Show from 2006 to 2023.
Rachael left the show to launch her own production company, Free Food Studios.
She also runs the nonprofit organization Yum-o!, which “empowers kids and their families to develop healthy relationships with food and cook through three main initiatives: Cook, Feed and Fund.”
In addition to the podcast, she currently hosts Rachael Ray’s Meals in Minutes and Rachael Ray in Tuscany on FYI.
The U.S. Sun previously reported she is expanding her empire, as she filed two new trademarks on October 4, 2024 for pizza peels, non-electric pizza cutters and egg poachers.
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