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More cookbook controversy with Oprah
By M&C News Oct 23, 2007, 10:24 GMT
In a recent USA Today article, not only is Jessica Seinfeld’s Deceptively Delicious similar to Missy Chase Lapine’s The Sneaky Chef, there are 15 recipes that are the same.
"There are at least 15 of my recipes that ended up in her book,” Lapine states in the article. It turns out that this seems to be more a battle of celebrity. Lapine’s book, which was rejected twice by Harper Collins, was eventually published by a much smaller publisher.
Harper Collins, however, had no problems publishing Seinfeld’s book. The article also notes that Lapine had tried five times to get onto Oprah Winfrey’s show—all to no avail.
One of the things Lapine stated in the article was, "I'm concerned and troubled that Oprah credited and applauded someone else for a technique that was out there six months earlier."
Winfrey had Seinfeld on her show Oct 8, and since then it shot to no. 1 on the bestseller lists. Winfrey was not available for comment, but many are upset over her apparent bias for celebrity.
Readers seem to believe that Lupine, (who was also the former publisher of Eating Well magazine), was neglected by Winfrey in exchange for Jerry Seinfeld’s wife, and how this is unfair. "Seinfeld is a big name, and it garners more attention than someone who doesn't have a big name," Lapine stated in the article.
“People who work hard with real experience and no connections have a tough time making it,” one commenter of the article noted. Point taken.
More can be read in full here.
COMMENT
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Older Talkback
page: 1
I am tired of Oprah's 'machine' and ready to see an end to it. Let's all boycott Oprah's shows, egotistical magazine and endorsements.
TWO books (Lapine's pitched, followed by Seinfeld's) which are:
both cookbooks
shown to the same publisher
in the same year
with the same UNIQUE recipes
on the same UNIQUE cooking concept
by authors who live in the same city
with nearly IDENTICAL book covers
both pitched to OPRAH
IS JUST A COINCIDENCE. No way, I smell a rat!
Oprah was completely irresponsible in touting Seinfeld's book as 'unique' and 'pioneering.' I hope there is a lawsuit by Lapine against the publisher. And I won't be watching Oprah in the future.
I always like Oprah until now. I live in New Hampshire and ALWAYS vote. How dare Oprah tell me who to vote for! It's one thing to have an endorsement by a celebrity. People say 'voting for Hillary is voting for Bill', so now voting for Obama means you're voting for Oprah. Do you really want a president who takes this much direction from a talk show host? Seriously, I have a mind of my own. Oprah talks about Obama's 'vision'...please if I hear one more time about Obama's experience as a professor I'm going to gag. When Bill Clinton left office, I was earning 30% more than I do now, my house equity was at an all time high, and we were not at war (being in the National Guard at that time, I am sure of that)...in fact during Bill Clinton's presidency the military was cutting unnecessary troops, btw gas prices were around a buck a gallon at that time (to my recollection). Oprah, you may think everyone in the world needs you to tell them how to think, but I have a mind of my own (and so do other all other women)...you have lost a fan forever and have elicited contempt, not for campaigning, that is something I respect. You are abusing your influence. You have secured a vote for Hillary because there is no way I'd vote for Obama now, and most Granite Staters' are reacting the same-you don't know how the average American thinks. Why don't you do another show on your favorite stupid things. Shame on you for exploiting your viewers.
I am so discusted. I cannot believe that Oprah is using her television status to use race as a political point of view. I do not care what race , relgion or gender a canidate is. We need to vote for the best person to serve the United States of America. I come from a family of veterans that would be so dissapointed that she is abusing her power like this. I am so ashamed of you Oprah.
page: 1
JerrieOct 23rd, 2007 - 19:56:05
THIS IS A HUGE DEAL!
Point #1 – Ms. Lapine showed her book to HarperCollins (Ms. Seinfeld’s publisher) 6 months before Ms. Seinfeld. Ms. Lapine’s publisher had already asked Ms. Seinfeld’s publisher change the book cover (which easily resembled Ms. Lapine’s book cover, a chef winking with carrots nearby).
Point #2 – Ms. Seinfeld has the same agent from the William Morris Agency as the Harvard sophomore student who recently lost her book contract for copying another’s novel.
Coincidence? You be the judge!
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