70% Store Bought, 30% Fresh Produce and Creativity Equals 100% Successful
Cooking shows have become a popular television entity to males and females of all ages. Through the food, language, and format of each cooking show it is highly evident who their particular target it. Sandra Lee's tag-line is said at the end of every episode of her cooking decor show. "Please remember; keep it simple, keep it sweet, keep it smart and keep it semi-homemade." It is clear that this pattern of speech is considered quite appealing to many women. Sandra's hook is her theme; each episode actually consists of two themes. First, the shows consistent theme of using seventy percent ready made products and thirty percent fresh ingredients and creative touches; which give every woman one hundred percent flavorful, fabulous, and fast meals. The second theme seen in every episode is the inspiration for her meal; this theme varies for every show ranging from "Take Outs to Eat In" to "Holiday Cocktail Parties" Sandra uses her girlfriend like charms, elegant table-scape, and verbal emphasis to appeal to many women ages thirty to forty.
Sandra Lee's show Semi-Homemade with Sandra Lee always opens with the same format. First we are introduced to Sandra in some "exotic" location aside from her kitchen, for example outside walking in a snow covered forest or walking in the sand along the beach. Next, the audience is presented with images of the soon to be meal in vivid camera shots. While this montage of mouthwatering morsels flash in front of us we are guided through the food by Sandra's voice, this voice over explains the theme in more detail and presents the food she will be preparing in the episode. Once these two minutes of hunger inducing film have past we are then given the pre-shot, pre-edited informative two minute biography of Sandra Lee. At, this point the audience now knows what they will be watching, and they know some facts about Sandra. She is seen in this television intro shopping in the grocery store, smelling fresh produce, creating beautiful table-scape’s, and sitting in a giant, comfy, and welcoming chair telling her life story. Sandra is not a trained chef; she identifies herself as a young Wisconsin girl who loved to help her grandmother in the kitchen. She explains that she grew up learning the "old fashion" time consuming cooking methods, while dabbling in decorative ideas for themed parties. After watching the full six minute introduction of Sandra, the audience feels very comfortable and similar to Sandra. This non-threatening feeling is one of Sandra's keys to success, anyone who sees this introduction knows she is not a trained chef; therefore, viewers feel less intimidated about trying to cook her food.
Sandra Lee's show Semi-Homemade with Sandra Lee always opens with the same format. First we are introduced to Sandra in some "exotic" location aside from her kitchen, for example outside walking in a snow covered forest or walking in the sand along the beach. Next, the audience is presented with images of the soon to be meal in vivid camera shots. While this montage of mouthwatering morsels flash in front of us we are guided through the food by Sandra's voice, this voice over explains the theme in more detail and presents the food she will be preparing in the episode. Once these two minutes of hunger inducing film have past we are then given the pre-shot, pre-edited informative two minute biography of Sandra Lee. At, this point the audience now knows what they will be watching, and they know some facts about Sandra. She is seen in this television intro shopping in the grocery store, smelling fresh produce, creating beautiful table-scape’s, and sitting in a giant, comfy, and welcoming chair telling her life story. Sandra is not a trained chef; she identifies herself as a young Wisconsin girl who loved to help her grandmother in the kitchen. She explains that she grew up learning the "old fashion" time consuming cooking methods, while dabbling in decorative ideas for themed parties. After watching the full six minute introduction of Sandra, the audience feels very comfortable and similar to Sandra. This non-threatening feeling is one of Sandra's keys to success, anyone who sees this introduction knows she is not a trained chef; therefore, viewers feel less intimidated about trying to cook her food.
Sandra's persona is reflected in her audience, she has that long time high school girlfriend quality. It is as if, every time you watch her show you are re-joined with an old friend chatting about family, friends, and food. One of her standard linguistic choices it to elongate certain words such as, "all, yummy, one, and perfectly." Also, she consistently uses three or four descriptive words per sentence, words like, "nice, festive, beautiful, lovely, simple, easy, and super." Along with describing her decorations, food, and friends; she takes the time to mention the food network website approximately three times throughout the entire episode. Sandra takes her audience through a certain pattern for every show, she begins with one or two appetizers, followed by a dinner selection, dessert, and always, always a cocktail. The tittles she deems for her food continually reflect her themes. Such as her winter cocktail party, she made three cocktails called, “Frosty, Gingerbread, and Candy Cane Cocktails.” Once she has cooked the entire meal, she moves to her table-scape design. Sandra always has a highly decorated table filled with themed nick-knacks. For example, for her winter nutcracker episode she had a Christmas tree filled with nutcrackers, in every episode she includes a personal goody, so a miniature nutcracker with engraved names is placed on each guest’s plate. When she discusses her designs she enjoys certain phrases such as, “Always pay attention to detail.” One of the most noticeable Sandra styles we notice as an audience is the kitchen itself. Her kitchen reflects her persona to the last detail, the accessories such as plates and glasses, along with the appliances change every episode to match her outfit, which of course always matches her theme. When she has her pink meadow party everything in the kitchen is shades of pink, when it is an Asian inspired party everything is deep red and gold. This is probably one of the most ridiculous and comical aspects of this show that may split the audience's opinions.
When cooking her food she gives the audience several descriptive words that can make your mouth water. She is a highly adequate cooking instructor; she talks with moderate cooking level terms, making it easy to understand. Also, she is informative and instructional, when she uses certain herbs she like to explain why and what they pair well with. It is interesting that the camera shots used in the show are not necessarily focused on the food. Most shots are wide angles of Sandra cooking and preparing, then seconds before the food is finished they use a close up shot of the food. The guests that appear on her show are usually seen towards the end of the show when the actually party begins. When it comes to guests actually cooking she will usually have a girlfriend help her, but on most occasion her kitchen helpers are her nieces and nephews.
When cooking her food she gives the audience several descriptive words that can make your mouth water. She is a highly adequate cooking instructor; she talks with moderate cooking level terms, making it easy to understand. Also, she is informative and instructional, when she uses certain herbs she like to explain why and what they pair well with. It is interesting that the camera shots used in the show are not necessarily focused on the food. Most shots are wide angles of Sandra cooking and preparing, then seconds before the food is finished they use a close up shot of the food. The guests that appear on her show are usually seen towards the end of the show when the actually party begins. When it comes to guests actually cooking she will usually have a girlfriend help her, but on most occasion her kitchen helpers are her nieces and nephews.
As much as she is always in high spirits, Sandra has some downfalls. Due to her recipes calling for seventy percent store bought products, she advertises certain products. This tends to become annoying; also, her ridiculous pride in her decorations can start to frustrate the audience. One of the things she does that has the most irony it her use of fresh produce; most of the produce she tends to use is as garnish. Such as, making frozen meatballs and placing them into a bowl that is layered with lettuce leaves first.
Even when her bubbly over-descriptive personality can make an audience member cringe, it is obvious that her show is popular. Anyone can YouTube her show and watch most of her episodes in fragmented sections, and many of them have a great deal of viewers. The appeal of convenient, easy-to-follow, and inexpensive food has captured the attention of many women, appealing to their hectic schedules and wallets.
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