Ricki Lake's Talk Show Secret: Channeling Oprah!

Ricki Lake, now 57, shared in a recent podcast that she never felt nervous hosting her daytime talk show, "Ricki Lake," which aired from 1993 to 2004. She explained that during the pilot filming, at just 23 years old and still developing her sense of self, she consciously channeled Oprah Winfrey, asking herself, "What would she say? What would she ask?"

Lake felt her genuine curiosity about people and relationships, coupled with her willingness to share her own experiences, made her relatable to audiences as the "chubby girl." Her career later came full circle when she appeared on "The Oprah Winfrey Show" in 2011 alongside other talk show icons.

Earlier in 2026, Lake disclosed on another podcast that the September 11th attacks were a pivotal moment, fundamentally altering her perspective and leading to her decision to leave New York and conclude her talk show, a choice she felt she could have delayed for another decade.