Sally Jessy Rides Again: The Queen of Daytime TV Returns

Named one of the 25 Greatest Radio and 25 Greatest Television Talk Show Hosts of all time, Sally Jessy is still most recognized for her prominent and leading talk show, “The Sally Jessy Raphael Show,” aka “Sally,” which she hosted for two decades. 

In 2002, Sally decided to cancel the show after years of her producers succumbing to ratings of trashier talk shows like “The Jerry Springer Show” and “Maury,” forcing her to host episodes where she sent kids to boot camp and revealed the results of paternity tests on air. Sally has been very vocal about her disdain of these episodes, although her gay fans love them to this day. Returning to her roots, Sally hosted a daily Internet radio show, “Sally Jessy Raphael” on Talknet from 2005-08 that aired in syndication on local radio stations and XM Radio.

In 2010, Sally capitalized on the world’s fascination with pop culture, viral videos and her own timeless notoriety, launching her very own YouTube channel. On it, she spoofs reality TV and answers questions from fans. From radio to daytime TV to the Internet, it was just a matter of time before Sally took over gay-time. This year marked Sally’s return to not only a series but to a new medium. In January, she launched a new Web series, “Sally Jessy Rides,” on LogoTV.com, the LGBT network. The series was created by Spinboi Films, which is owned by Sally’s manager Patrick Hartz and his partner Jason Fine.

The unconventional series takes Sally out of the studio and onto the streets – literally. Each episode features Sally along with a celebrity guest in a different mode of transportation or public setting as she interviews them with her unique brand of journalism. Guests have included Perez Hilton, Rachel Dratch and RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 5 winner Jinkx Monsoon, who she bluntly asks in the episode, “Speaking of machinery, where do you put your junk?”

Get Out! magazine chatted with the 79-year-old Emmy-award winning, red-spectacled talk show siren about the new series, a potential Sally reunion show, her gay iconic status and her love of RuPaul’s Drag Race!

Tell me about the new series. How did you come to team up with LOGO?
Between radio and TV, I’ve done thousands of interviews over the years, and they were always in a chair or in front of a studio audience. My producers and I thought it would be fun to have the outside world, in an uncontrolled environment, be our studio audience this time around. And, wow, did that turn out to be a trip!

As far as Logo, I’m a huge fan of RuPaul’s Drag Race and I was doing a lot of live tweeting during the show. Then, the network started doing a lot of on-air shout-outs to me, and the next thing I know, we’re talking about doing a Web series.

You said you’re a huge fan of RuPaul and Drag Race. Have you been invited to be a guest judge yet?
Yes, I’m a huge fan! I was asked to be a judge on season 6, but unfortunately the timing didn’t work out. There’s always season 7. Wink, wink!

“I’m Still Sally!” and your YouTube videos are great! Did this show kind of stem from that?
Thanks! We had a lot of fun doing those spoofs. “I’m Still Sally!” wasn’t an interview show like “Sally Jessy Rides.” It was more of me spoofing the popular reality shows of that moment, because we were thinking of doing a mock show, like “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” about me trying to make a comeback in reality TV.

“Sally Jessy Rides” is more of what I’m known for, which is interviews, but in this case with a twist.

You’re a pioneer in the talk show arena, featuring drag queens and dealing with serious LGBT issues on your show as well as being outspoken about LGBT rights.
Thank you for saying that.  I’m a strong believer in human rights, whether it is gay rights, the civil rights movement, women’s lib, etc. – equality in general. In particular, I have a huge number of very important people surrounding in my life who happen to be gay.  It crushed me that their long-term relationships had less validity in the eyes of the law as a 36-hour Las Vegas marriage like Britney Spears had! So, naturally, I couldn’t keep my mouth shut! I don’t have much of a filter these days. [laughs]

Do you ever hear from former guests?
I do hear from former guests on Facebook all the time, and they’re usually very sweet messages updating me on their lives or thanking our show for helping them reunite with someone. Most of the time, they’re people asking for copies of the episodes they were on.  And no, I don’t have them! [laughs]

Which wayward teen that got sent to boot camp was the biggest mess, in your opinion?
Wow, we did so many of those “boot camp” shows that it’s hard to think of just one that was “the worst.” But the ones that still stand out to me are the brats who threatened me or my staff personally. I would get right back in their faces because, hey, it’s not nice to fool with Sally Jessy! [laughs]

Have you ever thought about doing a review/”where are they now” show featuring some of those memorable guests?
That’s actually something we talk about a lot – and may still do one day. We have some interesting format ideas for it, too!

What is your take on the state of daytime TV today?
Honestly, I don’t watch much daytime TV these days. Hell, I didn’t even watch my own show when it was on! Although, I do like “The View,” and I’m a big fan of Wendy Williams.

You’ve been with your husband for – what’s it been – more than 50 years! Any tips you can offer to help couples maintain that longevity?
The secret to a long marriage is mind control devices. [laughs] Actually, my best advice is to respect each other, love each other and, most importantly, make each other laugh every day.

What is the best advice you’ve received, and who was it from?
I’ve received a lot of advice over the years – good and bad – believe me! But since I’ve been let go from nearly 20 jobs in media during my career, I can say the best advice I’ve ever received was from my mother.  She told me, ”Sally, never give up, no matter what. You’d make a lousy secretary.” I guess those jobs were the majority of options for most ladies in those days. And she’s right. I would have made a lousy one!

Who: Sally Jessy Raphael

What: Sally Jessy Rides

Where: LOGOTV.com

Twitter: @SJRaphael

Facebook:
TheSallyJessyRaphael

Photo By Andrew Werner