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Jerry Seinfeld uses free speech defense in cookbook lawsuit

justingirl1989 — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 12:06:22 -0700

Humor is one of those things that is totally subjective and completely open for debate. A lot of people think that in order for something to be truly funny, it has to be risky or offensive. And while I don’t agree with that, safe humor is never quite as good as the jokes that walk a much finer line.

Comedian Jerry Seinfeld seems to really be straddling that line lately. Over the last year he and wife Jessica have been embroiled in a heated legal battle over a cookbook, Deceptively Delicious, that Jessica appears to have blatantly plagiarized from author Missy Chase Lapine’s The Sneaky Chef: Simple Strategies for Hiding Healthy Foods in Kids’ Favourite Meal. Lapine has sued the Seinfields – but not just for plagiarism.

Though at the time she hadn’t made a single comment about the whole debacle, Seinfeld thought it appropriate to mock her mercilessly on late night television and make Lapine out to be some sort of whackjob; making some stupid joke that, “If you read history, many of the three-name people do become assassins.” In addition to the ideas and the recipes, Celeb*tchy pointed out that Jessica also stole some of the “personal” stories from Chase Lapine’s book.

The Seinfelds are also being sued for slander, and are using just about the stupidest defense strategy I’ve ever heard of.

Jerry Seinfeld insisted yesterday he ought to be the master of his own comic domain. Seinfeld didn’t slander the woman who accused his wife of ripping off her cookbook, he said in legal papers filed yesterday in Manhattan federal court. He was just mining the legal system for laughs - and supporting the right of standup comedians to do the same, he said.

Seinfeld cited several episodes of the “show about nothing” where he mocked frivolous lawsuits - including an episode where Kramer wins free coffee for life in a court settlement because he got burned on gourmet roast. His lawyers, who are trying to get the defamation suit against him tossed, pointed out that his flick “Bee Movie” also has a plot that revolved around a silly suit.

In the movie, a bumblebee voiced by the comic sues honey manufacturers for exploiting bees. And rock star Sting is hauled in as a witness. Seinfeld was hit with the slander suit because he called author Missy Chase Lapine, who claims his wife, Jessica, copied her cookbook, a “wacko” and “mentally unhinged celebrity stalker” on David Letterman’s show. Lapine, author of “Sneaky Chef,” is suing Jessica, too. Lawyers for Seinfeld insisted his suit is no joke - because the First Amendment protects humor. And the attorneys said allowing Lapine’s suit to go forward would make it impossible for other comedians to get laughs out of lawsuits.

[From the New York Post]

First off, the utterly ridiculous ideas from your not-all-that-funny-after-all show don’t actually hold any ground in the court of law. And while free speech should be protected, there are also slander laws for a reason, and Ms. Lapine is in no way treading over Seinfeld’s free speech by insisting that he not needlessly attack her.

Missy Chase Lapine would look like the victim here no matter what. But it’s truly shocking to see the way the Seinfelds have come after her. Jessica stole the idea for her book. Then instead of apologizing or doing whatever version of “making it right” she could think of, her husband goes on national television to tell the world that Lapine is crazy. Again, keep in mind that although other people had made a lot of comments about the two books at this point, Missy Chase Lapine had acted with utter decorum and dignity and hadn’t said one single word.

That takes more restraint than most people could ever summon. So it’s not as though the Seinfelds were defending themselves or responding to anything Lapine had ever said. They were just using this poor woman – who they’d already taken advantage of in a terrible way – to try to get a few more seconds of publicity (and money) for themselves. Their behavior is utterly disgusting, and calling it a free speech issue degrades true free speech arguments. I hope they lose a ton of money.

http://www.celeb*tchy.com/13846/jerry_seinfeld_uses_gree_speech_defense_...

Nicole Richie wants to write a cookbook

justingirl1989 — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 05:19:23 -0700

About a year ago a joke book came out called The Nicole Richie Cookbook. It was sixty some pages long, and each page was blank. Haha, Nicole doesn’t eat. Mildly funny at best. Now what’s a much funnier idea is Nicole Richie actually writing a cookbook herself. Which is just what she wants to do, if you believe her friends that chat with OK! Magazine. Apparently Nicole is just knee-deep in domestic bliss, and wants to share her happiness – or at least her recipes – with the rest of us.

Move over Rachael Ray, there’s another cute cook in the kitchen! The Simple Life star Nicole Richie took up cooking in order to become the perfect partner and mom. Now, she’s gotten so good at it she wants to publish her own cookbook!

“She keeps a box full of recipes handwritten on index cards,” a pal of Nicole,26, tells OK!. “She has mac and cheese down to a fine science!”

But when it comes to whipping up meals for fiance Joel Madden,29, Nicole, who is mom to their 5-month old daughter Harlow, looks to the lighter side.

Says the source, “She keeps things low-fat to help her and Joel watch their weight!”

[From OK! Magazine]

Well yeah, because they’re such fatties. Watching their weight should be a big priority for the both of them. Actually Joel seems to have gone through a pudgy phase or two – as has Nicole, now that I think about it. But they’ve both been looking pretty trim for the past couple years. In fact Nicole’s got it down to a science.

Although celeb ass-kissy OK! claims that the two are super domestic and blissfully happy, People quotes Joel as saying they have no plans to get married. They’ve often been referred to as each other’s fiance (see the OK! article above), but in terms of taking a walk down the aisle, it sounds like Joel would rather saunter the other way.

“We don’t have any plans for that right now,” Madden told PEOPLE on Wednesday. “We’re just happy, and we’re being a family, and that’s where we’re at right now. But marriage means something different to everyone.”

“Right now we’re really happy,” the Good Charlotte frontman says, “and we’re concentrating on our family, and that’s what is making us happy right now. We’re moving at our own pace.”

[From People]

It’s funny because you can tell Joel is just barely holding back from screaming “Don’t rush me!” to the reporter. I think there may have been a “F*#% you” muttered under his breath. Joel clearly had a little line all rehearsed and ready to go, since he basically said the same thing twice. We get it, you’re supposedly happy and don’t want to be tied to Nicole Richie or her low fat for the rest of your life. I’m not sure many people could blame you.

http://www.celeb*tchy.com/12580/nicole_richie_wants_to_write_a_cookbook/

Cookbook Author Accuses Jerry Seinfeld's Wife of Plagiarism

justingirl1989 — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 05:19:16 -0800

Jessica Seinfeld, cookbook author and wife of comedian Jerry Seinfeld, is being sued by the author of another kitchen how-to, accusing her of copyright infringement and defamation.

Missy Chase Lapine, author of The Sneaky Chef: Simple Strategies for Hiding Healthy Foods in Kids' Favorite Meals, filed a complaint in U.S. District Court in New York on Monday alleging Seinfeld plagiarized Lapine's book in writing her cookbook Deceptively Delicious: Simple Secrets to Getting your Kids Eating Good Food, published six months later.

"This action for copyright and trademark infringement and defamation arises from conduct that gives new meaning to the terms 'arrogance' and 'greed,'" says the lawsuit, which lists what it alleges are examples of identical language in the two cookbooks. The suit also alleges Lapine alerted her publisher and Seinfeld's to the similarities between the books before Deceptively Delicious came out in October.

The suit also addresses Jerry Seinfeld's comments about Lapine in his defense of his wife in public appearances. On The Late Show with David Letterman in October, Seinfeld called Lapine a "wacko" who had been "waiting in the woodwork" for a chance to attack the Seinfelds.

"My wife never saw the book, read the book, never used the book," he said.

Promoting Deceptively Delicious on The View in November, Jessica Seinfeld defended her collection of kid-friendly recipes.

"I can understand why she would have been frustrated," she said. "It must have been hard to see how quickly my book took off. I never saw her book, I never saw her recipes, nor, as a person, would I ever do something like I was accused of doing."

source" people.com

showing off my cookbook

llendril — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 13:52:44 -0700

baking: from my home to yours by dorie greenspan copyright 2006 it was very difficult to choose which cookbook is my favorite! however, when it came down to it, dorie greenspan is pretty much just amazing. this is one of the best baking cookbooks i know, and in my opinion, it edges out any of the others that i have personally come across.

Vegetarian Cookbook - Suggestions Needed

GirlC — Sun, 17 May 2009 17:49:54 -0700

I would like to get a vegetarian cookbook and am looking for suggestions. I want one with easy to make meals that include easy to find ingredients.

So people, send me your suggestions!
Thanks.

Cookbooks

SweetPeasMom — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 12:41:36 -0700

What is your go-to cookbook? The one you always return to for recipes and that you use most often?

kiwitwist's Favorite Cookbook for YumSugar

kiwitwist — Sun, 12 Aug 2007 12:33:17 -0700

My old, beatup, favorite cookbook!

Share Your Kitchen With Us!

partysugar — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 14:00:03 -0700

OK readers, as you know, I recently moved and am in the process of setting up my kitchen. I've been getting your advice along the way, asking about dishwashers, kitchen islands, and drawer organization devices. It's time to take things one step further: now I want you to share your kitchens with me!

Whether you've got an amazing spice rack, an adorable way to display cookbooks, or an awesome marble counter, snap a photo. Then upload it to the Savory Sights group in the YumSugar Community. I'll be featuring the most inspiring kitchens here on YumSugar, so start sharing now!

Be sure to read this participation tutorial to learn more about uploading photos. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to contact us because we'd love to see you join the YumSugar Community.

Share Your Kitchen With Us!

partysugar — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 14:00:03 -0700

Be sure to read this participation tutorial to learn more about uploading photos. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to contact us because we'd love to see you join the YumSugar Community.

Cookbooks for Babies and Children

GirlC — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 10:05:11 -0800

Is there any book in particular you use and like? Currently I am a fan of The Baby's Table (inspiration for name of this group) by Brenda Bradshaw and Lauren Bramley.

I also own Super Baby Food by Ruth Yaron. I like the index at the back about all the veggies and fruit and when and how to introduce them.

So what do you use? I'm looking for some new ones to thumb through.