I think we have all had enough of Paula Deen's over the top everything. She has become a caricature of herself. NO one I know from the south says uses "y'all" every 5 seconds. But thanks to the Food Network celebrity machine and their brand creating mission, people like Paula and Rachael Ray have to exhibit that manic behavior. Unfortunately most of America is really clueless about cooking and food but will believe anything they see on Food Network. Even Giada deLaurentiis has worn me out. I haven't watched that network in a long time - just can't stand the hype. One of the realtors in my office (my second job) who considers herself and her husband to be "serious foodies" will snort at any information from America's Test Kitchen or Jacques Pepin, but proudly discusses all the "yummo" recipes she gets from Rachael Ray.
Really!!
Anyway back to accents - outside of the Shake & Bake commercials, the worst affected southern accents I ever heard were from Olympia Dukakis and Julia Roberts, (strange since she is from Georgia), Tom Skerritt, Dylan McDermott and the two guys who played the Eatonton boys in Steel Magnolias. Today, that is still painful to watch. Funny that Sally Field and Shirley MacLaine's accents were more restrained.
Of course my favorite is that of Miss Sela Ward. Although she had intense training to rid herself of her Mississippi accent, when it slips through, that, combined with her flawless beauty is enchanting!!