Paula Deen: The Life of Paula's Party

She's the best-known hostess in Savannah. Paula Deen's restaurant, the Lady and Sons, draws people from all over the world to the Coastal Empire. She's written books, has her own magazine and cooks up a storm on the Food Network.

Her newest show is back for a second season and Paula's Party is always full of surprises.

With a bright, "Hi y'all!" Paula Deen makes her entrance on the set, resplendent in bright pink, and an even brighter smile. The audience claps wildly. Savannah's favorite lady throws the party of the year, every week. Having a live studio audience makes it all the more exciting.

"The addition of the audience is like taking an electric outlet and plugging me in," explained Deen. "They just pass on this love and excitement to me. I can't help but to have a good time."

Her guests are having just as much fun, eating up the second season of Paula's Party with as much enjoyment as her Southern home cooking.

"Her sense of humor," said Savannah resident Gloria Cirincione. "She's full of life. She's just a fun person."

"I'm just a big fan," said Jonnie Supnet from Stockton, California, who brought his wife, Marcela, an Army specialist, to the show. "I love to watch her on TV."

The idea for Paula's Party was born when a TV crew, taping her cooking school at the Lady and Sons, saw how much fun her students were having.

"They saw this and said, 'My gosh, Paula! This is a show!'" she said.

"Paula's Party" has a new, more elegant look this year with rich blue curtains and chandeliers. A full studio television crew tapes the show at Uncle Bubba's Restaurant on Whitemarsh Island, which is owned by her brother.

For Paula, it is more than just a TV show with special guests. It really is a party and you never know who's going to show up next. Today, Queer Eye for the Straight Guy's Carson Kressley, brought his high-energy and Shoofly Pie recipe to the show.

"It's just like Macy's in here!" he said, mugging for the food-preparation camera mounted on the ceiling. "There are cameras everywhere!"

"Carson is so over the top, he almost takes my breath away," said Paula. "Usually, I'm the big kidder and joker and he leaves me standing in the dust, honey!"

Later in the show, Paula showed actor/director Henry Winkler, best known for his role as "The Fonz" on Happy Days, how to make chicken-fried steak for his wife.

"I've spent the day with the Fonz!" said Paula. "That's like saying you've spent the day with Lucille Ball!"

Steven Schirripa, from The Sopranos, also stopped by to make his eggplant parmigiana, which the entire studio audience will enjoy. The most memorable guests, though, for Paula, are the ones closest to her heart: her family.

"It's like the best of the best. I have a very close family," she said. "We all like to be around together. We truly, truly love one another and enjoy being in each other's company so I'm a blessed woman."

For Paula Deen, the food is just the icing on the cake. She wants us all to realize it's all about making time for the ones you love.

"It's so important to gather with your family," she added, "to gather with your friends and laugh and have a good time."

Which is something no one proves that better than Paula Deen.

To find out how you can be part of the Paula's Party studio audience, click here:

http://pauladeen.com/http/fntv_part.html

Reported by: Liz Flynn, lflynn@wtoc.com