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Meghan Markle‘s teaser trailer for her new Netflix series, With Love, Meghan, is a clear dupe of Joanna Gaines’ cooking show, save for the addition of lifestyle tips and celebrity pop-ins. The similarities between the two series are mind-boggling. Did Meghan just rip off the best of Magnolia Table and appropriate the themes for her show?
Meghan Markle models herself as a California version of Joanna Gaines
From the opening moments of the trailer for Meghan Markle’s new cooking and lifestyle show, With Love, Meghan, it is clear that this isn’t an original idea. Additionally, the theme, look, and concept appear to piggyback heavily on Magnolia Network’s Magnolia Table with Joanna Gaines.
How are the shows similar? That’s a loaded question.
Both Meghan and Gaines both offer a clean aesthetic. Gaines’ kitchen is located within an 1800s stone house in Valley Mills, Texas, renovated by Gaines and husband Chip in 2019. The crisp, white kitchen Meghan filmed her series is located in a stunning $8 million farmhouse near Meghan and Harry’s Montecito, California residence.
Per the trailer, it appears Meghan is basing her show on Gaines’ casual chit-chat, with an elevated, can-do cooking style. Additionally, Meghan is seen gathering herbs from a garden, in a style similar to Gaines who has an herb garden outside the stone house and is seen pulling from it regularly during filming.
“We’re not in the pursuit of perfection, we’re in the pursuit of joy,” Meghan says in the trailer. Similarly, Joanna’s show is so laid back in its production approach, that it doesn’t cut away from or edit her mistakes.
“I’ve always loved taking something pretty ordinary and elevating it,” Markle says in the trailer. “Surprising people with moments that let them know I was really thinking of them.”
Joanna Gaines expressed something similar in an Instagram caption to promote her book Magnolia Table Vol. 3: “I’ve learned that cooking can be about one of two things—obsessing over the finished product or enjoying the process. Because even more than the meal, it’s the moments they shape that are worth holding onto.”
Fans had a lot to say about the ‘With Love, Meghan’ trailer
Viewers of the YouTube trailer for Netflix’s With Love, Meghan were downright snarky in the comments section of the clip. On the other hand, there is no opportunity for remarks on Meghan’s Instagram page as commentary is turned off.
“This trailer inspired me to elevate my oats by putting them in a jar, with a shiny ribbon and a sparkly label. Likewise, I took a picture of it in a basket of bananas. My husband said I did it better than those born to do it. I’m so joyful, an inspiration, a giggling sensation,” joked one viewer.
“It looks all very ordinary. Furthermore, everything about her is contrived and fake. This isn’t even her kitchen or house. And that cake can be purchased in any bakery section in a grocery store! C’mon Netflix. Stop insulting your subscribers,” a second commentator penned.
A third person wrote, “For someone who complained nonstop about ‘living in a fishbowl,’ she sure does invite people to tap on the glass an awful lot.”
Finally, a fourth person slammed Meghan and the show, writing, “So authentic, so organic, so vapid, so very yesterday. People are having issues with buying food, and she’s color-coordinating flowers to match the decor and her clothes. Stone deaf.”
Meghan’s Joanna Gaines-like series will likely generate tons of interest and get renewed
The likely scenario for Meghan Markle’s Netflix series will be that it will wildly popular due to viewer interest alone. That could allow the streaming service to renew the series whether or not it has legs to stand on as a cooking show.
As Prince Harry and Meghan’s Netflix contract was set to expire in 2025, With Love, Meghan, is likely the shot in the arm the couple needs to perhaps extend or renew their contract with the streaming service. As they have not had much success with most of the projects they previously developed, save for the docuseries Harry & Meghan, this cooking show could be their lifeline.
However, if it fails, Meghan and Harry lose out on a huge payday. They reportedly received $100M upon signing with Netflix in 2020 and a renewal could come in much higher if Meghan’s show is a hit.
With Love, Meghan is set to debut on Netflix on Jan. 15, 2025.
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