Before we wrap up the story of the evolution of the Grocery Ads, a short quiz for the diehard fans of the show:
Question One: Who is Chloe?
Question Two: What is Marie’s favorite meal?
Question Three: What is Marie’s signature dish? (Hint–she was deeply saddened that the stockpiled batch in the freezer was lost during Hurricane Isaac.)
If you know the answers (or want to take a few guesses) please post your responses in the comment section below, or answer by commenting on Facebook. Marie will reveal the quiz answers on the show airing March 22nd, so tune in to hear if you are correct! If anyone does get all three questions right, Marie will announce your name as the winner.
So… how DID the dynamic duo of Melinda and Marie sharing the reading of the Grocery Ads become the singular show “Makin’ Groceries with Marie”?
After a few years of delighting listeners with their effervescent delivery of food prices, Marie decided to fly solo when partner Melinda was offered the chance to write a column and work as a freelance reporter for the Times-Picayune. We all wondered–how would the show work without a second viewpoint on shopping and cooking? What unexpected new surprises did Marie have in store for us?
As it turned out, there was no need to wonder whether the Grocery Ads would remain as entertaining as before, since Marie had a few tricks up her sleeve. First of all, she began telling a joke every week (usually involving bumbling Cajuns Boudreaux and Thibodeaux and their lovely wives–and since Marie is from Morgan City, she’s earned the right to tell Cajun jokes.) She also began to share more personal stories about growing up in the country: heartfelt memories of her mother’s cooking, and funny tales of her family and friends. When springtime comes, her love for gardening shines through when she describes her flower and herb garden. We can all relate to the stories of her kitchen successes and catastrophes, and every pet owner gets a kick out of hearing the adventures of her beloved West Highland White Terrier. She’s a diehard LSU and Saints fan, and offers plenty of tips on throwing a great Superbowl or tailgate party. Essentially, we the audience became Marie’s new partner, and the response was overwhelmingly positive. Our listeners love her warmth and her infectious laugh, salivate over her descriptions of family holiday celebrations, and appreciate the special “after Thanksgiving” show dedicated to creative ways to use leftovers. Who knew how many ways there were to use up day-old turkey? Her fans also participated in a “joke drive” when WRBH sent out a plea for some fresh jokes for Marie to tell on the show (in fact, the offer still stands: send us some funny and CLEAN jokes by emailing them to jackie@wrbh.org and Marie will tell them on air and give you the credit.)
Simply put, there are a hundred wonderful reasons to join the dedicated folks tuning in to 88.3 on Fridays at noon, and we know that finding the best bargain in the store is just one of them. Give the Grocery Ads a listen, and we can promise you’ll be just as delighted by the other ninety-nine.
