[1][2][3][4] The show specialized in sensationalist topics involving invited guests and incorporated questions and comments from a studio audience.

In 1992, television producers Garth Ancier and Gail Steinberg conceived the idea of a talk show that targeted young adults.

[10] Ancier claimed that Jane's production company, 20th Century Fox, liked the show's format although not Pratt as host.

[8] Over 100 women auditioned for the role and the finalists included Veronica Webb, Melissa Rivers, and Ricki Lake.

[13] During the series' run, its primary focus was on dealing with personal subjects like parenting skills (including single mothers who are accused of having the lack of experience of taking care of children), romantic relationships (both marital and non-marital), LGBT issues (like discrimination, same-sex couples who want to have children or straight people attracted to a person who is LGBT or the other way around), racism and prejudice (even within their own race and gender), interracial relationships, family discord, revealing secrets, and social topics of the day (like money, looking for work or being on welfare).

[14] At times she had lighter shows, ranging from contests (including female impersonators, beauticians, or those who want to prove to others that they do have talent), celebrity guests, and reunions, to granting viewers' personal wishes.

One of Lake's most memorable and controversial confrontations happened during the first season, when she found herself dealing with Reverend Fred Phelps in a show that involved targeting anyone who carries the AIDS virus and why they deserve to die.

[17] The series also experienced controversy after an episode titled "I'm Angry Because People Think I'm Gay" was taped, in which the audience became "increasingly hostile" and made many "inappropriate remarks.

Guests were given an appearance and confidentiality contract to sign and installments were recorded in real-time, which took approximately 80 minutes to complete.

[22] It has been referenced in popular music, such as in the Offspring's "Pretty Fly (For a White Guy)" and the Femme Fatale remix of Britney Spears's "Till the World Ends".

In September 2003, rumors began swirling about the show's demise as Lake was in serious talks to be cast in a 30-minute sitcom for CBS.

[27] On January 21, 2004, The Futon Critic reported that "the show's future remains up in the air" due to the sitcom,[28] and because Lake herself was not in attendance at the convention.

Witnessing 9/11 from the rooftop of her New York City apartment, Lake has stated in several interviews that at that point she knew "I am getting out of my marriage, I am getting out of this show".

On June 27, 2019, Ricki told Rupaul that two days after the attacks, she had to go back and do topics that, although still loving her show, didn't reflect what she wanted her legacy to be.

Lake did not appear at the 2006 NATPE convention to pitch the proposed program to television stations in the United States in January, 2006, only furthering speculation that there would be no show.