Ricki Lake was a daytime tabloid talk show hosted by U.S. actress Ricki Lake. The show specialized in sensationalist topics involving invited guests and incorporated questions and comments from a studio audience.

The show debuted in syndication on September 13, 1993 and ended first-run episodes on May 25, 2004 (although its final airing in syndication was on August 27, 2004, a rerun episode). The show was renewed for the 2004-2005 TV season, but Lake decided not to continue with the show, opting to spend more time with her family. Sony did not issue any comments when the show was canceled.

In October 2005 Broadcasting & Cable magazine reported that Lake might return to do a 'new' version of her show. A source said it would be a surprise if there wasn't a deal struck by October, 2005. If it were to have happened, it would have likely debuted in September 2006. Ricki 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 wouldn't be a show.

In 1994, the show was nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Talk Show Host, but Oprah won the award. Other awards the show has garnered includes the Gracie Allen Award, PRISM Certificates & Commendations, and many more.

Ricki Pamela Lake (born September 21, 1968) is an American actress and tabloid talk show host, perhaps best known for her long-running Ricki Lake talk show and starring in the original version of the film Hairspray.

Ricki Lake was born in Hastings-on-Hudson, NY, surprisingly as a blond. She has one sister, who is one year younger than, her named Jennifer. Her father, Barry, is a pharmacist and her mother, Jill, is a homemaker. The two currently reside in Las Vegas, Nevada. Ricki attended Hastings Elementary as a child, then on to Farragut Middle, and then attended Hastings High, for two years. At the end of her sophomore year, she transferred to The Professional Children's School, in NYC, to focus on perfecting her craft as an actress. Also, Ricki began singing professionally at the age of nine, in cabarets and clubs. After finishing high school, she attended Ithaca College for one year. During final exams of her freshman year, she received a call from her agent, telling her to audition for the lead in a John Waters (I) film. Unsurprisingly, she landed the role as "Tracy Turnblad". Thus, Hairspray (1988) marked the movie debut for Ricki Lake. She then went on to act in fifteen more movies and a recurring role in ABC's "China Beach" (1988), for one season. Although, at one point in her life, she hit rock-bottom. Then, she decided to take charge of her life and make a dramatic change. She began eating right and exercising and soon lost over 125 lbs. In 1993, she was chosen, out of a hundred people, to host her own daytime talk show. After only three years, "Ricki Lake" (1993) has successfully been rated second, in its time frame. Also, in 1993, she met the man of her dreams. At a Halloween party, she locked eyes with her current husband, Rob Sussman, a political illustrator. It was love-at-first sight, on both ends. The two married in Las Vegas in March of 1994 and are currently residing in Manhattan.