Sammi Turano “Influential Women in Entertainment” Popular Taste of TV Cookbook Hits Record Sales
Sammi Turano dreamed of being a journalist since she was a little girl and watching ladies like Leeza Gibbons, Murphy Brown and Barbara Walters on TV. She loved the idea of reporting (and wearing pretty dresses!) and would often imitate these ladies in games of pretend. Several years later, that dream became a reality. After four years of studying journalism and political science at The College of New Rochelle and interning for major politicians and journalists (including Geraldo Rivera), she was given the opportunity of a lifetime to work in her chosen field. Working for TV Grapevine began as a twice a week job recapping So You Think You Can Dance and America’s Got Talent. Before long, she was recapping other shows and interviewing big name celebrities on a regular basis.
This led to set visits, red carpet events and eventually becoming a member of The Critics Choice Association. She has attended the sets many shows, including Psych, Suits and Red Band Society and been a red carpet correspondent for Big Brother, America’s Got Talent, Celebrity Apprentice, the Critics Choice Awards and many other events. Each event holds a special place in her heart and allowed her to meet many interesting, diverse people from all walks of life.
What do Jerry Springer, Geraldo Rivera and the Real Housewives all have in common? They were all interviewed and featured on TVGrapevine.com over the past fifteen years. TV Grapevine is an entertainment news site run by Sammi Turano. The site features news on celebrities, entertainment, life and everything in between. To celebrate Sammi’s fifteenth anniversary with the site, she has decided to combine her love of journalism and cooking to make Taste of TV, a cookbook/memoir based on her adventures as a journalist.
The cookbook is divided into three parts: dinner, drinks and desserts. The recipes are simple, sassy and sweet . . . and have been a part of her family for many years. Each recipe is based on a show she recapped, an interview she conducted or an experience she had over the years….and also tell a story connecting back to where it all began . . . her family.
2026 began with challenges. Tell us about your experience.
2026 certainly has been a challenge so far! I recently had laparoscopic surgery to remove uterine, cervical and ovarian fibroids, as well as my left ovary and fallopian tubes, along with a uterus scraping for endometrial issues.
I had been struggling with health issues for quite some time and it was a relief to finally get some answers. I hadn’t planned on speaking about it publicly, but once I began thinking about it, I wanted to use my social media as a platform to help other ladies in my situation who were struggling with similar issues.
I also wanted to help people in general who have health issues and aren’t getting answers. I wanted them to know it is okay to get second, third and fourth opinions and not stop asking questions.
It took me a long time to figure out what was happening and luckily, I finally found a team of doctors at Penn Highlands in PA who listened and took my concerns seriously.
You have one of the most popular entertainment platforms out there. What can we find on TV Grapevine?
On TVGrapevine you can find reviews and recaps of TV shows and movies, reviews of my favorite products, celebrity interviews and all things entertainment!
Who have you enjoyed interviewing?
So many people! I’ve been doing this for eighteen years so it is hard to pick just one, so I’ll narrow it down by category: Movies: Gary Oldman. TV: Betty White. Athletes: Apolo Ohno. Music: Bret Michaels. Author: Gemma Halliday.
To celebrate your fifteenth anniversary with the site, you decided to combine your love of journalism and cooking to make Taste of TV, a cookbook/memoir based on her adventures as a journalist. Take us through your cookbook.
Taste of TV was a bucket list of mine on my 40 by 40 list. I always dreamed of writing a book and was always writing. I had so many ideas for books, but nothing was working out.
I was discussing it with my mom one day and told her I wanted to do something based on my career. She suggested I do a cookbook based on my career (using recipes based on significant TV shows, movies and events I covered during my career) because I also love to cook and am always making food for people.
I loved this idea and began going through family recipes, diaries I kept throughout my career and of course, old interviews and stories and combined them all to come up with the book, which I published two years ago!
I am currently in the middle of writing my second book, which has more stories and family recipes, along with a new, special theme!
I also have plans for several more books, so stay tuned!
Do you have a favorite dish?
I love Italian food! I’d say any kind of Parmesan dish (veal, eggplant, chicken) is among my favorites, but my all time favorite is linguine and clam sauce. I’ve loved it since my friend Alisa’s mom made it when I was over for dinner in fourth grade and I’ve been trying to make mine just as good as hers ever since!
When you aren’t interviewing your favorite celebrities what do you enjoy doing?
I also work as a personal trainer, which o absolutely love! I have amazing clients who make me so proud every day and I love helping them reach their goals and making a difference in their lives.
I also love being an auntie! I have two goddaughters and a nephew and love them to pieces! My best friend’s daughter (sister to my oldest goddaughter) also considers me an auntie and I love her to bits as well!
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