The TV talker's got a new buddy!

Just In: VALERIE BERTINELLI has been tapped to be the first "Celebrity Buddy" for the "RACHAEL RAY" show! The famous JENNY CRAIG client will work to develop segments reflecting her interests as a working mom. Her first appearance airs Tuesday, October 23.

In her first segement, the actress travels to New Orleans for a girls' guide to the gridiron at a "Monday Night Football" game. She also heads to the New York studio to show off her cooking skills.

Rachael herself couldn't be more excited about the new addition. "Valerie is the girlfriend and neighbor you wish you had," she says. "She lives her life with the same passion that our viewers do. It is really exciting for me to have her as our 'correspondent extraordinaire.'"