Ricki Lake stormed the talk-show arena with an edgy, long-running entry targeting young, mostly female viewers in a conflict-charged atmosphere that led to her being called 'the female Morton Downey Jr.'---by Downey. Topics ranged from the silly ('Drag Makeovers,' 'Weave Wars: The Final Chapter') to the serious ('Exposed: Women & HIV,' 'Kids in Custody') during its Emmy-nominated run.