Oprah To End Show In 2011- Page 2

[Q]

Posted: 11/20/09 at 10:51pm

"mock emotion"

That's a bit of a tricky analysis. What's your basis?

[bdwaygirl]

Posted: 11/20/09 at 11:18pm

I worked from home today, but couldn't be bothered to watch "the announcement". I was all announced out from it being all over every news source since last night. Good riddance.

[Q]

Posted: 11/20/09 at 11:28pm

The overt negativity is fascinating to me. Are there things to question about her presentation, especially in the last few years? Undoubtedly. But, even at her worst (in some eyes, at least) what was so terrible about what she brought to the world?

And, more to the point of all the backlash, what's it to be replaced with? Yet another 'judge' presiding over complete imbeciles? Or yet another 'reality' competition over something that wouldn't matter anyway, even if it were 'real'?

Honestly, I fail to see how she has earned such vociferous antipathy. Call her vain, call her opportunistic, call her manipulative - but at what point did her output cross some line of vulgarity that makes people seem to be willing to want ANYTHING in her place?
Updated On: 11/20/09 at 11:28 PM

[bdwaygirl]

Posted: 11/20/09 at 11:48pm

I've never cared all that much for her to begin with.

[Q]

Posted: 11/20/09 at 11:58pm

Girly - ok, but why does that seem to translate into other people shouldn't enjoy what she does? I've looked through the magazine - yes, the one with her ALWAYS on the cover - and it's full of encouragement and hope. If that doesn't reach everyone (what does?) why do some feel that she just shouldn't have a voice at all?

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 11/21/09 at 12:13am

You've articled something I've thought about for a while now, Q. I'm rather ambivalent towards her, but I've always erred on the side of giving her a break. For a bagizillionaire who HAS to some degreed conquered the world, I think she could be a lot more annoying. I think she does have maybe a titch of a god complex, but you know what, I've seen her do more good for humanity than I've ever seen god do. Yeah, there's often a circus around stuff she gives her money to, but I always assume she's giving a lot of money to things we don't hear about as well.

Surprisngly enough, I didn't really realize how much antipathy she engendered until I moved to Chicago. Everyone I know here HATES her.

I'm sure by this point she does have mixed feelings about leaving the show.

I just think more power to her. She's a middle-aged African American woman who came from what seem like Color Purple-esque beginnings. She's made an inconceivable amount of money with a level of fame to match it. I've never ONCE heard her attribute her success to Jesus.

I think sometimes people take issue with her followers, and I agree anyone who's all invested in listening to Oprah to know how to live pretty much reaps what she or he sows. But I think that about anything that people live by, whether it's a belief in god, or yoga or veganism or whatever. There are bad apples in every bunch.

Whatever she does, I believe it's authentic, even is she just kind of ridiculous. I think she's earned it. If I was Oprah I would care what I think. I, Phyllis, that is. About I as Oprah.

Whenever I think of Oprah, I think of one episode I caught a few years ago. It's the kind of story that haters will say proves their point, but I just thought it was really funny. I think they were showing her screening Dreamgirls in the little cinema at the Harpo compound. She wasn't acting all egomanical about anything, but when she got to the screening room, someone was sitting in her chair. And she simply said, hey, that's my chair. And the chair was vacated so quickly. But if I got to watch a sneak of Dreamgirls in MY own cinema at my tv compound I'd want to sit in my effing chair, too.



Updated On: 11/21/09 at 12:13 AM

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 11/21/09 at 12:16am

PS - I tried to find on YouTube, but failed, but has anyone ever seen the Crank Yankers where Sarah Silverman played a phone operator for O Magazine (or just Oprah?). I thought it was hilarious.

[Q]

Posted: 11/21/09 at 12:16am

Ultimately, I just have to ask about the perceived public harm? What is it? That's what I would see as generating this kind of antipathy - and I just don't see the harm.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 11/21/09 at 12:19am

I don't know. Whenever I think of anyone who takes Oprah seriously I think of some 80s housewife. I guess there's a stereotype of a woman who LIVES by Oprah or whatever, but I don't think I've ever really seen one. I always thought they were a sitcom convention that was made up.

Now the bitch DID inflict Dr. Phil upon us, so I will grant her haters that.
Updated On: 11/21/09 at 12:19 AM

[Q]

Posted: 11/21/09 at 12:29am

Ha!

But you know, even for those women, she's provided a source of hope and inspiration to achieve.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 11/21/09 at 12:30am

She's like the Vesta Rose Employment Agency in She-Devil.

[poeticmelody]

Posted: 11/22/09 at 10:52pm

I'm a single african american young adult, so maybe not really the stereotypical viewer but I've watched Oprah for 6 years and there have been incredible episodes of Oprah in those 6 years that I don't LIVE by but I have learned some new things, have been inspired by others, and simply entertained by others. I will definitely miss the show. I have to admit, I teared up a bit when she made the announcement but I'm not going to lie, 2 seasons ago I was talking to my mother about how I had to take a few months break from watching Oprah because her shows were getting redundant. I guess after 25 years that's what happens. So I guess I'll be buying that 20th Anniversary DVD and call it a day.