Oprah's Final Show

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 5/25/11 at 5:16pm

What a beautiful farewell. Very odd to know something that I've seen for the majority of my life is over...

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 5/25/11 at 6:20pm

That's how I felt when The Facts of Life went off the air.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 5/25/11 at 6:31pm

And like Oprah, Natalie struggled everyday with her weight and overcoming abuse.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 5/25/11 at 6:50pm

I wish Natalie would get her own network!

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 5/25/11 at 7:16pm

NGN The Natalie Green Network. It will feature shows focusing on things important to REAL women - Weight management, losing their virginity and snakes.

[CapnHook]

Posted: 5/25/11 at 9:51pm

Her final show was beautiful. Dignified. Simple. Oprah.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 5/25/11 at 9:54pm

She couldn't finish out the week?!





Quitter

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 5/25/11 at 9:57pm

She said she'd be too emotional after American Idol tonight to continue the week.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 5/25/11 at 10:13pm

I thought it was a very fitting end, though it was quite similar to her Master Class (which is actually re-airing right now on OWN).

[misschung]

Posted: 5/26/11 at 6:59pm

I want to know what it feels like to be Oprah. As an African American woman, to overcome so many obstacles and to handle yourself with grace, generosity, and dignity, all while changing the history of television -- that must feel really f-ing good.

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 5/26/11 at 8:25pm

I do like Oprah, but I also feel she's given many unhealthy messages to people over the years. She's incredibly out of touch with reality and what people struggle with. Also, if she, who has access to every resource in the world, can't maintain a healthy weight and self esteem, what exactly is she demonstrating for viewers.

That being said, I still respect her and appreciate her achievements.

[misschung]

Posted: 5/26/11 at 8:46pm

See, I think that she's incredibly in touch with what people struggle with - maybe not ALWAYS, but in most of the shows I've seen she's very down to earth.

Regarding the weight thing - she's a real person. She has an issue - it doesnt mean that she has no self esteem, she just has a weight problem. Plenty of celebrities with equally ample resources have struggled with addiction and a myriad of other vices - why is she any different?

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 5/26/11 at 9:07pm

I think she is different because her words have power-she discusses this concept all the time on her show. However, if you watch her "After The Show" program, she uses "fat talk" quite a bit when discussing herself.

She also has a tremendous amount of power (more than other celebrities with vices) and has an almost deity-like devotion from her fans. For her to pretend she is just a mere woman is denying her power and privilege.

Also, her magazines and much of her programming can be classist at times and promotes materialism.

She has done more good than ill, but I am critical of her, same as I would be of anyone in power.

[misschung]

Posted: 5/27/11 at 12:09pm

I understand what you mean. I'm by no means an Oprah fanatic, and I think we can both agree she's done lots of good but is far from perfect. Everyone's entitled to their OWN opinion, ha!

I'm still mad at her for not doing a 'favorite things' episode for librarians

[uncageg]

Posted: 5/27/11 at 2:43pm

Well put Betty. That's pretty much how I feel about her also. I stopped watching her years ago. One episode that annoyed me was when she went shopping at target and acted as if she didn't know "this kind of store" existed. Everything was "so cute" and "look at that". This in a store that a lot of her viewers most likely shop in and she made it feel kind of "beneath" her. Meanwhile she talks about how she struggled and how she couldn't afford clothes she wanted and had to shop at bargain places.

I know the entertainment shows don't cover theater but it annoyed me that in all the years she has been on, she pandered to Hollywood and the music industry but hardly ever to Broadway. And then og course she does a whole show on The Color Purple - The Musical and even at one point referred to it as her show.

I know she lost a lot of African American viewers. No, she was not put on tv to cater to the African Americans but at the time the community was excited to see someone black on their own talk show. Then over the years people on her show get their own TV shows and not one of them, if I am correct, is a person of color.

Yes, she has done more good than ill, but I just lost interest when she became "The Oprah". Just my random thoughts.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 5/27/11 at 3:16pm

uncageg, correction, Oprah was grooming Iyanla to have her own show, until she (Iyanla) bailed and went with someone else (that was discussed in a 2-part episode on Oprah with Iyanla).

I ran hot and cold with her over the years. I definitely enjoyed watch her master class again a couple of nights ago.

I also enjoyed watching Oprah - Behind the Scenes on Sunday evenings. It's ironic because some of her producers came off as prima dona's, whereas Oprah appeared very down to earth.

Updated On: 5/27/11 at 03:16 PM

[uncageg]

Posted: 5/27/11 at 3:33pm

Oh, she showed the clip of the apology on the final show. (I did watch the last 2 shows) Since I wasn't watching, I missed all of that when it happened.

[StockardFan]

Posted: 5/27/11 at 4:20pm

I thought the last show was sort of boring and sermon-like.

[brdlwyr]

Posted: 5/27/11 at 4:29pm

Stockard - I thought the exact same thing! I was actually a little offended and shut off the tv because of boredom! And, I am a long time fan.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 5/27/11 at 9:42pm

One episode that annoyed me was when she went shopping at target and acted as if she didn't know "this kind of store" existed. Everything was "so cute" and "look at that". This in a store that a lot of her viewers most likely shop in and she made it feel kind of "beneath" her. Meanwhile she talks about how she struggled and how she couldn't afford clothes she wanted and had to shop at bargain places.

I love Oprah, but this I actually agree with. I remember this episode and it was extremely uncomfortable and awkward to watch.

It reminded me of the time George Bush 1 was in a grocery store and made the comment about "those nifty new scanners" at the checkout.
Updated On: 5/27/11 at 09:42 PM

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 5/27/11 at 9:45pm

But in her defense, when was the last time Oprah could actually go into a Target? Or a grocery store or an anything store? We build these people up and make them so famous that they have no choice but to eventually lose some touch with what normal, everyday people do even if at the same time, they try to keep themselves as normal and grounded as possible.

[StockardFan]

Posted: 5/28/11 at 8:55am

The whole conception of Oprah speech was a little creepy.

[uncageg]

Posted: 5/28/11 at 10:57am

Stockard, I agree that it was sermon-like.

Jordan, I am sure they lose some touch but, to me, she just acted like she didn't even know the place existed and I would bet they at some point were involved in one of her many giveaways.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 5/28/11 at 11:01am

Oh, I have no doubt you're right. And let me say I am in no way an Oprah fanatic. I just think as a "celebrity" she's done such a tremendous amount of good in her life so far that a little nitpicking about "well she didn't seem too 'normal' that one time she went to that store..." is a bit unfair. I'm sure she knows what Target is but I wouldn't bet against her never having actually been IN a Target store.

And I can tell you that if it were my first time in that store, I'd be amazed as well. C'mon, Target is amazing.

[uncageg]

Posted: 5/28/11 at 11:09am

I just used the Target show as one example. Not nitpcking. Yes, again, I agree she has done a lot of good, I am just not a fan anymore.

And yes, Target is amazing.