BSquared mentioned Oprah in another thread and I wondered how eBlahers feel about her. Is she a publicity seeker, does she drive you mad? Do you think she is a terrific person who does a lot of good for many people? Do you think she is condescending? Should she of let Tom Cruise jump all over that lovely lounge?
Tell us what YOU think, don't hold back now.

I used to like Oprah years ago . .but lately she has gone on a crusade to help the world 'Oprah Style' . .too much 'me me me "

I now only peek in to see any good stories she does besides the book club and fat things. . overdone now.

Her expose about the 'bastardisation' in the USA Navy was very good. . there should be more of that instead  . .  and more interesting guests.  

I don't really care, though sometimes I am annoyed.  Sometimes I feel guilty for being annoyed, she appears to be do more than I do but we'de have to comapare percentages of money to be sure though she most certainly activley and physically does more than me.  Funny that I wouldn't propose to compare percentages with anyone else but the thought crossed my head with a high profile person like that.  My wife likes her so I see her show on occasion and it's usually annoying but sometimes entertaining.

I'm still really really really upset that I didn't get a car.   <--That's the smiley for when I can't find just the right one.  It somehow fits better than nothing most of the time.

she's okay but when she makes those jokes that aren't even funny   that is annoying

If you look at how much she earns, and how much she gives away, it wouldn't really be that impressive. Probably equal to a normal $50K a year person sponsering a couple of kids. So really, thats good, but its not as impressive as ppl make it out to be. I think she's very overated. I know of ppl who quietly give away 90% of their income to all kinds of worthy causes...

And if you listen to the gossip, she's apparently a closet lesbian having an affair with her best friend Gayle, and her relationship with Stedman is fake... heh heh!

I asked you not to go there Suzi  

But since you did…I will count the ways she annoys the heck outa me in a moment.  

First let me say that I do admire the fact she dragged her way out of what was clearly a tough upbringing with not a lot of privileges.  For an overweight, black woman (3 strikes baby) to do what she has done in the American media is a damn big achievement and I truly do admire that achievement.

But she still annoys the heck out of me and, regardless of how difficult it is, I avoid her in my life.  I avoid the daytime show, the “specials”, the magazine, the website, the podcast (I’m sure she’ll have one soon if she doesn’t already)...the whole damn lot.

1) Whenever she interviews someone she spends as much or more air time talking about herself as she spends talking about her guest – eg: “How do YOU feel about paparazzi” and before her guest can draw breath she starts in with “…I hate them…let me tell you about the last time they followed ME”.  Frankly I already know too much about her...I might be mildly interested in hearing what her guests have to say once-in-a-while.

2) She has this great need to tell us her every waking movement…”I went shopping here”, “I did this”, “I gave away X dollars to this person”.  All I can think is that she has major insecurity issues to talk about herself so much.  The people I admire do not spend all their time talking about the good they do…they just get out and do good without the bragging.

3) She believes her own publicity and uses her influence & power to the detriment of humanity.  Let’s take Doctor bloody Phil for example.  Did the world need another stupidly-grinning, self-important bloke with a convenient 44 minute answer to every problem ever faced by a human being?  No.  I reckon Oprah spent a day wondering just how far she could push the envelope of people’s stupid, blind acceptance and now she’s laughing at us.  I’d rather believe that than believe she likes that git.

4) She treats her audience like fools…she repeats everything over and over and over again because clearly she thinks they can’t understand a simple concept until it is rammed down their throats.   I don’t think Oprah is stupid….surely she can do her audience the courtesy of treating them as intelligent people.

5) She takes everything personally.  Very personally.  Anyone who says anything critical of her is automatically a racist or sexist.  Can she not accept that some people just aren’t gonna like her?  I have a gay friend who’s the same…if someone doesn’t like him he says they’re homophobic.  I really really really hate that attitude.  Some folks are not gonna like other folks...it doesn't automatically mean it's a hate crime for pity's sake.

They’re my top 5 reasons why I’m not a fan of Oprah (you did ask Suzi).  

I have a longer list but I think that’s enough.  

For today.

And for that I thank you BSquared and others who added their views of Oprah.

Yeah that was a fun read.  Made me smile so I agree with most of it.

And if Oprah truly cared, she would have given me a car  

Quoted from MeanDean

. . . . . And if Oprah truly cared, she would have given me a car  

You want the Tax problems that brought the recipients?. .      .6mth later they all complained about having to pay tax on the cars. . some had to sell them. . .but maybe those people were 'homeless' and could not afford the running costs.  . . it could be a risky thing to do as well . .giving cars away to any 'willy-nilly person.  What if it went to a drunk driver or somebody with no licence?. . or worse still. . to a person in the middle of a messy divorce. .   where property is being split?.  . .( personally I think the whole thing was a *look at me*  stunt but it might have been OK for some who could use the cars as intended.

That's exactly my point.  If someone is going to senselessly throw money around in a look at me stunt that involves a car, and I don't own a car but instead ride around in the car my wife's employer gave her that could be taken from her at any time, then the look at me stunt... well it was a "Look At Me, I Care About People" stunt, so it means that she doesn't care about me.

I forgot about the tax thing.  I could sell it and buy a used car though.  

Edit: Ha, I'm somehow glad that they complained... I need help  

I am so glad I am not alone in my feelings about princess oprah - I made the mistake of saying something anti-oprah in the US once - was lucky to make it out of the room alive - Iim sure they don't all love her but the people I was with behaved as if I'd sacrificed a small child or something.

What about when they receive the gifts on those special days several times a year. It is all self promoting. Oprah would not 'buy' the items she 'gives' away. They would be donated by the companies that make/sell them. Not sure about the cars though but the smaller items definitely. Then she is like a big advertisement/promotion for these products when she is showing these things on her show and giving them away. I do enjoy about 1 in 5 of her shows and will watch it if the subject/guest interests me.


Yes BSquared, they may be allowed to diss one of their own but by golly, don't we dare!

Had to laugh at this mornings news of Oprah . .she promoted a book called " A Million Little Pieces' .on her book club.
The author has since been exposed as a liar. . .she called in to the Larry King Show on air live to defend they guy . .and the lies got worse.

She had him on her show yesterday (USA time) .and then reprimanded him and said she felt 'duped'. . .(well miss Oprah . .piggies with snouts in the trough cannot complain about getting 'shmutz' on their faces)    

About the car incident, every person who was given their car was told in great detail about the tax thing, and what they would have to pay for etc etc... they were given documents to sign to say they understood it and everything, before they were allowed to take their cars. Also, the cars went to ppl nomiated by others who they felt truely deserved a car. The ppl working on the show did a lot of research on each person, to make sure they were geniune.

But it was amazing that Oprah got all the glory when it was Chrysler (I think they were the company) who gave away the cars! It happens every year at Christmas, Oprah appears to 'gives' the audience tens of thousansd worth of free goods, but its really the companies giving their goods away in exchange for advertizing - probably a good trade! Whats a couple hundred thou in goods in exchange for millions of dollars of free advertising on Oprah TV, magazine and internet site?

I agree with BSquared here.  She's too plastic for me to be a fan.

So then, pretty much most of us didn't get a car then  
She should be send them by aircraft.

A friend sent me the link to this Oprah drinking game...made me laugh

http://www.barmeister.com/cgi-bin/game.view.pl?game=303

NOT that I'm condoning binge drinking or anything so don't blame me when you get a hangover  

You could substitute the alcohol with water, soft drink or cordial and it would be almost as funny! The loo would be extra busy.

you could do that Suzi...but the benefit of alcohol is that eventually you fall into a coma and miss the end of the show  

I love Oprah. I think she is a kind, generous, compassionate person. I don't think she is a saint but show me someone who is! She makes mistakes (the Frey incident) but is usually up front about it and tries to make amends. I don't think she personally pay's for all the giveaways/gifts on her show. But, from what I have read she does give away large portions of her own money/wealth. The past christmas (2005) she was in africa financing the building of several schools.

Someone else mentioned Dr Phil and his relationship to/with Oprah. I too am baffled that Oprah had anything to do with that egotistical megalomaniac. He is rude, arrogant and downright spiteful at times. I can't watch his show, he is just too preachy and intimidating. Although people who are not fans of Oprah may see similar traits in her.

I loved her old shows about spirituality (no I'm not religious) and self development/awareness etc. Now a lot of her shows are about celebrities (think jumping Tom lol) and I find them boring and tedious. I wish she would bring back some old guests like Gary Zukov...oh well.

I think that Oprah is probabaly a kind, giving woman who has probabaly been through a lot in her life...but i also think that she should be more modest and humble in the way she helps people.

She always announces every good deed she has done. Perhaps she should keep it to herself, rather than take away the magic of the actual giving process. Its much more satisfying knowing keeping all the good things you have done for someone to yourself, rather than showing it off and feeling false satisfaction from the approval of others.

aww man! i love Oprah! shes the best! she does the best stuff and some of her shows are so touching

Oprah signs $74 million radio deal

February 10, 2006 - 12:27PM

Oprah Winfrey has signed a three-year, $74.5 million deal with XM Satellite Radio Holdings Incorporated to launch a new radio channel beginning in September, Winfrey and XM announced today.

The new channel, Oprah & Friends, will air programming on fitness, health and self-improvement topics with personalities that appear on Winfrey's TV program, The Oprah Winfrey Show, as well as in O, The Oprah Magazine.

It will also feature a weekly radio show with Winfrey and Gayle King.

The deal is a far cry from the $813 million, five-year deal that rival satellite radio broadcaster Sirius Satellite Radio Incorporated has with morning shock jock Howard Stern.

XM also has signed other big programming contracts, including an 11-year, $880 million deal for Major League Baseball.

Winfrey's new channel on XM will feature personalities that appear on her show and in her magazine including Bob Greene, Dr Mehmet Oz, and Nate Berkus.

source: http://www.smh.com.au/news/tv--radio/oprah-signs-74-million-radio-deal/2006/02/10/1139465831613.html

Quoted from Simpson

About the car incident, every person who was given their car was told in great detail about the tax thing, and what they would have to pay for etc etc... they were given documents to sign to say they understood it and everything, before they were allowed to take their cars. Also, the cars went to ppl nomiated by others who they felt truely deserved a car. The ppl working on the show did a lot of research on each person, to make sure they were geniune.  . . . .

That may not be strictly true. .  the audience that day had no clue about the giveaway until they went into the backyard and were told to pick a car.
Once that happened. . with the cameras rolling. . who was going to stand up and say . .'I am concerned about the tax'!. . the element of surprise made for great TV and the people were so distracted by the gift. . most would not have been able to tell you what they signed in the hours following the show. (and the viewers were not shown those mundane details either)

And on top of that, none of us got one of those cars.

Quoted from MeanDean

And on top of that, none of us got one of those cars.

DEAN!!. . move on son!. . get a life!. .

Love her or hate her there is no question that she is the most powerful woman in America as well as having enormous influence worldwide.     Nothing that is given away on Oprah's show would have cost her a cent, to get an endoresement from Oprah is worth millions in sales - to donate a few hundred items compared to the exposure is nothing for any company.    Look at the publicity the cars generated - even those who hate her have made comments about those cars!

Personally I enjoy her shows (except the showbiz ones).  She comes across with true emphathy for the people she interviews, she's been there and she's done that.   Oprah and I are the same age and her success is in her ordinariness (in some ways). She knows what it is like to be fat, she know what it is like to have been abused, to have lost a child, etc. etc. etc.   Younger people may not understand this, but as you get older, you really do appreciate it when someone can understand what you have been through, and Oprah does this and that is why she is so loved.  

Yes there are some things about Oprah that annoy me, but she is idolised and loved in the US. It always amazes me when she has one of her shows where she has hosted some incredibly indulgent event where her party planners have spent obsene amounts of money on flowers, linens, food wine or whatever, but nobody ever ridicules her for this because they know she will spend ten times as much on a worthy cause.

And you know what I love best about her - she is the one mega star who is not afraid to go on TV without any make up and show people what she really looks like, and boy does she look different to that made up marvel we see on the silver screen.

Quoted from Gizmo

DEAN!!. . move on son!. . get a life!. .

If you honestly think I was being serious then you've misinterpreted, which I don't think you have so state your problem or... "Gizmo... shut up woman! .. go attack someone else!"  What's the damn problem that you attack me twice in a 20 minute period of posting?

I think nitpicking about double posting and a** kissing to mods is more indicative of life needing. http://www.ebroadcast.com.au/eblah/b-suggestion/m-1139636965/

Did I upset you because I actually give a rats a** about some things?  Is that it?

Quoted from Gizmo

DEAN!!. . move on son!. . get a life!. .

Quoted from MeanDean "If you honestly think I was being serious then you've misinterpreted, which I don't think you have so state your problem or... "Gizmo... shut up woman! .. go attack someone else!"  What's the damn problem that you attack me twice in a 20 minute period of posting?

I think nitpicking about double posting and a** kissing to mods is more indicative of life needing. http://www.ebroadcast.com.au/eblah/b-suggestion/m-1139636965/

Did I upset you because I actually give a rats a** about some things?  Is that it?"

Calm down peoples....

I found no ill will in what Gizmo wrote Dean. I did get that she was being humorous. I think there was a misunderstanding. Remember when you were stuck on big windmill thingies? I didn't see the post in suggestions about double posting. I have however been chasing my tail trying to sort out what is and isn't a double post because people should take the time to do a search before beginning a thread. It makes the forum less cluttered and easier to search.

Maybe you're right.  I'm not sure at the moment but I apologise if that's the case Gizmo.  

I really wanted to clarify by private message but didn't want to wait a whole day to get an answer but the more I looked at it the more it looked malicious.

I'm sorry you got upset. . it was not intended that way at all . . the Oprah car thing made me laugh so hard. .  .  I wondered if you get about on a moped and REALLY needed a car. . sorry MD. . it was not meant to offend at all. . sorry!. .

No Gizmo, it's my fault.  I thought you were sick of hearing my stupidity and thought you weren't joking and the smiley was laughing at me in relation to get a life and I felt really stupid after I examined it later on and realised I might have gotten it wrong.  So I apologise... and for referancing the other post too... I thought that was funny (the link I put in) when I first saw it but got offensive and pulled that out of the air after it stuck in my head.

The   is mine

AND I WILL FIGHT FOR THE  ! <---I'm sorry if it's too soon for lame jokes, hopefully it isn't.

It is never too soon for lame jokes. . .I got one now!. . off topic a bit but here it is. . .

Holy roller preacher goes visiting different churches across the Bible belt of USA. . .on the wall of one church he sees a large gold phone that has a sign . .'Call Direct to You Know Who. . $10,000. . .he is impressed by the opportunity.
Next church he visits has the same gold phone and the sign says the same thing. . call for $10,000.

He comes to Australia and visits a church in Sydney where the same Gold Phone is on the wall. . .he is stunned!. . the sign next to this phone says 'Make Your Direct Call Here. . . $0.50c . . .he askes the pastor why such a price and he is told. .

It is only a local call!.    

I'm reluctant to say how I really feel about Oprah because I get the feeling it may be a cutting down a tall poppy thing on my behalf!  She does annoy me a lot...always has.  I think it is great that she "supposedly" helps people (although she has never helped me!   *Hmmmph* but like someone said she seems to be very self-promoting...she brags about the good she does which also bothers me...and she is such a name dropper!  But hey...she has worked hard to get where she is now I guess...she has battled so many prejudices and really when you are Oprah Winfrey you would never know if people truly liked you for you or for what you can do for them??  

arr don't worry about the "tall Poppy " theory ...i've never seen her in this light anyway ...
just someone who's an complete over reactive idiot, and continues to COMPLETELY suck in vunerable Americans with all this emotional s**t ! ( and obviously mainly woman ) ( YOU WANT EMOTIONS ..YOU GOT EM )    

I am soo embarrased for these people!!

* she has the fakest laugh i've ever heard of
* her body language tells me half the time she cant wait for the guest's story to be over with ,so she can go on about " her own experiences of exactly the same thing as the guest's story.
* these diets and walks she keeps doing drive me mental - then in 2 weeks , she's put it all on again.
* she's so tight infact , she ......COULD"NT EVEN GIVE 'MEAN DEAN' A CAR !
* she promotes everything in that typical American HYPE way... anything what so ever ..gaawwd ! drives me mental - can't they see the light of day ? ( actually, i dont think most yanks can - it's the country's style to do things this way )     ..like one big motivational Amway Family really !
* she always try's to sound far too inspirational with everything - ( a snail get's walked over and killed ! - ohh lets make a overly sad video of it & and a splash of soppy music behind it ..(this should get everyone unnaturally worked up over it )

  

I like Oprah, I think she has a genuine warmth about her although, I have to agree with those who say she goes on about how much money she has and how much she gives away. If I were a billionaire, I don't think I'd feel the need to let everyone know when I have donated money.
That said, I think does a lot of good.

I get the feeling when watching her though that she is very insincere...like Mal said you can literally see her impatiently waiting for her guest to stop talking so she can talk about her...it's like "enough about you...let's talk about me!"

  I personally think Oprah could do a lot more 'do-gooding' if she would just shut up.  I agree with the posts that she is fake and insincere.  She should take her millions and let someone else make some money.  Oh, sorry, I forgot, she needs to buy her dogs gold collars.
Saw a show the other day where she and GAYle went to a health spa.  She told the world all of GAYle's stats (how much she weighs, body fat, that sort of thing) but the only thing she gave away is that her body is 39% fat.   I don't think I needed a whole episode of Oprah to tell me that.
  Also, she has some sort of creepy, unnatural crush on that designer guy, Nate.  Hello?  Did Oprah get the memo that he's GAY!

Personally, I rekon she only gives away about the same amount as a generous middle class American. The difference is the amount of zero's on the end. Yes she gives away millions, but she also makes billions. If you sat down and did the math, she probably only gives away about 10% of what she makes. That is nice, but certainly not worth broadcasting! I have heard of businessmen who give away 90% of their income - now THAT is worth talking about!

Not really. If I was a billionaire, I would happily give away 90% of my income to worthy causes and I'm sure a lot of other people would do the same.

Is it true that Oprah has only 5 years to live? Some womans magazine TV ad (Womans Day or New Idea) that is currently running has it as it's lead story.

It's a load of crap Newfan. Not true just a twist on words and reality to sell magazines! Just google her name and see what comes up in 'latest news' on her. OMG if it were true it would be plastered all over the media!
I watched a repeat ep of her show yesterday and they did a CT scan of her heart and she 'has the heart of a 19 year old' the specialist said.

Quoted from SuziH

she 'has the heart of a 19 year old'

Oprah needs a specialist who won't tell her everything she wants to hear.

Quoted from Newfan

Is it true that Oprah has only 5 years to live? Some womans magazine TV ad (Womans Day or New Idea) that is currently running has it as it's lead story.

I was going to say something about that actually, but didn't. It was a very poor story. All it did was say Oprah MAY have 5 years to live, based on her yo yo dieting and stressful life. There was hardly any mention of her in the story, would you believe! It was more about how diet, lack of exercise and hectic lives can all reduce our life span - duh! who didn't already know that?!

I like Oprah but only because of her charity work, which I don't think she should hide. I think it helps if she talks about it, it encourages others to donate as well. I also don't have a problem with her talking about her own money. I don't think that kind of thing should be taboo and she does set a great example for women (about being independant).

However, I think she's so far removed from your average person now that she can't connect on other issues. Despite what she's been through in her childhood, she still seems to be quite naive about a lot of things. And I have a HUGE problem with her owning dogs. She has no freakin' idea how to look after dogs. She hires people to look after them, she is completely ignorant on how to train and socialise them, she buys them from extremely disreputable people and because she's rich and her dogs seem to live in the lap of luxury, everyone thinks she's the world's best dog owner. Which she isn't.

Anyway...am I a fan? Not really, but I respect her...even in spite of her stupidity towards my favourite animal.

Cass.

Quoted from Cassiepeia

I like Oprah but only because of her charity work, which I don't think she should hide.
Cass.

Oprah does anything but hide her charity work, infact she makes entire shows out of it. Dont get me wrong its good to increase awareness which is what she is doing, but she does toot her own horn a little too often

Too true.

I pretty much lose respect towards anybody who brags about their "charity work".

i can't stand the woman! i never watch shows like hers since mike walsh left(showing me age now). i prefer to watch days of our lives than oprah! to much saga on will she lose weight or put it on and how much she gets in a year. waste of air time.

I lost it with Oprah when she started to say it was her 'mission in life' to do good deeds for those less fortunate than herself.  She now sees herself as 'Gods gift to humanity' and it undermines her credibility, especially as she has no clue what Gods purpose is. She is deciding for herself what, when, how she does good work. They are all her ideas and God has nothing to do with them.

I watch about 10% of her shows now. Only if they don't have her espousing her charities and her goodness do I watch it. Only when she has serious important issues like missing children, paedophiles, school murders, health issues and stuff like that do I watch it. I did see recently two of the best shows ever though of hers. One had Seal (the singer) and his beautiful wife Heidi Klum on it. What a beautiful couple. This man is super sexy and english and loves his wife and children to bits. A couple of others were on as well including Stevie Wonder and his wife although Stevie didn't appear in the studio. All wonderful couples talking about their love and family and marriages. It was just so inspiring. The other show was last week when Jerry Seinfeld was on being interviewed about his new movie called "Bee Movie" an animated movie which looks like so much fun. I love how gooey Jerry is around his beautiful wife. Those shows are the one's I enjoy the most on Oprah.

Quoted from SuziH

. . . . .  The other show was last week when Jerry Seinfeld was on being interviewed about his new movie called "Bee Movie" an animated movie which looks like so much fun. . . .  

I have seen some promos for this movie. It may get its own thread around here soon 'coz it looks like a great fun film.  

I like her, I guess. No strong feelings negative or positive.

Oprah is just a polished professional and I have to admire her for her achievements.  She is a word, a culture and whatever else you care to call her.