Oprah: what did I miss?

[Feanor]

Oprah Winfrey: what did I miss?

I've caught an awful lot of coverage about Oprah Winfrey's last show, yesterday. What was this Oprah phenomenon?

I gather it went on for 25 years; pretty spectacular on the face of it. However in all that time I've never seen a whole Winfrey episode. In fact I've only ever seen short experpts on CNN, etc., and I doubt that they have conveyed a complete impression.

Does anybody have any comments? What was the source and nature of her success and popularity?

[JohnMichael]

I think her popularity was from giving a voice to the voiceless. She would cover issues others would not. She always treated guests on her show with respect. She never let it become a freakshow.

If something negative was going on in your life there was probably an Oprah show that dealt with it along with ways to turn things around for yourself. I am sure Oprah helped many in abusive relationships by her gentle reminders that we matter and do not deserve it.

Her 3 shows with Tyler Perry where he revealed his childhood and early sexual abuse was profound. Even she was surprised how many male victims there are. She gave 200 men the ability to voice their pain and anger. I am sure this was a help to their friends and family.

I guess if you have had a fairly ideal life you may not have needed Oprah. My life is better because of her.

[ForeverAutumn]

That's a great summary John.

I have mixed feelings about Oprah. I find her stage presence a bit annoying. And I have a hard time reconciling her ego with her ability to empathize.

I agree that she has helped a lot of people. She has personally donated millions to charity and has raised even more through her Angel Network. Her "Oprah's books" series got a lot of people reading, who wouldn't have otherwise read. And she has opened up and talked about a lot of topics that other talk shows wouldn't dare discuss.

Yet, while she helps so many people, I feel like she still has a tendancy at times to make other people's struggles all about her.

I don't watch her show a lot, but I did record her last show on Tuesday. I started to watch it last night, but I couldn't do it in one sitting. It was an hour of Oprah just standing and talking about the things that she's learned over the last 25 years. I watched about 20 minutes and then turned it off to be continued at another time. While part of me finds her positive attitude motivational and I'm inspired to try to be a better person by some of the things that she says, another part of me feels like she has her head so far up her ass that she couldn't possibly understand the trials and tribulations of real people.

[Feanor]

...
I guess if you have had a fairly ideal life you may not have needed Oprah. My life is better because of her.
Hah! Good one.

My life hasn't been "bad" in the sense that I've had only one or two significant lows. On the other had I've had a really serious lack of highs.

I've never had much benefit from the "self-help" promoters in any case.

[JohnMichael]

Hah! Good one.

My life hasn't been "bad" in the sense that I've had only one or two significant lows. On the other had I've had a really serious lack of highs.

I've never had much benefit from the "self-help" promoters in any case.



In regards to the subjects she covered. I reached a point in life where I decided it was up to me to be happy because Oprah told me. She was right and now I am happy. I went from hating to leave my apartment to boarding a jet all by myself to explore Paris. I even screwed up my courage to travel to Chicago and meet some AR members and spouses. Yes life is good.

[ForeverAutumn]

In regards to the subjects she covered. I reached a point in life where I decided it was up to me to be happy because Oprah told me. She was right and now I am happy. I went from hating to leave my apartment to boarding a jet all by myself to explore Paris.

That's awesome John! I never realized that she had such power over people. I may need to re-evalute my opinion of her.


I even screwed up my courage to travel to Chicago and meet some AR members and spouses.

Sorry that one didn't work out as well for you. ;)

[Feanor]

In regards to the subjects she covered. I reached a point in life where I decided it was up to me to be happy because Oprah told me. She was right and now I am happy. I went from hating to leave my apartment to boarding a jet all by myself to explore Paris. I even screwed up my courage to travel to Chicago and meet some AR members and spouses. Yes life is good.
Power to ya, JM. :cornut:

[JohnMichael]

Sorry that one didn't work out as well for you. ;)



You know I had a great time. Did me good to travel and expand my world. So ready to do it again.:ihih:

[bobsticks]

Does anybody have any comments? What was the source and nature of her success and popularity?

There's a very fine line between celebrating people searching for and finding solutions and wallowing in victimology. Oprah, though not entirely successfully, walked the tightrope.

[Sir Terrence the Terrible]

There's a very fine line between celebrating people searching for and finding solutions and wallowing in victimology. Oprah, though not entirely successfully, walked the tightrope.

I totally agree Sticks. She has walked the tightrope quite well.

FA, It would be a mistake in this case to think Oprah has an ego. What she has is confidence, not a big ego. I have a cousin that has been a producer for her for over a decade, and she says that O is quite grounded, but a very confident person who is comfortable in her skin.

[bobsticks]

...we may not exactly agree on this. I didn't say or mean anything remotely close to "quite well".



nar·cis·sism
   [nahr-suh-siz-em]

–noun
1.
inordinate fascination with oneself; excessive self-love; vanity.

2.
Psychoanalysis . erotic gratification derived from admiration of one's own physical or mental attributes, being a normal condition at the infantile level of personality development.
3.
ego-centrism , self-centeredness
4.
Having a magazine or periodical named after oneself and featuring one's image on the cover every month.

[ForeverAutumn]

Having never met Ms. O in person I can't say for sure whether she has a big ego or not, but I'm going to stay with my original opinion and side with Sticks on this one. It is only my perception, 'tis true, but ego is how it appears to me.

Here's just one example that stuck with me of why I feel this way...

A few years ago I was following Oprah's weight issues. I had her show on and she said that at the end of the show she was going to reveal a recipe that she made up. Yep, a recipe of her very own making. Even her personal chef was impressed at her creativity. So, I stayed the course for the full show waiting to hear about this revolutionary recipe that Oprah created that was going to change my life and help me shed pounds. Really, that's how she was pushing it. The moment of the big reveal came and this recipe of all recipes was....



Fresh berries with non-fat yogurt and low-fat granola.

Seriously? I'd been eating that for years and apparently it hadn't even been invented yet!

[Worf101]

Like F.A. I'm of two minds on Ms. Winfrey. I give Oprah a LOT of credit, she's a self made woman who has turned herself into one of the most powerful women in history! Think I'm kiddin'? No one had heard of Barrack Obama until she brought him on the show and pumped him up. Trust me, she had as much to do with his election as anyone. She's the only person since Johnny Carson who can make or break you with a nod or a smile.

She's powerful and has done much good with her power. However, for a long time she annoyed the hell out of me. He constant meddling in relationships when she doesn't have one. Her disscussion about kids when she hasn't raised one. The "oh woe is me" ism of America where we're all screwed up because our parents played with our pee pee's when we were 2. I'm not belittling child abuse by any means, I'm a child of a binge drinker who went from happy to sad , to angry drunk in 2 minutes flat. BUT I got over it my twin sister never got passed the "oh woe is me let me go on Oprah stage". Everyone's to blame for her failures but here. I hate that attitude.

Still Oprah was and is who she is. Love her or hate her, she made her mark.

Worf

[bobsticks]

Great post Worfster...now that I absolutely agree with.

That Oprah has done an immense amount of good in this world is indisputable...it can, however, be offputting that she does it in a manner that allows it to be viewed by every available person on the planet. Would she do the right thing if the camera's were off and no one was looking? I have my doubts.

The social impact of the Oprah Show? It's no better or worse than any other sitcom in the Manchild/Hot Wife genre, whatever that's worth.

[Hyfi]

I agree that she has done a lot of good for many people and shared her wealth. However, I did not like her as a Talk Show Host. It may sound racist, but it's not...but she acted very differently depending on who she interviewed. I find that phony or not genuine.

Whenever she interviewed white guests, she would act very white. Whenever she interviewed black (or african american) guests, she put on a whole different act as if she was "in da hood."

Having this discussion with others, they would claim that in order to get a good interview, one has to know and interact with their guest in a certain way...I say BULL. You never saw Johnny talking ebonics, you never saw Lenno or Letterman jive talking or strutting about. They all acted exactly the same no matter who they interviewed.

[bobsticks]

Actually, that sounds pretty damn racist...















....to Naomi Campbell.

[Hyfi]

Actually, that sounds pretty damn racist...

Purely my personal observation of her behavior and if it draws heat, so what...it's accurate.















....to Naomi Campbell.


Purely my personal observation of her behavior and if it draws heat, so what...it's accurate.

[bobsticks]

Umm...B...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/05/31/naomi-campbell-cadbury-ad_n_868909.html


(I meant that it wouldn't sound racist to anyone that wasn't already looking to make any criticism of the subject a race based debate in the first place)

[Sir Terrence the Terrible]

I agree that she has done a lot of good for many people and shared her wealth. However, I did not like her as a Talk Show Host. It may sound racist, but it's not...but she acted very differently depending on who she interviewed. I find that phony or not genuine.

Whenever she interviewed white guests, she would act very white. Whenever she interviewed black (or african american) guests, she put on a whole different act as if she was "in da hood."

Having this discussion with others, they would claim that in order to get a good interview, one has to know and interact with their guest in a certain way...I say BULL. You never saw Johnny talking ebonics, you never saw Lenno or Letterman jive talking or strutting about. They all acted exactly the same no matter who they interviewed.

So what you are advocating by this response is that all interviewers should act like Lenno, Letterman or Carson....all white men. You know better than this man. Everyone has their own style of interviewing. Winfrey has hers, Carson had his, Lenno has his, and Letterman has his. If all of these people interviewed the same, talk television would suck dog balls. Plus, I don't see you complaining about Ellen DeGeneres trying to dance like a black people, or using hip hop or rap on her show.

You have just degraded yourself with this response, and I know you are better than this. Remove that monochrome filter of yours and learn to accept the "uniqueness" of each individual talk show host approach to interviewing guests.

[Sir Terrence the Terrible]

Purely my personal observation of her behavior and if it draws heat, so what...it's accurate.

Its accurate IN YOUR MIND, not in mind, or perhaps anyone else's. I would not want the heat for advancing this kind of biased perspective.

[bobsticks]

So what you are advocating by this response is that all interviewers should act like Lenno, Letterman or Carson....all white men. You know better than this man. Everyone has their own style of interviewing. Winfrey has hers, Carson had his, Lenno has his, and Letterman has his. If all of these people interviewed the same, talk television would suck dog balls. Plus, I don't see you complaining about Ellen DeGeneres trying to dance like a black people, or using hip hop or rap on her show...

I am not speaking for Hyfi.

It would be possible to also infer from his statement that the other hosts maintained a consistency with their approach to their guests no matter the guest's ethnicity or background. That the approach utilized particulars of etiquette and speech patterns common to white America would be authentic because they were, in fact, white Americans.

For me this isn't an issue because I know several African American folks that follow this behavior and I generally accept it as their way of trying to utilize the most effective communication forms. It can, however, come off as disingenuous.

FWIW, I would be the first person in line to criticize Ellen for that and a great many other things. That she has been given the title of heir apparent is beyond lamentable.

Again, just my perspective...not sprechen for anyone else.

[Sir Terrence the Terrible]

I am not speaking for Hyfi.

It would be possible to also infer from his statement that the other hosts maintained a consistency with their approach to their guests no matter the guest's ethnicity or background. That the approach utilized particulars of etiquette and speech patterns common to white America would be authentic because they were, in fact, white Americans.

For me this isn't an issue because I know several African American folks that follow this behavior and I generally accept it as their way of trying to utilize the most effective communication forms. It can, however, come off as disingenuous.

FWIW, I would be the first person in line to criticize Ellen for that and a great many other things. That she has been given the title of heir apparent is beyond lamentable.

Again, just my perspective...not sprechen for anyone else.

Sticks, doesn't Ms. Winfrey have the right to develop whatever approach to interviewing she wants? Keep in mind, her approach crosses racial lines, hence why her audience demographics(and studio audience for that matter) is so diversified. Her style appeals to a wide variety of women, who quite frankly don't care how disingenuous her approach appears to folks that do not like or follow her. Her approach works for her audience, Letterman's his, Leno his, and Ellen hers. This is television, and appeal is the holy grail of television success, whether we like it or not.

Here is the reality, if you like Oprah, how she does what she does matters not to you. If you don't like her, you can easily pick her apart like a vulture picks apart their prey. I follow the premise that does not allow me to speak evil of the good somebody does, and she has done ton's of good. I happen to like her, so her perceived ego, arrogance, disingenuous, fake or whatever flaws anyone can come up with mean nothing to me. Is she flawed, yep we all are, just in different ways. The good she does IMO far overshadows whatever personal criticisms one can have of her. All of my life I have been accused of talking like a "white" person. Since when is proper English a white thing? I always thought it was the right thing, but maybe I am wrong as two left shoes on a person with one right leg.

This is just my opinion....I am sure some will dismiss it, and that is their right.

[Hyfi]

This is just my opinion....I am sure some will dismiss it, and that is their right.

That is exactly how I felt as I wrote it.

Nobody is complaining about your bff, the post asked what he missed. I agreed with some, disagreed with others, added my own, but didn't attack anyone for their opinion.

And by your own defense of her, you admitted that my OBSERVATION was correct. Why do you think I prefaced my observation/opinion with the fact that I KNEW it would sound racist.

I also started the comments off by saying how much good she has done.

Sorry I ruffled your feathers dude.

[bobsticks]

Sticks, doesn't Ms. Winfrey have the right to develop whatever approach to interviewing she wants?

She has the right to use any approach she wants. That doesn't always make it accurate, socially productive, or even correct no matter how much she may purport it as such. Ultimately, my issues with the O lie far more in substance over style.


Keep in mind, her approach crosses racial lines, hence why her audience demographics(and studio audience for that matter) is so diversified. Her style appeals to a wide variety of women, who quite frankly don't care how disingenuous her approach appears to folks that do not like or follow her.

Indeed. Some of them do have rather simple world views.


Her approach works for her audience, Letterman's his, Leno his, and Ellen hers. This is television, and appeal is the holy grail of television success, whether we like it or not.

I think that's probably arguing aplles and oranges but I don't have a dog in that fight.


Here is the reality, if you like Oprah, how she does what she does matters not to you.

It's sad that if one is "liked" one is automatically assumed to be an authority, accurate, or free of agenda.


If you don't like her, you can easily pick her apart like a vulture picks apart their prey. I follow the premise that does not allow me to speak evil of the good somebody does, and she has done ton's of good. I happen to like her, so her perceived ego, arrogance, disingenuous, fake or whatever flaws anyone can come up with mean nothing to me. Is she flawed, yep we all are, just in different ways.

True, and from a personality perspective I give her a pass other than to note--as I did once and still contend is accurate--that she has some narcissitic tendencies. Hell, so do I but I'm not a media mogul.



The good she does IMO far overshadows whatever personal criticisms one can have of her.

Absolutely.


All of my life I have been accused of talking like a "white" person. Since when is proper English a white thing? I always thought it was the right thing, but maybe I am wrong as two left shoes on a person with one right leg.

That was exactly my point with my companions and given that no public forum was being serviced the disingenuity was elevated.


This is just my opinion....I am sure some will dismiss it, and that is their right.

Nah, I follow and agree with the bullet points. Again my problems arise with content. Frankly, I'm surprised that you of all people aren't more sensitive to the long term implications of the Oprah-effect.

[JohnMichael]

However, I did not like her as a Talk Show Host. It may sound racist, but it's not...but she acted very differently depending on who she interviewed. I find that phony or not genuine.

Whenever she interviewed white guests, she would act very white. Whenever she interviewed black (or african american) guests, she put on a whole different act as if she was "in da hood."





I am not the same around all people. At work I am quiet and guarded with what I say. When I am in a room of straight people I do not flame. When I am at a party with people who know me well I might say something outrageous. I think we all adjust our behaviors to some extent. Would you act the same way at a strip club as you would at a church.

[Hyfi]

I am not the same around all people. At work I am quiet and guarded with what I say. When I am in a room of straight people I do not flame. When I am at a party with people who know me well I might say something outrageous. I think we all adjust our behaviors to some extent. Would you act the same way at a strip club as you would at a church.

Ya know, all I did was post my personal observation of what I don't like about the big O. So far, all the push back I got has actually validated my observation.

I stated she acts one way with certain people and another way with others. Nobody has proved that otherwise. You say style, I say I don't care for it.

Sadly enough, I have only been to 2 strip clubs in my life over 30 years ago and I try not to go to churches unless it's a wedding or funeral, where there is protocol for both to follow no matter color or race.

Other than that, anyone who knows me personally knows that I don't pull too many punches. I'll tell you what I think and if you can't handle it, it's your problem. So the short answer is that I don't have multiple personalities but I am also not in your shoes and really wish it wasn't that way for you. We all have a right to be who we are without being judged by others, but we can all still have our opinions now can't we?

Why don't we attack Worf for his opinion on how she meddles in peoples relationships?

[Hyfi]

So what you are advocating by this response is that all interviewers should act like Lenno, Letterman or Carson....all white men.

OK, so lets look at Arsenio Hall. He was a black man doing interviews. He acted the same way with all guests from what I can remember.

I wasn't advocating anything. I was stating MY opinion as to what I don't like about her or her style if they are actually two different things.



You know better than this man. Everyone has their own style of interviewing. Winfrey has hers, Carson had his, Lenno has his, and Letterman has his. If all of these people interviewed the same, talk television would suck dog balls.


I personally think all these shows suck and I don't have time to watch them anyway.


Plus, I don't see you complaining about Ellen DeGeneres trying to dance like a black people, or using hip hop or rap on her show.

Why don't you start an Ellen thread and I will put my comments about her there. This thread was about the Big O.




You have just degraded yourself with this response, and I know you are better than this. Remove that monochrome filter of yours and learn to accept the "uniqueness" of each individual talk show host approach to interviewing guests.

First of all, you don't know me or anything about me besides what I post here. I haven't nearly degraded myself as you have playing good christian out of one side of your face, while attacking others for their thoughts and opinions from the other side.

I don't call flip flopping your personality or persona uniqueness, I call it phoney.

[ForeverAutumn]

Wow. This thread sure went to hell quickly. :(

[Hyfi]

Wow. This thread sure went to hell quickly. :(

Pretty much everything non-audio related seems to run that course here.

[JohnMichael]

Wow. This thread sure went to hell quickly. :(




Maybe we should go on the Dr. Phil show.

[Feanor]

Wow. This thread sure went to hell quickly. :(
But that's the way it is with threads, eh? Am I right. Well of course I started this thread, so mia coppa, I suppose.

I really don't have an opinion on Oprah for reasons I stated in the first place. However I do know that people tend to change their style depending on who they're talking to. I do this to a degree too; in my case it's typically to conform to the other person's expectations for their comfort and, consequently, my own.

However another person might change their style in a more exploitive way. I don't know whether this might be true of Winfrey.

I think Bobsticks went over the top when he shouted "Racist". Calling a person that tends create a lot of gratuitous acrimony. I tend to thing Hyfi's observation was a little more benign than 'Sticks' inference about it.

[bobsticks]

If one read the content of my post and the included link one would see that I emphatically did not call anyone racist. I likened the situation to the dust up between a race-baiting, attention-seeker and a company that dared make light of her very public behavior.

One can easily dislike Oprah, or any other person, for reasons that have nothing to do with race.

[Hyfi]

I think Bobsticks went over the top when he shouted "Racist". Calling a person that tends create a lot of gratuitous acrimony. I tend to thing Hyfi's observation was a little more benign than 'Sticks' inference about it.

I wasn't sure if Sticks was playin or what with that response, but I was only playin back with mine.

My original post, again commended her for the good she has done along with my personal observation as to how she acts with her guests. Several responses to that have validated my observation but somehow labeled me the racist. That was exactly why I prefaced my statement in the first place.

So here is another non racist observation. She has promoted way too many Fad Diets and Weight Loss schemes over the years, none of which she could stick to for any length of time as she has yo-yoed up and down continuously.

Did ya hear she got busted at the airport?














Yeah, they caught her with 100 pounds of crack.

[JohnMichael]

So here is another non racist observation. She has promoted way too many Fad Diets and Weight Loss schemes over the years, none of which she could stick to for any length of time as she has yo-yoed up and down.

ack.


Yes weight loss is a struggle.

[ForeverAutumn]

She has promoted way too many Fad Diets and Weight Loss schemes over the years, none of which she could stick to for any length of time as she has yo-yoed up and down continuously.

That's actually not true. As someone who has also battled with weight issues, I followed Oprah's weightloss programs. She always promoted healthy, nutritional foods and a good fitness regime. She never did the Jenny Craig or Dr. Bernstein thing. She promoted healthy living.

As for her yo-yoing, well that happens to the best of us fighting with being overweight. She was also diagnosed with hypothyroidism which affects your matabolism and makes it that much harder to control weight gain.

I criticize Oprah for lots of things but her weight is not one of them. She inspired millions of people to live healthier lives. I think that her openness and honestly about her weight is one of the things that endeared her to many people.

[Hyfi]

That's actually not true. As someone who has also battled with weight issues, I followed Oprah's weightloss programs. She always promoted healthy, nutritional foods and a good fitness regime. She never did the Jenny Craig or Dr. Bernstein thing. She promoted healthy living.

As for her yo-yoing, well that happens to the best of us fighting with being overweight. She was also diagnosed with hypothyroidism which affects your matabolism and makes it that much harder to control weight gain.

I criticize Oprah for lots of things but her weight is not one of them. She inspired millions of people to live healthier lives. I think that her openness and honestly about her weight is one of the things that endeared her to many people.

I guess what I meant, is that Diets do not work. Lifestyle changes do. You can't just go on some fad diet and stick to it for any length of time. Any diet that cuts out a particular thing is bad.

If you want to try something that works, and does not have to be stuck to with unrealistic expectations is the Isagenix detox program. Email me if you want more info, but it completely changed my metabolism. It is a full body detox, not just a colon cleanse as some of the fads that O had guests on her show promoting. It is a cellular level detox with a fantastic side effect, weight loss and the ability to keep it off with regular maintenance.

Before I did the program, over 3 years ago, I weighed 184. Not way overweight, but ideally for my height, I should be near 165. After the initial 2 weeks of the program, I was at 157. After the program, I leveled at between 160 and 163 and have stayed there for 3 years.

I did change some of the things I eat as well as start eating many good things that I never used to.

The other thing to do is get a book called "SuperFoods Rx: Fourteen Foods That Will Change Your Life" along with it's accompanying recipe book.

[ForeverAutumn]

I guess what I meant, is that Diets do not work. Lifestyle changes do. You can't just go on some fad diet and stick to it for any length of time.

I think that Oprah would agree. :biggrin5:

[Sir Terrence the Terrible]

OK, so lets look at Arsenio Hall. He was a black man doing interviews. He acted the same way with all guests from what I can remember.

Once again, that is HIS style, not Winfrey's. Let her have her own space, and stop comparing her with others as if they set a precedence on how the job should be done. Nobody wrote a rulebook on how to interview people right?


I wasn't advocating anything. I was stating MY opinion as to what I don't like about her or her style if they are actually two different things.

Her style is to make her guests as comfortable as they can be. If that means talking different ways or using different wordage or phrases with different guest, she will do just that.



I personally think all these shows suck and I don't have time to watch them anyway.

This is not the point. The point is they have their own style - none of them have the same way of interviewing people.




Why don't you start an Ellen thread and I will put my comments about her there. This thread was about the Big O.

Not needed. Ellen was an example of a point, not the topic at hand.




First of all, you don't know me or anything about me besides what I post here. I haven't nearly degraded myself as you have playing good christian out of one side of your face, while attacking others for their thoughts and opinions from the other side.

You can use the inflammatory word of attacking all you want, but another person can say it is challenging a point. And please, don't through my faith into the picture. I never said I was the model of perfect Christian behavior, and obviously you don't use good judgement when choosing your words. Everyone has their issues right?


I don't call flip flopping your personality or persona uniqueness, I call it phoney.

That's your opinion, and like asses we all have one.

[Hyfi]

That's your opinion, and like asses we all have one.

Right, but only your opinion is valid. you did not challenge me, you told me in so many words that my opinion was racist.

I don't care for her, you do. Get over it.

I also only brought up Arsenio, because you challenged me again about all white hosts acting white.

You have already validated my observation several times. The fact that your all worked up and defending her is odd. you also challenged FA on her opinion as to ego.

Why don't you just allow others to have their own opinion and not try so hard to force us to have yours?

[GMichael]

I am not the same around all people. At work I am quiet and guarded with what I say. When I am in a room of straight people I do not flame. When I am at a party with people who know me well I might say something outrageous. I think we all adjust our behaviors to some extent. Would you act the same way at a strip club as you would at a church.

You mean, stick dollar bills in the sister's panties while yelping it up?

[bobsticks]

You mean, stick dollar bills in the sister's panties while yelping it up?

Assuming that is what he meant, your answer would be...?:biggrin5:

[ForeverAutumn]

you also challenged FA on her opinion as to ego.

I didn't see that as a challenge; just a counter-point based on the experience of someone who actually knows her. If you want to be in a pissing match (over Oprah Winfrey of all things!) please leave me out of it.

[Worf101]

I agree that she has done a lot of good for many people and shared her wealth. However, I did not like her as a Talk Show Host. It may sound racist, but it's not...but she acted very differently depending on who she interviewed. I find that phony or not genuine.

Whenever she interviewed white guests, she would act very white. Whenever she interviewed black (or african american) guests, she put on a whole different act as if she was "in da hood."

Having this discussion with others, they would claim that in order to get a good interview, one has to know and interact with their guest in a certain way...I say BULL. You never saw Johnny talking ebonics, you never saw Lenno or Letterman jive talking or strutting about. They all acted exactly the same no matter who they interviewed.

I understand your statement, however I don't find it to be totally true. I watched Carson for years and the yuckery he engaged in with Sammy Davis Junior and Cosby was WILDLY different from his banter with Rickles or Rivers. I know this because I watched it. I was watching when Letterman made his infamous "Lawn Jockey" Joke and the drummer in the band (who was black) stormed off the Stage. In that I don't have anything to say about Leno is not because he's not guilty of the same thing, but because I don't watch the man.

Now, Oprah's style of interviewing could change from interview to interview for a number of reasons.

1. Any interviewer worth their stuff, would tailor an interview for the subject. NOT the other way round. I personally would NOT expect her to interview Tom Cruise the same way she'd interview Whoppie Goldberg... to do so makes no sense.

2. She obviously has varying levels of personal comfort with various people. This would obviously lead to a difference in how she talks to them. I talk much differently to a life long friend or relative than I do to a stranger.

3. Any minority in America has had to learn to use different voices/accents/vocabularies at different places and at different times in order to succeed in a world where we don't make the rules. This is FACT. This ability to change, mimic, patronize even is why I am not living in the projects or a trailer park like my sister. It's a tool and a skill and one I've learned to use from the first day I was bussed to an all white school in 4th grade.

4. I would be the first person to call out someone playing the coon. I've done it here before and won't hesitate to do it again. If I ever felt for one minute Ms. Winfrey was fronting for whites or blacks I'd tell her so in a heart beat.

Worf

[Sir Terrence the Terrible]

Right, but only your opinion is valid. you did not challenge me, you told me in so many words that my opinion was racist.

Hyfi, nobody up till your first post injected a racial angle into this discussion. By foolishly doing so, you opened up a can of worms - hence my comment about your poor choice of words. You should know by now ANY racial statement is the "third rail" in any discussion. When you hold up three white men's style as acceptable, but criticize a black woman for not doing what they did, then your are opening yourself up to some powerful criticism.


I don't care for her, you do. Get over it.

I have nothing to get over, I don't care about what you like or dislike.


I also only brought up Arsenio, because you challenged me again about all white hosts acting white.

I challenged your rather racial statement, and the fact that you think all interviewers should interview alike. That is a narrow minded way of looking at television interviewing. Arsenio was cool, he was not racial. I know this because I worked on his show its entire run. It was not about black or white, it was about being cool.


You have already validated my observation several times. The fact that your all worked up and defending her is odd. you also challenged FA on her opinion as to ego.

Your observation is based on some racial slant that did not have anything to do with anything. I validated her change of style as her way of doing things. You said her style was fake, but refuse to acknowledge that is just her way of doing what she does. There is nothing "fake" about what she does according to my cousin that worked for her. That is who she is on and off camera, and if you knew more about her(instead of making negative statements in a vacuum), you would not have made that statement. Statements made out of ignorance are never helpful to a discussion.


Why don't you just allow others to have their own opinion and not try so hard to force us to have yours?

I am not stopping you from having an opinion, I am challenging the slant that you are placing on it. I am also not forcing mine on you, just challenging statements made without a shred of evidence to support it except your perceptions which can be wrong. FA stated that she thought Oprah had an ego. My cousin says it is not an ego, but confidence and sureness. She would know this better than you, me and FA.

Why don't you allow different people to have different ways of doing what they do, instead of negatively judging them because it does not fit your narrow view of how things are done?

[JohnMichael]

I would think you would have to watch Oprah every day to decide that she changes approach with different guests. If you are not a frequent Oprah watcher how would you know unless bias is your guide.

[Smokey]

Heheheh........I can't believe you guys and gals spending 45 posts discussing Oprah. Gossip city :smilewinkgrin:

[bobsticks]

Heheheh........I can't believe you guys and gals spending 45 posts discussing Oprah. Gossip city :smilewinkgrin:

It's been a rough summer Smokster, have you seen the new release lists? Besides, 10 years from now when Ellen retires it'll be so much worse.

[JohnMichael]

It's been a rough summer Smokster, have you seen the new release lists? Besides, 10 years from now when Ellen retires it'll be so much worse.



How dare you bring up Ellen's retirement when I have yet to heal from losing Oprah. :frown5::out:

[Sir Terrence the Terrible]

How dare you bring up Ellen's retirement when I have yet to heal from losing Oprah. :frown5::out:

Wanna band-aid and a cookie??

[JohnMichael]

Wanna band-aid and a cookie??



A glass of wine and a hug would be better.

[bobsticks]

A glass of wine and a hug would be better.

There's a bottle of 2007 Kaesler Shiraz Old Bastard via Air Post headed your way and virtual hugs on a daily basis if we can avoid this fork in the road.

I can find balance with the O because of her humanitarian efforts and willingness to broach some awkward topics without difficulty. I can't promise the same level of civility if we continue in the direction in which we're heading.:ihih:

[GMichael]

A glass of wine and a hug would be better.

I'm only one state away.

[Florian]

I would like to add some comments if i may as well. :16:


Do you really need a talkshow to tell you that its ok to be gay?
Did you not know before that hamburgers and fries are not the perfect health diet?
Oprah does not give money or cars away for free! In one of her last shows where everyone got a new VW Beatle, the cars where sponsored by VW
This page counts Oprahs income based on every second http://www.salary-money.com/oprah-winfrey-salary-223000000.php
Oprah gave 10.000.000 to Hurricane survivors... considering she makes 223.000.000 million a year... considering she gives less then 5% of her annual income puts it more into perspective


She makes money, tons of it and gives a tiny percenty which is tax deductable to charity. Thats the same scheme Bill Gates and Warren Buffet are doing. The don't give money to the "poor", they create funds which are controlled by billionaires, they buy and control prices of medicine and only give away a tiny portion.

And Oprah does not give self help. If you can help your-self, you would not need help. Considering american television and german television, which derives a lot from out friends oversees is absolute rubbish and mind controlling, i am shocked to see that people are looking for their heros on daytime TV. :(

If you need a TV show with a billionaire women to get people to read, then maybe its time to look at your educational system and cultural system first.

No offense, many of these points apply to many different countries including Germany..... but we are not that far yet, but getting there :ihih:

[Florian]

Hey JM, and if you need a hug my wife will take care of that. I can supply the music and wine (French, Swiss, Italien and German) :)

[JohnMichael]

Florian it is good to see you posting again. It is also good to see you are still full of sh!t.:ihih:

Oprah did not make me feel better about being gay but she did educate a lot of straight people which has helped reduce some of the prejudice and hate. I talk to young gay people and while life is not always easy they have not experienced bullying to the level I did in high school in the early 70's. Parents do not reject their chidren as much as they once did when they learned they were gay. Oprah helped portray gays as we are and to remove the fear and thoughts that we are all child molesters. Of course others helped but Oprah opened up a lot of minds.

I also did not need Oprah to interest me in reading. She did introduce me to books I might not have known about otherwise.

As far as the travel for a hug, you know me, it would have to be from you. When I go back to Paris I will let you know and you can meet me and I will buy dinner for the three of us. Yes your wife is welcome.

[Florian]

Hey JM,

you got a deal, ill give you a hug.

* I did a lot of growing up in the past few years and must say that i read some of my old posts and feel ashamed partially. We live in Switzerland now, very close to Germany, France and Austria. Paris is like 3 hours or so, let me know. I know some very high end Apogee systems in Paris as well ;-)

I understand your point about educating straight people, but i still raise my point that highly intellectual people are generally not welcomed in the US and most parts of Germany. In most parts of the world where education is held high and cultural diversity goes above various fast food places or flat movies the understanding for different sexual orientations is much higher.

I run a team in a global pharmaceutical company where my team members are from Nigeria, Switzerland, Italy and Germany. We have Anti-Theists (me), Jews one guy who is for sale and other believes. People with families and singles and yes one of them is a lesbian (she is hot too, but has no trigger for men)..... I have never met anyone in my prof. life as a team lead, requirements engineer who was either deeply religious or had a hatred or interest about other peoples sexual preferences.

I only notice that in areas where intellects are generally lower and the cultural diversity is branded by stereotypes and people who get their primary education from day time TV. Thats horrible.... really

[JohnMichael]

There's a bottle of 2007 Kaesler Shiraz Old Bastard via Air Post headed your way and virtual hugs on a daily basis if we can avoid this fork in the road.

I can find balance with the O because of her humanitarian efforts and willingness to broach some awkward topics without difficulty. I can't promise the same level of civility if we continue in the direction in which we're heading.:ihih:


First I say thank you and secondly I must say I have never known you to be anything but civil.

[GMichael]

I'm only one state away.

I feel so rejected. :cryin:

[bobsticks]

I lol'd.

Slow morning my friend?

[bobsticks]

First I say thank you and secondly I must say I have never known you to be anything but civil.

Well, we both know that's not entirely true...but will adopt it as a working theory. Thanks for the kind words, sir. I hope life is progressing well in the wake of your loss.

[JohnMichael]

I feel so rejected. :cryin:



Please do not feel rejected. I have already Googled a map to your house. I am on my way.:ihih:

[GMichael]

Please do not feel rejected. I have already Googled a map to your house. I am on my way.:ihih:

See you in about 8 hours? :ihih:

[JohnMichael]

See you in about 8 hours? :ihih:



What great fun to meet you in person, your wife and beautiful daughter. Sadly last night after taking my dog out for his before bed pea break I had a little accident. In one hand was keys and a treat for Corky in the other was his leash. As we were walking up the stairs to the second floor to my apartment Corky heard a sound. We were almost to the second floor when Corky turned and bolted down the stairs. He through me off balance in midstep and I followed him backwards down the stairs. "Ouch". Sadly I will not be travelling anytime soon.

[GMichael]

What great fun to meet you in person, your wife and beautiful daughter. Sadly last night after taking my dog out for his before bed pea break I had a little accident. In one hand was keys and a treat for Corky in the other was his leash. As we were walking up the stairs to the second floor to my apartment Corky heard a sound. We were almost to the second floor when Corky turned and bolted down the stairs. He through me off balance in midstep and I followed him backwards down the stairs. "Ouch". Sadly I will not be travelling anytime soon.

Sorry to read about your mishap. I hope that you heal quickly. (no pun intended)
You are always welcome.