Wednesday is the final Oprah Winfrey Show. Talk about a ride! She started her life in poverty in Mississippi. Her mother was a single mom. She survived a broken home, sexual abuse, and not much support at home. She is now a billionaire several times over and uses her wealth to do good for others.
Following college, Oprah started off her career in Baltimore hosting a talk show and moved on to Chicago. 
Her time slot competed with Phil Donahue who later took her under his wing. She starred in Steven Spielberg’s The Color Purple (one of my very favorite books and films). She was nominated for an Oscar for best supporting actress. The Oprah Winfrey Show was launched in 1986. The rest is history.
Books have been written about the Oprah phenomena. The most striking thing, in my opinion, about Oprah is her humility. She never acts like ‘she has gotten above her raisings.’ She also appears to be one of the most sincere people ever. She will begin her own network. How will it go? If anyone makes it work, Oprah will. Maybe her departure marks the beginning of the end for the ‘networks.’ Oprah always has been a trend-setter.
Tuesday was the Surprise Show where all Oprah’s buds showed up and paid tribute. Today at 4 pm, we take in the last Oprah Show. I wouldn’t miss it for the world. I will probably cry. It is the end of an era.
See the Oprah Winfrey tribute in the Washington Post.
ho hum. life will go on
ho hum. life goes on
Yesterday during her surprise good bye show, pictures of 64,688 young people were shown thanking Oprah for getting them to stay in school. Over 300 men marched in who had received scholarship money to go to Morehouse College in Atlanta.
It was very impressive. Oprah not only talks the talk but walks the walk. She knows that education altered her life and has made sure others have had that opportunity.
So yes, life goes on but in a much better not so ho hum way.
Maybe now her and Studman will get married.
Perhaps they don’t WANT to get married.
Maria Schriver was at the Tuesday show. I didn’t realize she and Oprah have been friends for years.
I’ve never really watched Oprah because of the 4 pm timing and I don’t tape (haven’t learned how – yet!). – I did watch yesterday, however, and enjoyed it a lot. Man, that Aretha lady can really sing! Plan to watch today too.
Like Moon, I believe Oprah has had a great influence on a lot of people. Imagine getting folk to read books! And to get an education! She wasn’t afraid to share her weaknesses with her audience, something I believe made her more beloved.
@Moon-howler
Don’t blame them 😉
You brought up some fabulous points, Punchak. Just the reading alone makes her an amazing lady. Her humility definitely includes her weakness.
Punchak, talk to you cable/fios provider about getting a DVR. It is easier than messing with tapes. It is simple button pushing and they train you when it is installed. Mine costs about 15 a month.
@Dan Cooper
Me either. It isn’t for everyone. Both are busy people. Perhaps their relationship suits them.
Yeah, for real Punchak… ‘tape’? Who ‘tapes’ anything these days. Trust me, once you upgrade to an HD DVR box (get an HD TV first, works much better that way) you will wonder how you ever did without it.
Or…. you can always just throw a fresh Beta Max tape in and continue to tape stuff off of your tube. While your doing that just put in a cassette tape into the ole boom box of Guns N Roses to pass the time. Why do I still have hundreds of cassette tapes by the way? Mostly slow jam mix tapes/Bob Marley/GoGo (Juny Yard Band type of GoGo) from the ole high-school days, a little Color Me Bad, Boyz To Men… the good stuff. 🙂
@DC
I love BoysIIMen. Punchak is a great grandmother. She might not be as atuned to some of the technology you mentioned as you are.
I used DVR with non hi def first. It worked fine. In fact, I record in reg. def. to squeeze more on the DVR.
@Moon-howler
Wow, congrats Punchak! Didn’t know you had that much life experience. Hey, your on-line, at least, that’s more than I can say for even some of my 30 something friends!
The only time I can even stomach reg def is if I’m at my parents house and there is no other option. If the channel doesn’t come in HD I ain’t watching it or even wasting the disk space to DVR it. HD has turned me into a TV snob I’m sad to say.
@Dan, i think it is quality vs quantity. I need to squeeze a lot of shows in. It depends on what it is. Mr. Howler is a hi-def man.
Its over. OVER! What are we going to do now?!
What am I going to do?
No more book suggestions.
NO MORE FREE STUFF!
Where will I get guidance for my life?
Meh. There’s always Charlie Sheen.
I don’t think we can overlook Oprah’s influence on so many different people. She has been a very positive role model and has encouraged people to read. If she did nothing other than encourage people to read a variety of books,, she deserves sainthood.
Actually I liked her. She’ll be missed.
Eh, never cared for her. Never saw anything more than another someone pursuing a wealth agenda.