My Advice to Oprah - like She Really Needs It
'Oprah's Friends' 'Oprah & Friends' She May Emulate Barbara Walter's "The View"
Big O's big news is still freshly settling into daytime TV watcher's all over. Oprah is quiting. Or is she? Not according to Martha Stewart, "She'll do another show. She's evolving, she's fabulous."
Oprah has been the undisputed Queen of daytime talk TV for 23 years, so when she quits her daily gig in 2011, it will be a quarter century of Oprah this and Oprah that.
As Stewart put it, "She's evolving." What exactly is she transforming into? This is my advice to her, but hey who am I to offer Oprah advice. All things considered though, it's a safe bet she may be already steering in this direction. It's something I'm fairly certain she's considered, and may even be planning while she winds down and officially retires her original gab game of The Oprah Winfrey Show.
Without being asked, with nary a word of urging, here's my purely unsolicited advice to Ms. Winfrey. You've admired Barbara Walters for years. Who in the media hasn't? She's been a pioneer in television news not only for women, but also as a role model of success for any aspiring journalist or talk show host. When she created her own powerhouse chat fest, ABC's The View way back in 1997, nobody was sure how it would fare. Now in its 12th season, this still wildly popular show has seen hosts come and go, yet it's not only remained, but the format has been copied to great success around the globe.
Oprah has even emulated The View in recently years with her live Friday shows - complete with round table guest co-hosts. Familiar figures like pal and regular Oprah guest Gayle King has lent a kind of View essence to Oprah's proceedings already.
Oprah should take a much needed and deserved break come 2011. Take a little time to smell those roses, tulips and other flowers. Hell, go hang out in a few tropical rainforests. Take Stedman on a cruise or something. When you're refreshed, form up your 'View" like talk panel. Gayle King is a no brainer. Other choices could be as diverse as Kathy Griffin to some of Oprah's guy colleagues. Like Barbara Walters, Oprah can bow out a few days of the week, and do specials, work more on her magazine or doing anything else she likes. After all, she's Oprah.
The Oprah Winfrey Show is great. Oprah & Friends could be just as special.
Published by Will Stape
Will is an Emmy Award nominated screenwriter. He also writes extensively for magazines and the web. Will penned episodes for the TV shows, Star Trek: The Next Generation & Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.... View profile
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20 Comments
Post a CommentNicely done, Cheers.
Good article. I think she should just retire and have fun.
this is a good article on a popular topic! I love The View and I love Oprah, so the two together would have to be a good thing, right? :)
I can't imagine Oprah going away for good. I think the talk panel is a great idea!
Great article. Love the way you say things!
Ditto Snidely!
Oprah and Friends - it could be just the thing!
I never understood why people with the kind of money Oprah has don't just pack up shop and retire. I guess it really is the power of the money that attracts them and not the money itself.
a great piece!!
A very good article about the queen of daytime television.