Our Thoughts on the Oprah Finale: End of An Era

DON

As a red-blooded American male, I am required to say, “I never watched Oprah and that show is so overhyped, it’s crazy.” And even though I “never watch”, I must then reiterate my point by saying Oprah is soooo preachy and self-important, it just makes me sick. But I never watch, so how do I know that?

Truth is, the only reason I’m happy to see Oprah off TV is because she’s become the unofficial majority voice of every woman in America. For 25 years, every ridiculous idea that any woman, wife, or girlfriend tried to pull could be justified because they “saw it on Oprah.” Oh, you decided we should only watch 1.5 hours of TV each week, dear? Where’d you get this crazy idea? Oh …Oprah. Hey, honey …why did you make me a veggie burger? Oh, because Oprah and Dr. Oz said it would be good for our poop? Well, enough said. Let’s have veggie burgers forever. Oh …you gained a few pounds, babe. What’s that? So did Oprah? Well, then I guess it’s OK.

Would it have hurt Oprah to, just once, include some psychologist or author who would insist letting husbands sleep in late on Sundays and watch 10+ hours of TV would be good for their heart health and the sexual performance? Hell, I should’ve written that book, come to think of it.

For 25 years Oprah told us what books to like, what actors and actresses are worthy of our attention, and without being married or having children herself, I’m pretty sure she coached many of us through our relationships and parenting. She’ll be missed …both as counselor and coach, but also as a lightning rod.

Even though I never watched, I can’t deny she’s a TV icon and because I love TV, part of me really will miss her. Whether it was “Favorite Things” or “Book Club” or acting as the psychiatrist’s couch for hundreds of celebrities seeking a safe haven to justify just about any whacked out behavior …Oprah was there. It’s not blasphemous or outrageous to suggest Oprah was to daytime talk was Johnny Carson was to late night talk. Love her or hate her, she’s an icon.

So, again, as the red-blooded American male …no, I won’t miss Oprah. No, I won’t watch her final episode and I’m soooooo sick of Gayle and Tom Cruise and John Travolta and Julia Roberts …gag …I wanna throw up. But between just us girls, this is sorta sad. NBC has all but destroyed the charm and nostalgia of The Tonight Show, and with Oprah leaving the TV landscape, I daresay we’re down to 2 iconic TV franchises – The Price is Right and General Hospital (and even The Price is Right ain’t the same without Bob Barker).  *sniff*

I said I wouldn’t cry …and I won’t. I’m just bummed out that between the “Favorite Things” and “Book Club” I’m going to really lack for anniversary, birthday, and Christmas gift ideas.

Farewell, Oprah. We’ll miss you …and for the record, I never wrote that.

MYNDI

You know, I’m sure I went through a period of time when I really, really liked Oprah, and I never reached a point of complete disdain for the woman, but I also never relied on her for advice or guidance.  Truth is, she never did see fit to get married or have children (totally her choice, of course), so why would I take advice on marriage or child rearing from her?  She sure did have an eye for spotting talk show talent, though.  Dr. Phil, Rachael Ray, Dr. Oz.  Turned out Nate Berkus was not daytime’s answer to Ty Pennington–which may be a good thing– but he can still redecorate a room like nobody’s business and he’s so, so pretty.

My favorite reason to watch Oprah was usually her celebrity interviews.  She actually did a great job most of the time, and made for a very entertaining hour. (Couch jumping!)  Over the years, the ones that aired around season premieres and holidays were usually the best.  I will miss those afternoons, when I was home from work early, maybe making the family some dinner or just sipping a cup of coffee with my feet up, the most of all.  After 25 years, Oprah was most definitely TV comfort food, and it’s sad to see those things slip away as time passes.

What I never got into was when Oprah got preachy, and told us all how to live our lives.  She may be from a poor, fractured family, and have a history of overcoming adversity, but in recent years, she seemed to be quite out of touch with that part of her, and it was hard to put that aside when she started lecturing us about “inner light” and other such pablum.  I mean, all you had to do was watch her and Her Best Friend Gayle on one of their camping trips to see how out of touch Oprah can be.  I’m not saying it’s all b.s., because some of it is definitely valid, but you were never going to catch me at one of the seminars she offered or even subscribing to O Magazine.  I was never part of the cult of Oprah, even though as a 38 year old white suburban mother, I most definitely fit the profile.

And this may be a strange thing to bring up, but I was always sort of impressed with the way she has let the audience see her over the years without her makeup or hair done.  I thought of this yesterday when she mentioned her staff, and said she often tells them in the morning “My face is still in Cleveland.  Do you think you can get it to Chicago by 9 AM?”  She’s not the world’s most beautiful woman, and she could easily make sure we never saw her at less than her best, but she’s comfortable enough with herself to let her guard down on occasion.  Sure, it may be all part of the plan to seem more down-to-earth, but it’s cool anyway.

For as much as I didn’t need her help, though, many others did, and I can’t help but applaud the woman for what she has given back to both families and communities in this country and around the world.  It’s very clear that she does that because she does care, even if the cynic in me wants to argue that she doesn’t.  If she was that good an actress, she’d have done more movies.

The best part of the finale episodes this week had to be the following clip, in which Kristen Chenoweth, of Broadway’s Wicked (and so much more), serenaded Oprah with one of that show’s signature tunes, “For Good”, as many of the recipients of the Oprah Winfrey scholarship at Morhouse College ascended the stage in the darkened United Center with candles.  Oprah’s genuine reaction sort of says everything.

Farewell, Oprah.  See you if I can ever figure out which channel on my digital cable is OWN.

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