When Oprah announced that she was stepping down and pulling the plug on her long running talk show, it did two things.  First, it made her followers tear their hair out, self flagellate, and wail in grief and sadness.  Ok, not quite, but close.  Secondly, it made getting the already sought after Oprah Seal of Approval all the more valuable to anyone with something to promote.  Almost everything that the Mighty Opes gives her “midas touch” to on her show has a tendency to take off in popularity. 

Enter the Kardashian sisters.  Having been encouraged by Ellen’s relentless, and ultimatley successful campaign to appear on the cover of O Magazine, famewhores Kim, Khloe and Kourtney Kardashian are apparently busy plotting ways to appear on the show as guests.  Chances are this is just another ploy to get attention (congratulations ladies, it’s working) but just in case…

Oprah, please.  You unleashed Dr. Phil on an unsuspecting public.  For all the good that you’ve done since then (and there has been much), you still owe the world one.  Just say no.

Tweet This Post

 Just how on earth are all her followers going to get by and make decisions (what to read, watch, buy, or think) without her daily input?  Civilization as we know it could end!  Ok, not really.

Tim Bennett, the head minion (president) of Harpo, released this statement a short time ago to the media.

“Tomorrow, Oprah will announce live on ‘The Oprah Winfrey Show’ that she has decided to end what is arguably one of the most popular, influential and enduring programs in television history. The sun will set on the “Oprah” show as its 25th season draws to a close on September 9, 2011.”

However, the media tycoon isn’t done with TV, not by a long shot.  Harpo and Discovery Networks have a partnership to launch OWN or the  Oprah Winfrey Network sometime in 2011.  Chances are good that the mighty Opes will still be seen on TV in some capacity after her talk-show ends.

Tweet This Post

If you watch the mighty Opes on a semi-regular basis then you probably know who Nate Berkus is.

The vertically challenged interior designer from the Chigago area has appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show many times since 2001, hosted Oprah’s Big Givea couple of years ago, and has his own show on Winfrey’s satellite radio channel.  Berkus also owns an interior design firm, and his own line of furniture and accessories.  If he weren’t so affable I’d really hate him.

Now add television show host  to that list.  Harpo and Sony Pictures Television plan to ready the Nate Berkus Show for an early fall 2010 launch.  This will be the second joint venture between Harpo and Sony, the first being the popular Dr. Oz Show that was launched earlier this year.

If America is turning into a nation of hypercondriacs, at least they’ll have fabulously decorated homes in which to think they’re sick in.

Berkus joins Oz, as well as Rachael (her mouth scares me) Ray and provincial gasbag Dr. Phil as Oprah “personalities” who’ve been tapped to have shows built around them through her production company.

If Berkus is still single (doubtful), his stock just went up even further in the community.

Tweet This Post

You have absolutely no idea how disappointed I am in myself that I find him somewhat attractive. 

In a clear case of symbiosis run amok (they hate each other, but keep having to acknowledge each other in interviews to extend media interest) Levi Johnston, whose Playgirl photo-shoot went off (dirrrrrrrty) without a hitch Thursday, was quoted as saying to the publication’s editor in chief, “she was full of it.  It was a nice gesture but she didn’t mean it”.

This is of course, his response to Sarah Palin’s answer to Oprah’s question to her (being interviewed to hawk her book, Going Rogue) if the father of her grandson would be welcome in the ex-Governor’s home for the upcoming US Thanksgiving (and yes, that was as exhausting to type as it was to read).

Although he would like to see his kid (whom he’s seeking  joint custody of), Johnston said it would be awkward should he take her up on her maybe faux invitation and show.  I think he should call her bluff, actually do it, and bring a camera crew.  Just mark any brought baggage as DRAMA.

Tweet This Post

Oprah Winfrey has landed one of the most sought after (and currently hard to get) subjects to appear on her show Friday Nov. 13th.  Stephanie Meyer, the author behind the Twilight phenomenon, will sight down to chat with the mighty Opes and presumably, field questions from her followers in the studio audience.

Meyers posted this tidbit about her appearance on her website yesterday…

You know I’ve been doing the hermit thing this last year, in so far as media is concerned, and I’m not changing that now, but I am making an exception. I’m doing this for a good reason: I am so pleased and amazed and thrilled with what Chris Weitzhas done with New Moon that I want to talk about it, and to show my support for him. And since I’m only doing one interview, better make it big. Really big. So….I will be on The Oprah Winfrey Show on Friday, November 13th. Check the local listings on Oprah’s website to find out what time it will be on where you live.

Sounds like this is the only interview she’s granting in support of New Moon, so I will definitely tune in.  Have to admit,  am curious to see what she has to say, and if she tips her hand on ever finishing and publishing Midnight Son, the Twilight story told from vampire Edward Cullen’s POV. Wonder if she’ll make a cameo in New Moon like she did in the first movie?

Tweet This Post

At least if you have millions of fans, your own talk show and lots of resources to draw on. 

Ellen Degeneres, affable comedienne and talk show host, has gotten her wish and will be appearing with the Mighty Opes on the cover of the December issue of O magazine.

Ellen pushed for the cover. Hard.  She documented attempts on her show, made mock-ups (test covers) and even called Oprah herself, but was put on hold for over 11 minutes and was never connected to the billionaire. Do you think the person who answered Ellen’s call is still getting their paycheck from Harpo Studios?  Me neither. 

In a statement on her website, Oprah wrote, “It’s all about me, now get off my runway Ellen DeGeneres is a woman who can make things happen. When she decided she wanted to be on the cover of O, she pulled out all the stops (just look at her creative concepts here). It worked — for only the second time in O history, this December, I’m sharing the cover with a woman I adore.”

That first woman was First Lady Michelle Obama.  In addition to being on the cover of O, Ellen will also be interviewed on the Oprah Winfrey Show on Monday Nov 9th.

Tweet This Post

Oprah is being sued for wrongful dissmissal by a former employee according to multiple reports.  Corrinne Gehrls, who worked on Oprah’s private jet as a stewardess is seeking over $300k in damages for being  fired from her position on July 7th of this year for alledgedly “having inappropriate intimate contact outside the cockpit of the plane.”

Gehrls has denied the accusation, saying the billionaire knew that accusations were false as the plane was on the ground being refuelled when the event was said to have occured.  Well, obviously!  Silly Oprah, it’s only the mile high club if the plane is,..well, mile high.  Honestly, these billionaires….  

Two other flight attendents have also been named in the suit, one being Kirby Bumpus (love the name) who happens to be daughter to Gayle King, Oprah’s longtime BFF and the god-daughter to the star herself.  So to all of you out there with private jets, if someone comes to you telling tales out of school about hanky-panky beneath the bulkheads, remember, ask for photographic evidence before handing out pink slips.

Tweet This Post