A whole host of Winfrey's celebrity friends joined her for the final shows
It's a journey that started on September 8, 1986. After more than 45-hundred episodes, Oprah Winfrey taped the final one of her daytime talk show yesterday, it airs around today.
The host and her show have had a monumental impact on both television, pop culture and viewers world-wide. For 25 years, there's been no one quite like Oprah. Ileane Rudolph of TV Guide says, "Oprah Winfrey is a singular phenomenon."
Her show has dominated daytime television, sharing the lives of the famous and the not so famous, with millions of viewers around the world.
"She was their friend," Rudolph says, "She was their mentor, she was the friend who changed their lives daily."
Thousands of Winfrey's fans lined up in Chicago last week for the taping of two star studded farewell shows. One fan says, "She is the epitome of an African American woman and she strives for excellence!"
While another thinks, "She gave people hope. She changes people's lives in really stepping back and learning from other people's experiences."
For Winfrey, there's a minor lament of moments that never happened. "Jackie Onassis would have been someone I would have wanted to interview," Winfrey states. "I would have loved to have interview Elvis Presley."
But she leaves daytime with no regrets. "Not one about this show. I've done it as well as it can be done." A statement that few people would challenge.
Singer Alicia Keys says, "All these possibilities are within us and I think she's this constant reminder that you can be that. And you can be this generous spirit at the same time."
One final audience filed in for Tuesday's taping knowing they would witness the end of something special.
Oprah plans to take some time off, but she's expected to start working at her OWN (Oprah Winfrey Network) cable network in California sometime in August. In January, she's expected to start a new show, "Oprah's Next Chapter" on the network.
TRIBUTES TO OPRAH - WHAT THE STARS SAID...!!!
Madonna: 'It's no secret that millions of people are inspired by Oprah, 'she said. 'I am one of those peole ... she fights for the things she believes in, even if it makes her unpopular ... I have learned so much from her. She's a self-made woman who's been at the top of her game for over 25 years - and she's still kicking ass, I vow to be more courageous and never give up ... Thank you for inspiring me."
Tom Hanks: 'Your show has turned surprise into an art form. You are surrounded by nothing but love.'
Maria Shriver: "(Oprah) has given me love, support, wisdom and most of all the truth. (I'm) not alone in receiving those gifts.'
Dakota Fanning: 'We're Oprah show babies. She's taught us we are enough... our lives have value.'
Beyonce: 'Oprah Winfrey, because of you, women have graduated to a new level of understanding... of who we can be. We can run the world!'
Diane Sawyer (while talking about how atree grows): "That is like life, that is like you. That is The Oprah Winfrey Show.'
Halle Berry: '(Oprah has taught us) We're more alike than different. All pain is the same.'
Will Smith: "Oprah said if this didn't work our for her, she would have become a 4th grade teacher. You did become a teacher, with the whole world as your classroom.'
Rosie O'Donnell: "You saved us from depression when you gave us Dr. Phil.'
I wish her all the best with the OWN Network.
Comments
Post a Comment