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Posts with tag OprahWinfrey

Montel Williams airs his last show today

Montel WilliamsIt's the end of an era today. One of the longest running syndicated talk shows is airing its last show. The Montel Williams Show wraps today after 17 years of discussion, controversy, interviews and inspiration. But just because the show is ending, that doesn't mean Montel is going away. At the final New York City taping in March, he explained to the adoring throng, "I'm not retiring. I am stopping The Montel Williams Show, but I am not, in any way, shape or form, stopping anything else that I'm doing."

Williams' show has actually been one of the more dignified syndicated daytime talk shows, a step above Jerry Springer and Maury Povich, but not quite The View or Ellen DeGeneres. His style could be compared to Phil Donahue, especially in his desire to be a change agent. He really cared about the people who appeared on his program; it wasn't about being a ring leader to a freak show, as Jerry is, or confronting people with DNA tests like Maury does. Montel was not into that stuff.

Gallery: Montel Williams

Montel WilliamsMontel Williams & Susan LucciMontel WilliamsMontel Williams 2Montel Williams 3

Continue reading Montel Williams airs his last show today

Oprah developing new show for Dr. Oz

Dr OzPlease file this item under the "Duh" file: Dr. Mehmet Oz, Oprah's favorite medical expert, is getting a spin-off talk show. Harpo Productions, Oprah's company, is developing a Dr. Oz talk show to commence fall of 2009.

According to insiders, the Harpo team had meetings with distributor in Chicago last month. A medical talker with Doc Oz, which I bet will be called Ask Dr. Oz -- the name of his successful segments on Oprah's show -- would follow in the footsteps of Dr. Phil. Remember, Dr. Phil McGraw began his life as a talker by appearing on Oprah in infrequent hours that were a de facto pilot for his own talk show. Dr. Phil then launched in 2002, as a Harpo production, and has been a big time hit. He's even challenged Oprah in some markets.

Continue reading Oprah developing new show for Dr. Oz

AOL readers rate TV talk show hosts

Ellen DegeneresSo, AOL TV did a poll about America's favorite talk show hosts and 1.3 million people made their feelings known. Interesting results. I didn't agree with some of them, like who I like waking up with. Diane Sawyer was the top choice, but I'd go for the second place finisher, Matt Lauer. As for whom to go to bed with -- TV talk show wise, that is -- I can't believe most of the people chose Jay Leno. Is he really that popular? I prefer David Letterman; I'm a sucker for the Top Ten lists.

Gallery: Talk Show Hosts

Regis PhilbinConan O'BrienJay Leno on David LettermanDiane SawyerEllen DeGeneres

Continue reading AOL readers rate TV talk show hosts

Oprah makes a deal with Kirstie Alley

Kirstie and OprahKirstie Alley is coming back to the small screen and Oprah's got her. Harpo Productions has signed Alley for future TV projects. It could be a sitcom like Fat Actress, it could be a talk show, like the one she shopped around last year, but in whatever format, Harpo will be behind it. One definite possibility would be for Kirstie to appear in a show on OWN, the new Oprah Winfrey Network, which used to be Discovery Health Channel.

Continue reading Oprah makes a deal with Kirstie Alley

As part of NBCU takeover, 25% of Oxygen employees gone

Oxygen LogoThe takeover of Oxygen by NBC Universal has now lead to 25% of Oxygen's employees being let go, per this Variety article. "We have consolidated functions and operations, resulting in job impact," said J.B. Perrette, president of distribution for NBCU. Can't you just see Jack Donaghy (Alec Baldwin) delivering that line. "Job Impact." I love wordspin. Not "We just told 65 people that come the New Year they'll be on the streets looking for work" but "We told 65 people that their jobs have been impacted."

Continue reading As part of NBCU takeover, 25% of Oxygen employees gone

Here's the annual list of TV celebs who make more money than you

Oprah WinfreyThis annual list from Forbes is half "wow, I didn't know they made that much" and half "oh my God, Oprah made more money in the last minute than I've made in the past five years." But it's a fun way to see who's making what. Some of the people you pretty much assume will be on the list, but there are a few surprises too.

Oprah is indeed on top again. From June 2006 to June 2007 she made $260 million. I could pay off my Visa with that money. Number two isn't even on TV anymore: Jerry Seinfeld. He made $60 million during that year. I won't spoil the rest of the list for you, but let's just say that the top twenty includes two people from American Idol, someone from a reality show featuring models, and a whole bunch of talk show hosts, both daytime and nighttime.

The list is also a TV show. The Forbes TV 20 will premiere on E! tomorrow night at 5pm.

Oprah weighs in on Imusgate

Don Imus' career on television is done, but television is not done with Don Imus.

Yesterday, the women of TV talk weighed in on the "Imusgate" fiasco.
On the heels of a recent interview with Matt Lauer on The Today Show, Al Sharpton decided yesterday to make an encore presentation of his opinions with Meredith Vieira. This visit was more targeted at addressing the racist/chauvinist double standards in the music industry. Hmm, no wonder Lauer didn't score this interview -- it was worthless. I'm scratching my head. Where is the logical nexus between Don Imus and rappers?

In a somewhat predictable move, Oprah Winfrey sat down with the Rutgers woman's basketball team and discussed the situation in grand Oprah style.

Continue reading Oprah weighs in on Imusgate

Man tries to extort $1.5 million from Oprah

oprah winfreyAccording to several Chicago-area newspapers, the FBI has arrested a man who allegedly tried to blackmail Oprah's company for $1.5 million. It's a little confusing but I'll try to explain it. The feds say 36-year old Keifer Bonvillain met one of Oprah's employees at a party and began recording their subsequent telephone conversations about Oprah and her business. After getting 12 hours of tape, Bonvillain allegedly e-mailed Oprah about the awful things his employee-friend said about her. He also threatened to write a tell-all book, claiming he'd received offers from tabloids and publishers. Oprah's company apparently 'agreed' to pay him $1.5 million in exchange for the tapes. He agreed to a meeting spot to collect the dough and-- presto!-- the FBI nabbed him. I wonder if Oprah ever knew about it until the conclusion.

Oprah and Stedman to finally move in together

Oprah and StedmanOprah Winfrey recently decided to take her relationship with Stedman Graham to the next level, and let him move in with her, probably in her recently purchased Chicago home. Their relationship dates all the way back to 80s, when Oprah used to bear a strong likeness to Rocky Horror Picture Show's Doctor Frank N. Furter (pictured).

"Whoa, but I thought they've already been living together..." seems to be the wide-spread public reaction to the news. Yes, one would think that, after dating for twenty years, Oprah would have let Stedman start sleeping over ages ago. However, one must not forget that this is Oprah. Our relationship logic does not need to apply to the mighty Oprah. Hail Oprah.

ID thieves targeting Oprah's fans

oprah winfreyAccording to this article in USA Today, identity thieves are offering people tickets to Oprah via e-mail. The unsolicited e-mails ask for people's personal information and claim they need to verify financial information in order to send the tickets through the mail. The problem is: there are no tickets for Oprah's show. Harpo Studios just takes reservations (months in advance) and it's free to view tapings. Harpo turned over the fake e-mails to the authorities and now the Illinois state Attorney General is investigating the scam. So far there aren't any known victims but once this news gets out, that could change. I can see it now: Oprah does a 'Favorite Things' episode for all the people who were scammed!

Madonna to talk to Oprah this Wednesday

MadonnaPop superstar Madonna, who is currently shopping for a baby at a large store called "the world," will tape an interview with Oprah Winfrey that will air this Wednesday.

Madonna's adoption of a Malawi boy is currently in dispute by the boy's father. Or maybe it's not. It's really hard to follow all of the twists and turns of this story. But I'm sure the Material Girl will set the record straight when she sits down on Oprah's couch.

The baby's name is David, and he is currently in London as all the adoption legal stuff is figured out.

Today's Oprah two-fer (and get your mind out of the gutter)

Oprah WinfreyTo start your work week, here are two brief news stories about Queen of all Media Oprah Winfrey.

First, Fortune magazine has just announced its annual list of the 50 most powerful women in business. Guess who's number eight? If you said Britney Spears you would be wrong. Winfrey, and her Harpo Inc. company, actually dropped four spaces from last year's list. That spot was taken over by Pat Woertz, CEO and President of Archer Daniels Midland. More on Oprah, Pat, and the 48 other business women, can be found at the magazine's website (courtesy of CNN Money).

In a non-related story, Oprah says that her lawyers overreacted by going after a man who was trying to promote her candidacy for U.S. President. Patrick Crowe has been urging Winfrey to run for president for several years now, even going so far as creating a website that has its own campaign song. Last Month, lawyers for the media mogul sent Crowe a letter demanding that he remove Oprah's picture from his website. Oprah said that she's flattered by Crowe's stalking intentions, and that her attorneys should not have sent him a cease-and-desist order.

Oprah does not want to be President

OprahPatrick Crowe is not one of Oprah's favorite things.

The writer and entrepreneur has been pushing an "Oprah in 08" campaign via a web site (and soon a self-published book), and now Oprah's lawyers have heard about it and have sent a five page letter telling him "stop it!" The Smoking Gun, of course, has the letter here.

I can understand how they'd have a case against the guy for using copyrighted photos and having a web site with the name Oprah in it and a phone number with Oprah's name, but telling him he can't use the name Oprah on the book cover or have a license plate with the name Oprah on it? Hmmm....

Oprah returns to her native Mississippi home

Oprah in MississippiGosh, its been a long time since we had a good Oprah Winfrey story! In fact, we haven't mentioned Oprah since July 17th, when we posted an item on her beliefs that people thought she was gay. So, in order to whet your appetite before her show's season premiere on September 18th (where she will apparently give away a small country to everyone in the audience), here's your Oprah fix for this week. And, no, she's still not gay.

Continue reading Oprah returns to her native Mississippi home

Oprah plays wedding crasher for upcoming show

Oprah invades weddingsSo, imagine you're living in Tulsa and are getting married. Suddenly, you see a full-figured woman in a pink dress and huge hat coming toward you, followed by a phalanx of cameras and hangers-on. As she drops off a gift, she takes of her hat and... there's Oprah! What would you do?

Personally, I'd throw her out. But other Tulsa couples welcomed her as she dropped by a number of weddings in the Oklahoma city, gathering footage for an upcoming episode of her show. This article quotes some of the people whose weddings were crashed by the big O.

What surprises me is that Oprah only gave each couple dishes as a gift. After seeing her at my wedding, anything less than a check for a million dollars would be a grave disappointment.

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