In three years of blogging, I've never written about Oprah. I could have. But I didn't want to give all the haters the satisfaction.
However,now that it's nearing the end,I've put on my thicker skinned shell, and I'm remembering this is my little corner of the universe - I can write what I want to, so here is my first and most likely last post on Oprah Winfrey.
I don't know why Oprah is so polarizing. What did she ever do besides make billions of dollars providing interesting daytime television?
What's wrong with having a bookclub? Most of the time I read books recommended by friends and family anyway. Why wouldn't I read a book that was researched by a team of paid staff whose sole purpose is to research up and coming books?
And what's wrong with becoming more aware of problems in Africa, an Angel Network or seeing my favourite celebrities in personal interviews?
I just don't see how this is cult-like. That's right, I've heard people who oppose Oprah refer to her influence as a cult.
I'll admit I could do without the play-by-play of the roadtrips with Gayle but I just turn the channel to Ellen those days. No one's perfect including you and me.
The thing I don't understand about your hate (yes, I'm talking to you)is that you can never give me a solid reason why. You usually say something like, she just bugs me. And for the record, I do something because it seems like a good idea not because Oprah said to do it.
And one person even said of the show, that it's what housewives watch. Here's the phone, genius, it's the 1950's and they want their attitude back. Please! Give me a break.
I'm sad that it's the last season not because I'll miss Oprah herself. I'll miss the good programming. I'll miss seeing someone so wildly popular talking about doing good and positive things for children, animals and her fellow man in this world. I'll miss seeing my favourite authors highlighted. I'll miss the pleasant surprise of catching a story that uplifts me. Because I'm not jaded by life. I am still impressed when people commit kindnesses to each other.
And let's face it, you'd be singing a different tune if you or someone you knew was given a bit of recognition for something you accomplished on her show.
Okay I'm done.
I'm joining Shell in Pour Your Heart Out. Check out some of the other posts.
Yesssssssss! YOu get one! and you get one! and you get one!!
ReplyDeleteI am sorry Kim i just had to do this!! You know Oprah was my savior in high school. I owe a lot to her. At that time, i just needed someone who could say the right things to make me feel better! and she was there! I agree over the years i have grown out of her but i cannot forget the time when i needed those words of positive upliftment! i owe her a lot more than i realise i guess!
I've never had a problem with Oprah. Then again, I don't think I've watched more than two episodes of her show. But I too have never understood why people dislike her. She certainly isn't doing any harm, in fact, she seems to do a whole lot of good.
ReplyDeleteMy guess is that people don't like to see others be successful. That's the only way I can account for it.
Two good things about Oprah:
ReplyDelete1) She cares about people and
2) She has used a lot of her money to help people.
I guess at least one more - she has kept her show very wholesome, unlike some other talk show hosts.
Merry Christmas.
Nicely put!
ReplyDeleteI'm not an Oprah fan and even though I'm a big reader, I've only ever actually liked one of the books on her reading list.
I don't watch many talk shows and I'm more entertained by Ellen. There is something about Oprah's personality that rubs me wrong.
But, she definitely has had a lot of success.
And, you're SO right: if she were to call me up and ask me to be on her show, I'd go in a heartbeat. LOL
That’s some venting! Oprah would be proud of you. Not that it matters of course :)
ReplyDeleteWhatever someone did to you in the past has no power over the present. Oprah
ReplyDeleteThis is a very good quote to me and it's on my blog.
I don't know much about her. I don't watch her snow - we don't get TV. But I'd say any form of hate it not good. So that I can agree with.
ReplyDeleteI don't hate Oprah, but I don't care for her either and I can tell you exactly why ... because she promotes herself too much. True she does a lot of good, but she makes darn sure we KNOW about all the good she does. That bothers me. I find it self-serving.
ReplyDeleteI'm one of those people who admire Oprah for her success and philanthropy, but in the last 5-10 years I think she has lost her touch. What made her special before was her ability to relate to her audience, but now she's bragging about owning diamonds, mansions and private jets. I don't resent her material wealth, it's just seems that is all she has going on in her personal life. Since she's not married or raising a family, I don't find her relevant as a celebrity role model. That's what bugs me about Oprah. There, I committed the most heinous act of blasphemy
ReplyDelete:-)
I didn't take the time to read comments I usually don't. Wanting my comment to be from me to you not from us to you. I hope they are all possitive, that the 'hater' are smart enough to leave it be.
ReplyDeletecan you believe I have NEVER watched Oprah! Never! I have read the headling on the tabloids at the supermarket. I did watch soaps on daytime TV as a young mother.... can't think that she is any worse that Soap Stars with their fooling around and wearing tacky cloths. I DO use her book club list as a reference of books to read. they are consitantly good books - better than the times bestseller list.
Hoping you and your family a great holiday season. hug those babies for me.... Hug hubby for you.
kisses from Brasil.
I've outgrown watching Oprah shows along time ago, after Dr. Phil joined her, but she did have many wholesome shows that empowered women's rights!
ReplyDeleteI have nothing against her either, and think that she is a very generous person.
I'm neutral on it all. I don't watch her show, not because I don't like her...but because I don't watch a lot of TV. I don't understand all the fuss over it though, but maybe because I don't watch it.
ReplyDeleteWell said, good for you!!!
ReplyDeleteOprah represents a lot of things for many people. One thing is that she has brought giving to a different level. She has brought digging deep within yourself to a different level. She has brought viewing women to a different level. I thank her for that...
And I agree, during those moments that something she did or said got under my skin, I just turned the channel. Not one of us is perfect and I wonder if we would be so generous with our time and gifts/talents as she has???