Apparently people are getting tired of watching Oprah. Last week her show had its lowest ratings since she started being syndicated nationally in 1986. According to some research done by The NY Post, Oprah's ratings are down 32 percent since 2004 and last week she finished 7th in the daytime ratings. For years she was in the top two or three and now she gets crushed by Judge Judy.
The Post gives lots of reasons why Oprah could be slipping, but I think people are just tired of her. It seems like she is everywhere all of the time and her show is the same every week. I don't watch Oprah regularly but many times it seems to me like she is just phoning it in almost. She does her hour but unless it is a special guest doesn't really get all that excited about it anymore.
It is different for a show like Letterman where there are writers and they can try and make the show different to an extent every night. On Oprah, there are only so many variations of the same theme and so I think she might be in a rut and her audience is looking for a spark as well.
Now, don't go feeling sorry for Oprah. She is still the most powerful person in the world and she owns shows and magazines and a network. Oh, and I'm pretty sure she owns Dr. Phil. Not just the show, but actually Dr. Phil himself. Plus, even with record low ratings over 4 million people tuned in to watch her repeats last week. I am going to hate myself for saying this but I would much rather watch Oprah than Judge Judy. I don't know how she is #1.
I LOVE DR. OZ....BUT I STILL HAVEN'T WATCHED THE SHOW IN YEARS...
ReplyDeleteDoh!-prah
ReplyDeleteI used to love it, but now. It's same old thing...unless Tom Crazy is on.
ReplyDeleteI can't stand Judge Judy, either, but I do think Oprah has reached her saturation point with people.
ReplyDeleteHere'san interesting article on Oprah from Newsweek, How Oprah Can Make You Sick
http://www.newsweek.com/id/200025
i am not going to feel sorry for oprah. she has stated that 2011 is it. her show has covered every conceivable topic known to man.
ReplyDeletejudge judy is okay, but i prefer judge joe brown because he'll be the first one to call out a sorry ass man.
judge judy is the highest paid tv judge also. i wonder how judges mathis, toler and brown fair money-wise?
ReplyDeleteI have never seen the Oprah show. Not even once.
ReplyDeleteAnyone else?
I think maybe this coming season should be her last.
ReplyDeleteWatched a show yesterday about a woman who killed her father and was surprised Oprah talked so openly about her abuse. Is that the norm for her now?
BAHAHA. This pleases me. I can't stand Oprah.
ReplyDeleteJudge Judy though? Ugh.
kathryn - I wish I could say the same. Unfortunately, I have seen the show.
ReplyDeleteI, too, am pleased. Not an Oprah fan in the least.
ReplyDeletekathryn - I've never seen an episode... Not even a snippet.
ReplyDeleteyeah, what QS said!
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ReplyDeleteDaytime T.V. sucks in general. You'd think with so many people unemployed in this economy they'd put some interesting stuff on. My local channels show Jerry Springer from almost twenty years ago. I wouldn't be surprised if they brought back Jenny Jones and she beat Oprah!
ReplyDelete@ Kathryn - you have me beat, but not by much, maybe 5. The media coverage of her show is so overwhelming it feels like I've seen every single one.
ReplyDeleteHow many times can you discuss dressing for your body shape or the SHOCKING MEDICAL MISTAKE THAT COULD KILL YOUR CHILDREN.
Oprah got so over the top in being into herself that she put off some of her audience. At least that's what I think.
ReplyDeleteThese past years, she comes off like she thinks she's the spiritual guru of the ages and that each word from her mouth should be considered a pearl of wisdom.
I mean, God bless her for her success, but I've been over her for years.
Finding Dr. Oz was brilliant; Dr. Phil has succumbed to the same tired and overused talk show themes that Oprah has. Haven't enjoyed HIS show in years, either.
dr. oz grates my nerves at times. he comes off as though if it ain't organic and super healthy, he doesn't partake. i'm sorry people like that often lie. i am all for being healthy, but these super health nuts, barf!
ReplyDeleteI can't stand watching Oprah's show anymore. It's all the same and all about her.
ReplyDeleteIt's time for her to fade away and enjoy her money in private
The few times that I am at home during the day, I love watching Ellen.
ReplyDeleteShe got full of herself and it is always medical themes now.
ReplyDeleteI dont' like Judge Judy or her white trash "plaintiffs & defendants". I find her abrasive.
ReplyDeleteUgh, Judge Judy. But then, I HATE all judge shows, period. Judge Judy is just the most popular one of them so I take that hatred out on her.
ReplyDeleteJudge Karen was on last night, and I told my sister you know they're paid actors when the plaintiff and defendant are going to court over a $120 phone. That's not worth the gas money it would take to drive to the court house, let alone airfare to get to a show. All these shows are doing is perpetuating the killing of brain cells and the acceptance that there really are that many people in the world who are ignorant, petty, and just all around bottom feeders. Damn, that sounds snooty. But it's true, I have a very low opinion for just about all of the "plaintiffs" and "defendants" involved in all those hot mess shows.
I don't like Oprah's show either and I think too many people (herself included) put her on a pedastal of perfection, but given the choice I'd take her over any judge show, any day of the week.
Personally, I can't stand any of the Judge shows. What does it say about us that so many are on?
ReplyDeleteI am thrilled to hear that this bitch is being pushed off her throne. I have never been able to stand this woman.
ReplyDeleteI've watched Oprah's show for many years. This last year she's had less glamour and more supposedly self help, financial advice shows.
ReplyDeleteWhile she probably thought this would make her look sympathetic I found it condescending.
She is everywhere but mainly she's all over Hollywood. That's where she really wants to be, hanging out with the other celebs.
She also flaunts her power and wealth way too much now.
Watching her show can definitely make you frustrated, angry and depressed.
I was watching it for Dr. Oz but I think he'll have his own show next season so goodbye Oprah.
Love her magazine, never liked her show.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite show moment (one of the few shows I watched) was when Wynonna, Naomi and Ashley Judd were on the show promoting the TV movie of their lives. Oprah asked them about how it felt to watch something they've experienced be re-enacted in the movie and which scene hit them the hardest.
Naomi cited one particular scene, to which Ashley (I think it was Ashley) said something like "Mom! That didn't even happen!" (meaning it was a fictionalized scene).
Loved it cos it showed how phony Naomi Judd is :-D
I love Judge Judy.
ReplyDeleteI also want to add that her weight could be an issue. Oprah was at the highlight of her career when she lost the weight (supposedly through diet and exercise) and kept it off.
ReplyDeleteMost people will not accept a boastful, bragging, woman who is overweight.
If she was humble, or low key, successful and overweight yes.
If she's boastful, rich and slim, definitely!
Her magazine is also terribly repetitive. It's all self-improvement stuff, and I feel like I've read it all before. Also, Suze Orman is a fake - tells people to put their money in the stock market, but she puts all her own money into T-bills and Treasury bonds.
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ReplyDeleteIsn't Oprah on repeats since it is summer? The ratings were down last week because the episodes aren't new. Leave it to The Post to make stuff up.
ReplyDeleteI used to watch Opie several years ago, but quickly got tired of the "It's all about ME!" attitude. She has truly done some wonderful things, but somehow she always seems to turn the attention back onto herself.
ReplyDelete@ AnonMom - good article; thanks. The last straw for me, and a perfect example of what the article says, is when Opie was diagnosed with thyroid disease. I've had thryoid issues and been on medication for years. Opie acted as though her problem was a personal failing, and that she had somehow brought it on herself by 'stuffing her feelings'. Thyroid disease just IS. It's not brought on by negative thoughts or being a bad person. If Opie wants to 'practice medicine' on herself, that's one thing, but putting her quack-y medical thoughts on the air could be deadly for those people who think she's God and believe her every word.
I can't stand Oprah. She seems a big fan of the one note opera ME!ME!ME!
ReplyDeleteI especially can't stand her when she gets her celeb friends on. Barftastic!
Jess, it sounds like the article is implying that even during reruns Oprah's rating are normally much higher than they were last week.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I think it's due to her political support to Obama. Right there she alienated half of her audience.
ReplyDeleteSecondly, she is extremely hypocritical - ie - she preaches environmental awareness - ummmm how many mansions does she own? and heat/keep cool???? How many SUVs does she drive?
Thirdly, she keeps giving repeated segments to the most annoying people on the planet like Lisa Ling, Gayle, and that castrated husband of Kelly Ripa.
Personally, I refuse to watch her show.
Umm...I love Oprah. I look forward to her show and will watch if the topic appeals to me. Maybe it's my age? I'm in that phase of life where I'm all about finding peace and eating properly. Or whatever. Looks like I'm in the minority, lol.
ReplyDeleteAnd, to be fair, last week the show was all reruns. People don't watch reruns. Just sayin'.
don't like oprah. she believes her own hype.
ReplyDeletelove judge judy. always wanted to take the ex on her show for her to tear him down on the back child support. asshole.
team judy.
I can name a number of reasons as to why I don't like Oprah--funny as to now that I am on maternity leave and am around daytime tv, I seem to catch her show now--you'd think that I would just not watch, but whatever. Here are a few reasons:
ReplyDelete1. She sings when her guest is a singer. Not just quietly mouthing the words, but she sits in the crowd, then proceeds to act like she is the singer, and sings loudly and throws her hands up, etc. etc.
2. She has the same celebrities on over and over: Will Smith, Tom, Travolta, Jim Carrey and Jenny What's her name, Kirstie Alley, etc.
3. She and her (even the "real folk") guests can come across as VERY smug. I am a white woman, so nothing against white women, but it always seems like she has some rich white woman on her show talking about how HARD life is (so hard to be a mommy, so hard that now we are poor and I can't get my nails done, so hard that my husband calls me fat, etc, etc.)
4. I can't stand effin Suze Orman. She is so full of bullshit that I can't even stand to look at her. Oprah had Dave Ramsey on once, and she should've stuck with him.
5. She doesn't correct her dumb-ass guests when they say something dumb unless it personally offends HER (i.e. on a show about "class in America" someone on the street was asked "who is low class?" the person responded that the low class are people like waitresses and immigrants. I mean, how fucking stupid. I thought Oprah would say something about that, but no. Nothing.
@kathryn--I'm with you and Jennifer on this one.
ReplyDeleteI've never seen one episode of Oprah.
IMO, ALL women-directed sh*t from magazines and novels to movies and TV makes us depressed, angry and frustrated.
Typical women's mag cover--"Lose the flab!" superimposed over a photo of a cutesy theme cake you're supposed to creatively whip up in your spare time for the family like some kinda fricking skinny-ass, perfect superwoman.
Riiiiigggghhhht.
I therefore eschew almost all chick sh*t of any kind.
Only one Oprah episode stands out for me. The topic was men who abuse women, and the women who go back to them. She had an older, crusty psychiatrist on who said the darndest thing: "Honey, if he hits you, it means he doesn't like you." Best. Advice. Ever. No one really follows it, but someone actually had the courage to say it.
ReplyDeleteToo bad that psychiatrist didn't become her "Dr. Phil."
Oprah was DTM after the public stoning of James Frey.
ReplyDeleteI loved the Oprah show with Martha Stewart. Martha was showing Oprah the correct way to make a bed. Oprah threw herself on the bed and Martha said in her bitch face voice, "Oprah,get off the bed." O jumped right off quite chastened.
ReplyDeleteI loved the Oprah show with Martha Stewart. Martha was showing Oprah the correct way to make a bed. Oprah threw herself on the bed and Martha said in her bitch face voice, "Oprah,get off the bed." O jumped right off quite chastened.
ReplyDeleteOprah is the devil.
ReplyDeleteI've always liked Oprah, but lost interest the day she published her magazine back in March with herself and Michelle Obama on the cover, and Oprah was standing a few steps behind Michelle, with her hands clapsed together as though in prayer, staring up at Michelle.
ReplyDeleteI am not saying anything negative against Michelle Obama, but it's almost as though Oprah was worshiping the woman, and that really bothered me. After that, I have never been able to look at Oprah quite the same way again.
I say 23 years in the #1 spot is a pretty good run.
ReplyDelete@ selenakyle: Me too! The best thing I ever did was stop reading those "women's" magazines. Even the fitness ones. My SILs read them voraciously and all they do is WORRY.
ReplyDeleteMy self-esteem rocketed when I gave that shit up. It's DESIGNED to keep women in a state of self-doubt, jealousy and manufactured need.
Ugh. I used to think Oprah was alright.
ReplyDeleteThen she became an Obama sychophant.
i'm right there with you Jax. that's what did it for me in never watching Oprah again or supporting any of her products/projects
ReplyDeleteAs an African-American woman, I'm afraid I might go to jail for saying, "I'm not a fan of Oprah!" She's successful and charitable, but I just cannot relate to her. I think my disdain started about 4-5 years ago when she had a $600 bathrobe in her magazine in the "Favorite Things" section...and $50 bubble bath. Even before the financial crisis, I wouldn't have spent $50 on bubble bath! You can't go to Bath and Body Works and get a $12/bottle?! I think she encouraged people to overspend by presenting these luxuries as "everyday" items. Not her fault that people allowed themselves to be led like sheep, but I do fault her for holding it out as normal.
ReplyDeleteI voted for Obama (I'm normally an Independent/Republican leaning voter), but I was extraordinarily put off by her using her tv show as a platform. People watch Oprah to learn (unfortunately) from the self-help gurus and to escape from reality, not to talk politics.
TEAM JUDY all the way!
ReplyDeleteMore common sense in her pinkie than the Supreme Court has in it's entire body.
Oprah has been phoning it in for years. It's all about the money for her now.
F*ck Oprah. Always hated her!
ReplyDeleteI watched Oprah last week for the first time in a couple of years, and I found it interesting that it seems to cater to such a specific target audience of women now. Upper-middle class and mostly white. It doesn't wallow in the gutter, guests use big words, etc. Not everybody's cup of tea. I felt like I was eavesdropping and didn't fit in with the crowd!
ReplyDeleteI'm surprised not enough people have been pointing at Oprah the last few years and calling her out on her burgeoning personality cult. Seriously, the sycophantic attitudes of those slavering audience members and the big Oprah fans at home is reminiscent of what cult members do in the presence of their exalted leader. They do everything Oprah tells them to do. They like everything Oprah likes. If Oprah says something is bad or wrong they too say it's bad or wrong. Oprah's fan base is made up of nothing but brainwashed, lobotomized, zombified robots and Oprah is the Jim Jones in the middle holding the remote control, making them all drink even more of the $1,000 Kool Aid. There are few other people I am more passionate against and I eagerly await Oprah's eventual downfall, and may God give us the wisdom not to let it ever happen again.
ReplyDelete