OWN has been trouble from day one. As good as Oprah is about managing her Harpo empire, she is really bad about managing her own television network. I think her other Harpo shows did and do so well because she introduced people like Dr. Phil and Dr. Oz and Rachael Ray and people got used to them and they flourished after Oprah sent them on their way. Now though without a talk show to launch shows and people she has been way less successful. To make OWN better she has decided to start a talk show of her own called Oprah's Next Chapter and it premieres in January. It is basically going to be a copy of what Barbara Walters does when she interviews celebrities at home.
Rosie was supposed to fill the void but I only watched one show with Brett Butler.
ReplyDeleteThe whole show seems disjointed like Rosie is trying to be that loveable stand up comic 90's version and her real self.
Choose one.
I don't think Oprah will ever be able to retire with a legacy and network that will live past her.
The main problem with OWN appears to be, according to what I've been reading on message boards, that most cable companies have put the network in a higher tier than "basic cable," so most people need to pay more to see it. Which they do not want to do just to get one network. So until OWN can be viewed by more people, I don't think it's going to become more popular or get better ratings. I get it on DirecTV, but then I pay for everything they offer.
ReplyDeleteKnew this was coming. I remember when the whole OWN thing was first announced, it was reported at the time that Oprah had to agree to not do a talk show for 6 months, it was part of the contract or something. So she waits 6 months and starts over. No surprise. Have never watched OWN and don't see it happening in the near future. Still baffled at why this woman is so worshipped. She did a talk show FFS. Sure she does her charity stuff, but look what happened with that - she built a school for girls that had a child molester in charge of it. Oprah Schmoprah
ReplyDeleteSo Ops is going to sit on celebrity couches, blow air kisses & discuss how 'evolved & wonderful' they are...Gag Tv. She's so far up her celeb friend's asses it's painful to watch. I'll never forgive Oprah for those bullshit specials she did w/ Cruise & MJ. She needs to leave on a high note (which was actually about 10 years ago)
ReplyDeleteI should preface w/ I've met Oprah, been on her show, sat on the same chair Tom went nutzo on & she's actually a cool broad & much more down to earth than she gives off on air. Professionally, she's a genius, but I think she could use her talents elswhere now.
ReplyDelete10 bucks says her first guests would be:
Maria Shriver
Jen Aniston
Michelle Obama (that one's okay)
Halle
Barbara Walters
you get the drift ;)
I didn't watch her before - I won't watch her now.
ReplyDeleteI don't get the Oprah thing either, y'all.
ReplyDelete@Princess: While I'm not an Oprah fan by any stretch of the imagination, I think it's a hateful thing to say "she built a school for girls that had a child molester in charge of it" it wasn't as though she searched for a molester and put her in charge of the school. She was in her own way trying to help. Having said that, I don't really care too much what she does with her life.
ReplyDeleteI really like Oprah, I've learnt lots from her shows over the years. I'm not a Opraholic though by any stretch. I never cared for shows where she interviews her friends to make them look good.
ReplyDeleteSo a big ass-kissing show, then?
ReplyDeleteOprah made the mistake of thinking that everything she touches would turn to gold. She was very successful when she operated from her own platform, but had some success as an actress, some success with her humanitarian causes, less success as a producer and even less success running a network. She needs to decide on a narrower focus.
ReplyDeleteTotally agree mygeorgie! You forgot to add Julie Roberts and Tom Hanks.
ReplyDeleteNever watch her network because there's nothing on it worth watching. Horrible programming.
@pegd - Don't forget John Travolta.
ReplyDeleteDidn't her other network,Oxygen, bomb too? I don't have a problem with the Big O, but she needs to lay off the celebs and new age gurus. That ass kissing is a snore to watch.
ReplyDeleteI've listened to The Rosie show a few times on NPR, but I don't even know if I have OWN?? Do you have it with Direct TV?
ReplyDeleteI can't imagine wanting to go back to a talk show...I guess she's a workaholic?
*Bahaha, correction, I have listened to The Rosie Show on the Starz channel, not NPR. I really need to go nighty-night now. :)
ReplyDeleteI roll my eyes at all her new-agey stuff, BUT, I gotta give her credit for her positivity. In an age when most entertainers are making us feel bad in one way or another, she is genuinely trying to do good and make others feel good.
ReplyDeleteIf I'm ever feeling down, I'll pick up an "O" Magazine, and it's just so gosh-darn upbeat and affirming that I do end up feeling better! ;-P But seriously, I do.
I'm sorry but Oprah bugs hell outta me. How can we ever forgive her for Dr. Phil?
ReplyDeleteIn Canada,OWN is not in the basic cable package, so you do have to pay extra for it. It is also on the channel that used to be some kind of women's network (Diva or Viva or something equally contrived *L*), and OWN doesn't have 24 hour programming so it's a few OWN shows (and I like a few of them, actually, like "Masterclass", for example), and then they show things like "Rescue Mediums" for the rest of it. I did have the channel when I was living by myself for a while, but now that I've moved back in with my husband I think I may have to sneak-order it...*L* I like Oprah, I can't help it.
ReplyDeleteI have enormous respect for what Oprah has accomplished over the course of her career with very little assistance. She is a one-woman empire, and I appreciate how hard she works. Do I care for her shows? Not really. Am I surprised she's already back with a show because she can't sit still? Not at all. Am I asking myself questions and answering them like that character on Seinfeld? It appears so.
ReplyDeleteThis was planned before her original show ended, she just had to wait until her contract would allow it. The commercials show her with Stephen Tyler---not sure but I would guess the premiere in January would synch well with American Idol returning.
ReplyDeleteI think interviewing celebrities is kind of sad, given the potential she has with her own network, but I assume she will do more as time passes.