Oprah? Bite Me.
I used to like Oprah. I did. I used to see her as something of a woman’s woman.
These days? Not so much. *ducking the rotten vegetable projectiles* And I’d never say she hasn’t done some wonderful things and helped a lot of people. Those moments are always very conveniently caught on camera so it would be near impossible to not be aware of her many good deeds.
But these days I see her as more of a hypocrite than anything else; someone who would compromise her integrity for the sake of ratings and dollar signs if need be.
And who’s going to call her out on it? Who’s going to say shit to her when she’s handing out new cars and iPods and hundred dollar boxes of chocolate?
Uhhh…me?
Yeah, me. Because I’m pretty pissed off right now.
This is a “comment” I submitted to Oprah.com. I know she’ll probably never see it but whatever, I had to write it.
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I was watching the Oprah show today about people living lives of minimal consumption, the Freegans etc. I thought the show had a good message and the topic seemed kid-friendly so I let my 7.5 year old daughter watch with me. I normally don’t do this because most of your shows topics are simply not suitable for children but I thought today was the exception. And in regard to that particular segment, it was.
But then, before a commercial, with NO WARNING WHATSOEVER, the show cut to a close up shot of a woman dancing nude. Yes, the parts that the FCC won’t allow were blurred out but there was no mistaking what we were watching.
Was it REALLY necessary to show that graphic imagery to elucidate what your segment on a suburban stripper mom was all about? The voice over wasn’t enough? Are you that desperate?
In case you care, my daughter, after having seven years of carefully-tended innocence totally compromised in 10 seconds by your promo, asked me “Why is that mommy dancing naked?”
Would you or your producers like to come over and EXPLAIN THAT TO HER? Because I sure as hell didn’t know what to say.
If I wasn’t so pissed off, I’d have to laugh at the irony…
I turn on Oprah, champion of women everywhere and what do I find? That same tired old refrain of female nudity being exploited for profit *sigh* And equally contemptible, your total disregard for who might be watching at 4pm in the afternoon. I wouldn’t have been fazed by such poor taste and judgment after 10pm or on cable but on network TV during daytime hours? I think you need to re-examine your V-chip rating and have it switched to TV-MA.
I’m disappointed in you, Oprah. I really am. I honestly thought better of you and I would expect better from your producers, as well.
Silly me, huh?
—-
Rest assured, people. I won’t make that mistake again.
I can no longer handle the O-Bots who scream at the sight of Oprah and find the show to be mostly drivel and self-promotion now. Too bad, I think she’s a great person, and I know she does great things, I just think lately things have gone downhill.
“Those moments are always very conveniently caught on camera so it would be near impossible to not aware of her many good deeds.”
THAT is more of the point isn’t it? Many people perform good deeds for others. Rich, poor, whatever. They do things for others, just because.
If there are a posse of cameras, reporters and perfect hair and makeup then it is a publicity stunt. And a tax break. Nothing more.
Do your good deeds Oprah, but out of the glare of the spotlight. We will still know, we will still find out. And perhaps you will regain some respect.
Oh and Izzy, I have got to the point where, unless it is a giveaway show, my kids are not allowed to watch Oprah. Sad isn’t it.
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I don’t like her at all. Yes she does good things, but her voice makes me want to stab my cats. And that just isn’t right.
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I hear ya, sister! I stopped watching when all of her favorite things were in a price range WAY above what normal people can afford.
She really started to bug me when she had to be on the cover of EVERY SINGLE ISSUE of her magazine.
I think she’s been out-of-this-world-rich for so long that she’s removed from reality. And now that she’s pushing “The Secret”? - no more Oprah for me.
I haven’t made it through an entire episode on years. I happened to tune in today and caught those shenanigans you speak of… I had no idea what the heck Lisa Ling was championing.
in the words of my favorites super villain “Lame lame lame lame LAME”
(the incredibles)
Wow. I think you did the right thing. Kids coming home from school could definitely turn on the T.V. and see that. Your daughter is lucky enough to have you there to talk about these things, even though it is uncomfortable. I don’t know what I would have said. I fumble with words as it is.
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that’s depressing.
all that effort, all that management of all kinds of things, gone, *zap* in an instant.
I’m sorry, Iz. I wish I could hand you back that instant.
bleah.
Oprah just doesn’t relate at all to the average person anymore.
It’s sad.
Bleck.
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Wow. I AM surprised (and disturbed!) that happened- not what I would have expected at all…and especially sorry your poor daughter had to see that. :(
I also have a pet peeve about her Book Club….why is SHE an authority on what constitutes a good book or a book worth reading???? And one of these is The Secret??? yeah right. :P
How interesting that Oprah, with 500 homes, a huge gas-guzzler and a billion of her favorite things was doing a show on living simply. Ha!
Amen Sistah Friend. Good for you for saying something, whether anyone reads it or not.
And Heather - O-Bots is my new favourite word!
Oprah hasn’t been trustworthy since she started that magazine and posted her ENTIRELY AIRBRUSHED self on the cover month after month. I mean sure everyone wants to look good, especially if they’re on the cover of a magazine but come on! Nobody can be considered a “woman’s woman” if they can’t even keep it real on the cover of their own magazine.
I think maybe she’s just become so rich and so “big” and with her hands into so many things that she’s lost sight and control of a lot of things.
I feel your pain. This is why my tv is pretty much locked on Nick Jr.
Yesterday my oldest and I were in a tiny little sub shop getting an early dinner when Oprah was on, and that segment with the dancing naked mom came on. I have never been so grateful that my daughter is a bit of an airhead and wasn’t paying attention, and I was able to distract her and make sure she wasn’t looking at the tv when they were showing clips of the mom dancing. I was furious. I never watch the show and that clip reminded me of why. I’m so sorry your daughter was watching and saw something she had to ask about, Izzy. I’m glad she asked, though, instead of just absorbing it and moving on but with a little unconcsious seed planted where you don’t want it.
Talk about a self-promoter! She is on the cover of all of her magazines, which by the way, happens to be named after her too. And then there is her Network of television, as if one show wasn’t enough. Oh, and don’t forget the Satellite radio shows. Now all the books I buy have a big fat “O” plastered on them. Enough is enough.
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What bothers me about Oprah is her on-screen attempts to “relate” to regular Americans, like, “I’ve been there!” Sure, Oprah, but somehow having a gagillion dollars makes life much easier to cope with, doesn’t it? She just seems like an ego-maniac. You won’t be ducking any flying fruit coming from my direction!
I couldn’t agree more. She lost me as a viewer when she would empathise with celebrity guests when they complained about fans or something only celebrities have to deal with. It was so incredibly annoying.
And she always has to relate whatever the topic is back to her. Or go off on a tanget about what she knows about life.
I miss Donahue.
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I saw that episode and I was pretty shocked. Oprah is about 3 steps away from Jerry Springerville
She’s an ass.
Oh you know I’m with you on this one. That woman is a money hungry publicity, no valley is too low, media whore (can I say that on this blog? I kid - she’s a vulture!).
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Ugh. That totally bites. I can’t believe Oprah’s doing topics like that! I agree, late-night tv or cable is where it’s supposed to be!
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SO how do you really feel?
The sad part is that you are probably right, it will never make it past the intern who does the first level screening. (sigh)
Good luck with finding an explanation.
Isn’t it funny how everyone forgets that she started out as just another sensationalist talk show host exploiting her guests and running around the audience like Jerry Springer with a microphone?
Oprah is the physical manifestation of Madonna’s fake British accent.
I haven’t liked Oprah since she gave us Dr Phil.
Um. Ew.
What, because she endorses something, it’s better? I will stick to my own opinions, thanks.
Also, that comment above from Aprylsantics was beautiful!
Okay so I’ll be the lone contrarian voice here.
The stripper thing? Sounds stupid. Gratuitous. I can imagine how that might take you by surprise when you’re sitting there with your daughter. Good for you for writing the letter.
But honestly, I think she does a whole ton of awesome things with her money - builds schools, helps the poor, blah blah. She even helped bring reading back. I feel like because she does them on camera, it inspires more people. If the one downside of all of it is that she has a big fat head…well, I can live with that. I’m all for do-gooding in whatever egocentric package it might come in.
Hate her show by the way. Don’t call me an O-Bot! (Very funny term)
You know, I gave up on her long, long ago. I hate that she is on my favorite network, I end up forgetting I left that station on and almost always have to change the channel and quick. I actually had the opportunity to see the promo for that show early in the day when my daughter was at school, so I was prepared and made sure the tv was not on that channel that day. I feel bad for those of you who weren’t that lucky. My 9 year old needs not to see what that sleezy OLD lady does to support her self & kids. Im glad to see so many other women feel the same about the o-bots…by the way, I love that word and Im taking it and I’m gonna spew it everywhere! So, I hope this also means none of us Oprah haters are gonna vote for the other O-BOT aka O-bama for president, Are you freeking kidding me? So, now not only am I supposed to buy her magazine with her airbrushed ass/face all over it, I am to go out and buy all her favorite might I add EXPENSIVE things, I am to buy her favorite books, oh and yeah I am to vote for the Next Leader of the FREE WORLD because she says so. PUH-LEASE! I don’t think so Oprah! He has nothing to offer us, just like his Fairy God Mother and her never ending cash flow that is at HIS disposal. I wrote about him on my blog, you are all welcomed to come by and read. http://mvkq.blogspot.com
Coming in late (as usual) to say, I would have agreed with you…to a point. Until, I watched her new show “The Big Give” and was very disappointed…no, wait…pissed…yeah, I was pissed-off that she’s taken a turn onto reality road and offering the winning do-gooder 1 mil; for doing good? OMG! Here are some poor, helpless retches that really need you. As if doing good isn’t incentive enough. I’d like to see the winning contestant try and keep the 1 mil, without looking like a total asshole. UGH. Izzy, I agree with you TOTALLY. Hey, Oprah…you can bite me, too!
I’ve always seen Oprah as a joke. Especially after I heard that she makes guests PAY to be on her show. And that nothing she gives out is ever free.
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I think I catch Oprah twice a year (like I watched her show on puppy-training that happened to be on the same week we brought home a new puppy).
I think she is mostly well-intentioned, but she’s also her own best marketing monster and I get tired of being somewhat condescended to and spoonfed her agenda. I do live the best life I can and know what choices to make to try and be a decent human being with O telling me what to do.
That would be WITHOUT in that last sentence. Now I look like a lemming, ARGH!
I honestly didn’t even notice the naked dancers, but that’s probably b/c my toddler girls don’t pay attention yet to Oprah unless Elmo’s on. I stand with you 100% on this. It was completely unnecessary in the context of the show and the time the show is on.
I’ve been a long-time fan of Oprah and think she does a lot of good, but I have been noticing lately the sheer shock-value-for-ratings she’s been using. It’s not been good.
Well said, Izzy. Even Oprah falls prey to the very thing she supposedly rails against.
The nightly news, commercials…even cooking shows are not immune to “salacious” details (sorry - I just had a flashback to when the Kenneth Starr report came out and every news anchor used the word “salacious” repeatedly) and sexual innuendo.
In response to Jenny, you do not have to pay to be on her show. I happened to be at that very taping (while not a fan of Oprah, I much prefer Ellen, it was neat to see). The stripper story was interesting but not suitable for youngsters, I agree there was a disconnect between the first and second half of the show.