News One » Oprah Winfrey

Happy 58th Birthday, Oprah!

Ruth Manuel-Logan — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 15:22:01 +0000

The queen of talk, mega-mogul, and humanitarian bar none, Oprah Winfrey has been an unending source of inspiration for all. She has graced our homes and warmed our hearts with more than 25 years of lessons and enlightenment that we’ve gathered from her shows. And now at 58 years young, the diva is still on a mission to help us achieve our “authentic selves” and ultimately “be the change you want to see in the world” via her OWN cable television network and countless other projects. Oprah, NewsOne wishes you the happiest of birthdays and would like to share some of our wishes for you.

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1) William Shakespeare once said that “with mirth and laughter let old wrinkles come.” We wish you a year of endless smiles that are brought on by the sweetest and happiest memories of your life.

2) You are a hero and your phrase from ”zero to hero,” which means that no matter where or how you begin in life, you can make a difference, has been so inspirational to many. Your influence has spread far and wide and you’ve used your might to inspire, empower, and educate the masses. We wish you continued compassion and vision for a better world.

3) Your love of acting moved you to form your own production company, HARPO Entertainment Group. We wish that your company continues to be a formidable force in films and television and that the fire in you never dies to bring us a continuance of quality entertainment programming.

4) Named one of the world’s most-generous philanthropists, we wish that for each and every noble goal and selfless endeavor you set, may all of your future efforts be equally successful and rewarding.

5) Spirituality seems to fuel and nourish your soul. You’ve expressed that through a more spiritual lifestyle one can reap the benefits of increased energy, enjoyment, alertness, love, calm, and a nearness to an exalted God. We wish you unwavering peace and joy in your spiritual journey.

6) Your love of reading has spurred thousands upon thousands of people to pick up a book. You have spread the idea and invigorated the concept of reading a book as a shared community. You are passionate about the written word and we wish that your enthusiasm for encouraging us to read never ceases.

7) Finally, you who have been a true trailblazer, glass ceiling shatterer, media maven extraordinaire, and best friend to the masses, we truly wish that you continue to inspire “Ah-Ha” moments and help us to ‘live our best lives.’

We love you, Oprah, godspeed and Happy Birthday!

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Morgan Freeman Enrolls in Oprah’s “Master Class”

Ruth Manuel-Logan — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 21:45:46 +0000

Academy Award-winning actor Morgan Freeman, one of the most-recognizable actors in American cinema, has enrolled in Oprah Winfrey‘s cable show “Master Class.”

First Look: Oprah’s Master Class with Morgan Freeman

On the show, Morgan, who is best-known for his explosive performances in “Street Smarts” and “Lean on Me,” shares some riveting moments of his illustrious 45-year acting career. The recipient of countless prestigious acting awards, Freeman opens up about those not so glamorous days before he hit it big:

At one point I was very broke living on on the streets, eating stale donuts. When you are put out of someplace and you’re on the street, how you gonna pay the rent? I didn’t get any work so I thought I had better start thinking of better ways to make a living.

Morgan decided to leave the military and pursue his love of film — a move that he has never regretted. One of Morgan’s gifts is infusing a quiet dignity into his roles, such as “Hoke Colburn” in “Driving Miss Daisy” or “Nelson Mandela” in “Invictus.”

Of his success, the 74-year-old actor adds:

You always make the choice of the road you take but it always splits. When you have made your choice, it is providence that is your guide, good bad or indifferent, your faith lies in that.

You can watch Morgan and the talk show diva extraordinaire sit a spell on Sunday, January 22, at 10:00 p.m. EST on the OWN channel.

Oprah’s Bodyguards In Scuffle With Indian TV Reporters

Associated Press — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 17:53:20 +0000

NEW DELHI — Indian police briefly detained three of Oprah Winfrey’s bodyguards after they scuffled with local TV journalists Thursday, a news agency reported.

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The American talk-show host had been traveling with both American and Indian bodyguards while visiting the Hindu pilgrimage town of Mathura, about 90 miles (145 kilometers) south of Delhi.

Press Trust of India said police detained three of the guards after local journalists said their video equipment had been damaged in a brawl. No one was reported hurt, and there was no indication that the American bodyguards were involved.

The three guards were released after apologizing in a letter to the journalists, PTI said.

It is Winfrey’s first trip to India, where she has been filming her new show “Oprah’s Next Chapter.”

Earlier this week, she delighted Mumbai locals by wearing a bright orange sari while meeting with Bollywood stars including Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan and Aishwarya Rai at a private party.

She also visited the Taj Mahal on Thursday, and she is due to attend the Jaipur Literature Festival that begins Friday.

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“Roots: 35 Years Later” To Air On Oprah Winfrey Network Tonight

Ruth Manuel-Logan — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 14:35:15 +0000

The 1977 landmark television series “Roots,” which was the dramatization of late author Alex Haley‘s lineage, will be brought to life again by Oprah Winfrey.

In order to honor the show’s 35th anniversary, Oprah will interview Cicely Tyson, Leslie Uggams, LeVar Burton, John Amos, Louis Gossett, Jr., and Ben Vereen (all pictured above from left to right) at her Montecito, Calif., estate.

Original clips from the miniseries will also be aired, and the actors will share personal anecdotes on what it was like to work on such a historical undertaking. Since the airing of “Roots,” no TV program has approached the problem of slavery and its aftermath as honestly as Haley’s work. “Roots: 35 Years Later” will premiere on Monday, January 16, at 8 p.m., EST on Winfrey’s OWN network.

First Look: Oprah and the Legendary Cast of Roots

In this OWN special event, Oprah opens the doors to her home and reunites the legendary cast of Roots, 35 years after they helped make television history. Tune in Monday, January 16 at 8/7c to celebrate the most iconic miniseries ever filmed.

“Roots,” which was watched by more than 100-million viewers, was considered to be a monumental television phenomena, because it was the first time that audiences from all colors and creeds witnessed the unsanitized version of slavery. Viewers were exposed to the dehumanizing experiences of Blacks who were stolen from the Motherland and forcefully brought to a country that treated them as less than human. Haley’s 12-hour miniseries depicted a people, whom despite the physically brutal acts of abuse and psychological degradation, were able to maintain some semblance of dignity and self-esteem.

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First Students Graduate From Oprah Winfrey School

Associated Press — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 20:00:53 +0000

HENLEY-ON-KLIP, South Africa (AP) — Johnson Mncube remembers the first day at Oprah Winfrey’s boarding school for underprivileged South African girls, when 11- and 12-year-olds were crying at the thought of being separated from their families, and he said he almost wanted to put his own daughter in his pocket and take her home.

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Five years later, Mncube was joyful she stayed. On Saturday, he gazed proudly at his daughter, dressed elegantly in white for the first graduation ceremony at Winfrey’s school. Bongekile Mncube is headed to the University of Johannesburg to study politics and economics, and vows to one day help “build the economy of this country.”

“We are so thankful to Oprah,” said her father, a pastor and small businessmen who never went to high school. “We pray that God helps her to fulfill the vision that she had.”

Elgar’s “Pomp and circumstance” rang out Saturday as the graduates marched in, some unsteady on new high heels. The ceremony saw cheers and tears, including Winfrey’s own.

Winfrey’s school is an attempt to wield philanthropy and celebrity against South Africa’s social and educational crises. High-achieving students from poor families were admitted after a rigorous application process in which Winfrey was deeply involved, and she has visited regularly to counsel her girls. She held a last, late-night “pajama party” with the graduates Friday.

Winfrey told reporters after the ceremony that her girls would continue to be able to rely on her support. A counseling unit had been set up to help the graduates budget time, money and priorities in university.

In a graduation speech, Winfrey praised the teachers, administrators, social workers, psychologists and family members she said had ensured the students succeeded. Winfrey said she has learned it takes a team to support students, especially those who have experienced the poverty and personal trauma that define so many South African lives.

Winfrey said she sees the students as her daughters, and listed the blows they have experienced: “Divorce. Violence. Molestation. The loss of one parent. The loss of another parent. Sorrow. Sadness. Grief.”

The first class to graduate from the school overcame adversity to see 72 of the 75 original members graduate. All 72 are headed to universities in South Africa and the United States. Across South Africa, more than half a million members of the class of 2011 disappeared before the 496,000 remaining took their final exams, and only a quarter of those who graduated did well enough to qualify for university study, according to government figures.

“I’m one proud momma today,” said Winfrey, who wore eye shadow and a flowing gown in green, a school color.

Quoting Maya Angelou, she called the graduates “phenomenal, phenomenal, phenomenal women.”

Graca Machel, whose husband former South African President Nelson Mandela inspired Winfrey to open the school, called on the graduates to change the world. Mandela has retired from public life and did not attend the ceremony. He attended the opening of the school in 2007.

“You are leaders,” Machel said in her graduation speech. “But be humble. Listen. Learn. Try, and try again.”

Winfrey, among the wealthiest women in the world, spent $40 million to build the school, giving it facilities many South African universities might envy. But she said the school’s success was owed to teachers who came early and stayed late, social workers like one who traveled hundreds of miles (kilometers) to rescue a student who had encountered violence during a visit home, and parents who instilled discipline despite difficult home lives.

Winfrey asked staff and family members to stand for applause during the ceremony.

Winfrey encouraged all South African schools to raise their expectations, saying the experience of her school showed young people would respond by excelling. From the start, Winfrey’s students were told they should set their sights on university.

Despite the money and intentions, the school has had trouble. Soon after opening, a woman working as a dormitory matron was accused of abusing students. She was acquitted in 2010. Winfrey, who has spoken of being abused as a child and called the allegations against the matron crushing, and has said the trial’s outcome was “profoundly” disappointing.

Winfrey settled a defamation lawsuit filed in Philadelphia by the school’s former headmistress, Nomvuyo Mzamane, who claimed Winfrey defamed her in remarks made in the wake of the scandal.

Last year, a baby born to a student at the school was found dead.

Winfrey said Saturday there were times when she was discouraged, but that “I always held the vision that this day was possible.”

Winfrey noted the gradates were born in 1994, the year apartheid ended, “into a nation that said: You are free. You are free to rise. You are free to soar.”

Graduate Bongekile Mncube took Winfrey’s words to heart.

“The world should watch out,” she said. “We’re about to take over.”

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Oprah Winfrey Tries To Save “OWN” Network With “Next Chapter”

Casey Gane-McCalla, Lead Blogger — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 21:29:05 +0000

Oprah Winfrey is trying to save her struggling “OWN” network with a new TV show called “Oprah’s Next Chapter.” The reality show follows Oprah Winfrey across the world as she interviews politicians and celebrities.

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The Week reports:

The Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN) turned a year old on Sunday, but there wasn’t a whole lot to celebrate. Ratings for the fledgling network “have been a major disappointment,” says Elizabeth Blair at NPR, and the media has seized on OWN’s failure to fulfill its Oprah-sized expectations. Hoping to reverse the negative trend, the former talk show host is getting back in front of the camera. “Oprah’s Next Chapter,” a reality series that follows Winfrey as she tours the world interviewing celebrities and trying out new experiences, debuted Sunday night.

Oprah Winfrey Calls Kim Kardashian “Phony” Over Haiti Trip

Casey Gane-McCalla, Lead Blogger — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 15:59:08 +0000

Oprah Winfrey has called reality TV star, Kim Kardashian a "phony" over her recent trip to Haiti. Both Oprah and Kim were both in Haiti at the same time for charitable missions according to the National Enquirer. According to the Enquirer, Oprah says that Kim made the trip to rebuild her own image for her own selfish ends rather than for real charity work. The Enquirer also claims that Kim spen... Read more..

Top 10 Black Tweeters

Sia Tiambi Barnes — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 18:00:36 +0000

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This month, NewsOne presents a special exploration of Black Americans’ influence on social media, #TWEETING WHILE BLACK.

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Twitter has amassed more than 300 million users since its public launch in 2006, and a Pew Research Center survey shows that African Americans are more likely to Tweet than any other demographic. There is some speculation that this is because the median age among African Americans is currently skewing seven years younger than that of Whites — which can then be linked to smartphone usage and interest in the celebrities and media outlets (like BET’s 106 & Park), that rank among the most followed — but no conclusive study has been conducted.

But there’s no doubt that Black Americans are among the most effective and powerful users of Twitter, and that their influence is far out of proportion to their share of population.

Here is NewsOne’s official list of the Top 10 Black Tweeters. Are you following them?

1. @BarackObama: 11,449,382 Followers)

The account is run by his #Obama2012 campaign staff with at least daily updates on Presidential happenings. Much less frequently, he’ll chime in (he signs these Tweets “-BO”): “This dinner is important because I’m only president thanks to the work of millions of Americans like the four I just met.” (He dined with a teacher, an entrepreneur, a postal worker, and an artist who all donated at least $3 to his campaign and won the “Dinner With Obama” contest.)

2. @rihanna: 10,428,259 Followers

Her Tweets range from a Happy Birthday @britneyspears to quoting Jay Z to self-promotional commentary on her own social gaffes like “Shooting another vid in Ireland today!No farm this time :( … Im shooting another #ARMANI campaign Spring/Summer!Try to sneek u a pic ;)”

3. @Oprah: 8,456,870 Followers

She’s surprisingly not new age-preachy on this Twitter account. Instead, the media mogul posts one word response to her followers (“hi”), smiley face icons, and the occasional update of what it’s like to be Oprah: “Just saw Hugh Jackman on Broadway. WOW was he awe inspiring. He BROUGHT IT. Sang it, danced it and THREW DOWN!”

4. @NICKIMINAJ: 7,560,448 Followers

Between her Pink Friday promotions and congratulations to @maryjblige for her new album, the platinum-selling artist spends most of her Tweets thanking her Barbz and acting in cyber-speak: “Thank u my loves. I couldn’t do this w/o you. I am overwhelmed. I’m in love w/u guys. How could one girl be this lucky? *holds u close*”

5. @chrisbrown: 6,011,182 Followers

He still has a considerable following after recently deleting most of his Tweets. Now, Young Brezzy’s account is sporadic, sparse words like: “ELEVATE MENTALITY” and “Live LIFE!”

6. @MariahCarey: 5,314,200 Followers

With her record-breaking 1993 release, “All I Want For Christmas Is You” still charting and recently being remixed by Justin Beiber, Mrs. Cannon is using her Twitter to count down the days ‘til 25th, and bubble about her new song with John Legend, “When Christmas Comes.” She also takes a moment to shout out her second cousin’s sweet sixteen, post a Twitpic of herself in the booth, and send a note to O.D.B.: “Happy birthday & RIP to the late great O.D.B! I miss you & love you. “Ol’ dirty bastard across the globe.” – Fantasy.. classic, forever. Xo”

7. @aliciakeys: 5,284,370 Followers

Besides the occasional personal Tweets to the likes of @traciellisross, she’s all business on her account promoting her Keep A Child Alive cause, the Broadway play “Sticky Fly” that she produced, and her job as a “light bearing mommy/artist/songwriter/musician…”: “‘You’ve got to dance like nobody’s watching and love like it is never going to hurt ~ Ann Wells’.”

8. @50Cent: 5,301,573 Followers

He goes in multiple times per day, and will sometimes drop insight like how amazing it was to see Goldie Hawn and @deepackchopra live, but in true 50 fashion is mostly about the marketing strategy: “Streetking is the movement I’m not reading or retweeting if I don’t see SK in your tweets I need your help hold me down” (referencing his energy drink partnership with the United Nation to feed the hungry).

9. @kanyewest: 5,251,094 Followers

Only a select group of Tweeters have millions of followers without following anyone at all (the Dalai Lama, Rev Run, and Lord Valdermort), and, of course, Kanye tops that list. But it’s not the arrogant, Ye-centricity that one may expect. He expresses gratitude with a thank you to HipHopDX.com for a “tasteful well written review,” Chicagoan camaraderie with a re-Tweet of Bears stats mid-game, and just genuine goodwill: “Support Michael J. Fox foundation & NIKE and the fight against Parkinson’s”

10. @SnoopDogg: 5,222,697 Followers

He’s got a narrowed-eye focus on #macanddevin via many daily Tweets. The only thing that’ll make him take a breather from his new joint album with Wiz Khalifa is news of his Snoop Youth Football League Superbowl game and his family: “Sunday n vegas syfl superbowl go hard or go home! Happy 2 b home. Cocori! N tae tae !! Love yall!!”

SEE THE ENTIRE #TWEETINGWHILEBLACK SERIES HERE

METHODOLOGY:

List derived from Twitaholic.com, data updated via Twitter.com

Oprah And Farrakhan Visit Haiti On Separate Trips

Associated Press — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 02:54:47 +0000

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan started a five-day trip to Haiti on Sunday, arriving just ahead of fellow Chicagoan Oprah Winfrey as they make separate trips to the poor Caribbean country.

Farrakhan told reporters at the airport that he will be exploring ways his organization can help Haiti rebuild from the devastating 2010 earthquake.

He said he intends to “listen, learn and share,” and is particularly interested in learning more about Voodoo, the religion widely practiced in the country.

“I have longed throughout my life to set my foot in the sacred soil of Haiti,” Farrakhan said.

Haitian Foreign Minister Laurent Lamorthe greeted Farrakhan at the airport, and the Nation of Islam leader was expected to meet later in the week with President Michel Martelly.

Authorities hustled the journalists out of the airport after the news conference so they could not cover Winfrey’s arrival.

Winfrey was expected to visit a settlement camp for displaced people run by Hollywood actor Sean Penn and his aid group J/P HRO on Monday. She was also expected to meet with fashion designer Donna Karan, who has celebrated the work of Haiti’s artisans through her Urban Zen Foundation since the quake.

Martelly has said he would meet with Winfrey on Monday. He said he hopes she will serve as a goodwill ambassador for Haiti and help bring aid to the country.

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Oprah’s OWN Network Wants Her Black Audience Back

NewsOne Staff — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 17:21:21 +0000

Oprah Winfrey, having largely geared her brand towards Middle-American white women over the course of her rising career, is now working to regain her Black audience.

Struggling to attract a large viewership nearly eleven months since her fledgling OWN network premiered, Winfrey, the network executives, is switching up her game plan, acknowledging that she is going after black audiences.

The Grio reports:

Though it’s nice to know that we’ll be getting more shows out of Ms. Oprah, it’s hard not to harbor some resentment at being her ugly-duckling-turned-swan, reckoning Winfrey’s sudden change of heart with virtually being ignored for years.

Farrakhan And Oprah Will Visit Haiti In Separate Visits

Associated Press — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 15:07:05 +0000

Haitian President Michel Martelly will host Oprah Winfrey when she visits the Caribbean nation.

Martelly tells The Associated Press that he hopes Winfrey will serve as an ambassador for Haiti. He says he would like her to help Haiti get more assistance for rebuilding from the 2010 earthquake that displaced hundreds of thousands of people.

Winfrey is expected to arrive in Haiti on Sunday. She is to visit a settlement camp run by Hollywood actor Sean Penn’s aid group J-P HRO.

Martelly said he will meet with her on Monday.

The president made the announcement Friday while in Trinidad for a trade summit with Caribbean leaders.

Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan started a five-day trip to Haiti on Sunday, arriving just ahead of fellow Chicagoan Oprah.

Farrakhan told reporters at the airport that he will be exploring ways his organization can help Haiti rebuild from the devastating 2010 earthquake.

He said he intends to “listen, learn and share,” and is particularly interested in learning more about Voodoo, the religion widely practiced in the country.

“I have longed throughout my life to set my foot in the sacred soil of Haiti,” Farrakhan said.

Haitian Foreign Minister Laurent Lamorthe greeted Farrakhan at the airport, and the Nation of Islam leader was expected to meet later in the week with President Michel Martelly.

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Gayle King Says Wendy Williams Lied About Oprah “Black” Letter

NewsOne Staff — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 16:06:12 +0000

Gayle King accused Wendy Williams of fabricating a letter from Oprah, during an interview on the Tom Joyner Morning Show yesterday.

King called Joyner to clear up rumors that there was “rift,” her and Oprah’s friendship. She also told Joyner that Oprah denied ever sending a letter to Williams.

AUDIO:

“The letter that I heard Wendy read — I didn’t see it — I know Oprah never wrote a letter to Wendy. I said, ‘I’m getting all these messages that you wrote a letter to Wendy,’ and she goes, ‘Gayle, you know more than anybody knows that that’s not true,’ ” said King.

Oprah Tells Wendy Williams To “Stay Black”

TheGrio — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 16:22:56 +0000

Oprah Winfrey told talk show host Wendy Williams to “Stay black,” in a letter Williams read during a show.

Oprah apparently wanted to set the record straight on her friendship with Gayle King, and sent The Wendy Williams Show host a letter.

The letter stated, “I know there’s been some speculation that Gayle and Oprah had a falling out because Gayle will be hosting the new morning show on CBS. I wanted to make sure everyone knows that there is only happiness for Gayle and this wonderful opportunity.”

The letter was signed “Love, Oprah. P.S. Stay black!”

Oprah’s BFF Gayle King To Join CBS’s The Early Show

The Grio — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 15:52:16 +0000

Oprah Winfrey’s best freind, Gayle King, will be joining CBS’s The Early Show as a co-host, the New York Times is reporting.

According to the Times, King along with Charlie Rose are being added to the lineup to compete with NBC’s Today and ABC’s Good Morning America.

According to the Times, CBS is putting the finishing touches on a two-hour news show that “will emphasize hard news and use a conversational approach like Morning Joe on MSNBC and The View on ABC.”

Digital Oprah! Winfrey Looks To The Web To Energize Her Network

Associated Press — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 14:01:24 +0000

LOS ANGELES — After 25 years on TV, Oprah Winfrey says she’s having the time of her life on the Web.

The 57-year-old mogul is connecting with viewers through her weekly webcasts, and she says it’s “the most fun I’ve had ever.”

Winfrey’s live webcast discussions about her new show, “Oprah’s Lifeclass,” have been so popular, they’ve been added to the lineup on the Oprah Winfrey Network.

“Lifeclass” premiered earlier this month and features Winfrey sharing her favorite interviews and insights from her long-running talk show. On Fridays, she discusses “Lifeclass” lessons during an hour-long webcast with a live audience, and invites viewers to comment or ask questions in person or through Facebook, Twitter and Skype.

Response to the webcasts has been so positive that Winfrey and her team decided to air them on OWN.

“That was my vision of what this network could be,” she said in a recent interview. “You’re interacting with people, you’re on TV, you’re saying stuff that you think is meaningful, you’re not just wasting people’s time, and people are acting and interacting with us at the same time. It’s just a fantastic experience.”

Interacting with viewers and inspiring them to think about things in new ways was part of her dream for her network, which launched in January. Though it drew low ratings initially, Winfrey said she feels good about OWN’s future.

“I’m going to build on the success of the connection to the Web response and to `Lifeclass,’” she said, “so I’m really excited about it.”

One More Try! Oprah Winfrey’s OWN Network Set To Relaunch

NewsOne Staff — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 17:28:46 +0000

After months of failing to live up to the success of her extraordinarily popular television talk show, Oprah Winfrey’s OWN network is undergoing a makeover.

According to Forbes, Winfrey and Discovery Communications is upping the network’s advertising push as well as featuring two of the network’s biggest stars, Winfrey herself and Rosie O’Donnell.

Adding to a laundry list of problems the channel has faced — too high on the channel guide, unclear brand, not enough programming or Oprah — Winfrey herself admitted that she and her team had been too distracted by wrapping up her marquee show that not enough attention was paid to OWN’s launch.

Oprah Winfrey, James Earl Jones To Receive Honorary Oscars

Associated Press — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 12:05:58 +0000

LOS ANGELES — Oprah Winfrey, James Earl Jones and makeup artist Dick Smith have been picked to receive honorary Oscars.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences says the three will be honored with Oscar statuettes at the Governors Awards in November. The academy’s Board of Governors voted Tuesday to recognize the entertainment industry veterans.

Winfrey will receive the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award, which honors philanthropic and humanitarian contributions. The 57-year-old media mogul, who was nominated for a supporting actress Oscar for 1985′s “The Color Purple,” supports various charitable and educational causes, including her own namesake foundations and Academy for Girls in South Africa.

Jones and Smith will receive honorary Oscars for their outstanding careers.

Jones has appeared in more than 50 films. The 80-year-old actor – voice of Darth Vader – was nominated for an Academy Award in 1971 for “The Great White Hope.” His other credits include “Field of Dreams,” “Patriot Games” and “The Hunt for Red October.”

Smith was NBC’s first makeup man when he started his career in 1945. He won an Oscar in 1984 for his work on “Amadeus” and was nominated again in 1989 for “Dad.” Known as the “godfather of makeup,” he also worked on “The Godfather,” “The Exorcist” and “Taxi Driver.” Smith also helped train many of today’s top movie makeup artists.

Smith, Jones and Winfrey will receive their statuettes on Nov. 12 at the 3rd annual Governors Awards dinner at the Grand Ballroom at Hollywood & Highland Center, just above the Kodak Theatre, where the Academy Awards are presented.

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Oprah Winfrey Appointed CEO Of OWN Network

NewsOne Staff — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 18:58:46 +0000

Oprah Winfrey was named on Wednesday the chief executive and chief creative officer of OWN, the cable network she launched earlier this year.

Winfrey posted a letter on Facebook today, explaining that Harpo Productions Inc. will join forces with OWN to run the network. The letter read:

So as of today… Harpo Team and OWN team become ONE.

Our intention is to use the cable platform and the internet platform and the mobile platform to create messages that fill you up and bring you to new levels of awareness about yourself, ourselves, and our world; our potential…

It’s an incredible challenge ahead trying to figure out what kind of shows and programming will resonate with you, inspire you, bring a little piece of light into your already crowded existence. But I feel called to do it, and will be relying on your feedback, emails and tweets and message boards to let me know what you think.

Huge Finish! “Oprah Winfrey” Finale Drew 16.4 Million Viewers

Associated Press — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 20:07:47 +0000

NEW YORK — When Oprah Winfrey told her daytime viewers farewell last month, more than 16 million were watching.

The Nielsen Co. reported Wednesday that the May 25 finale of “The Oprah Winfrey Show” drew 16.4 million viewers. This made the finale the show’s most-watched episode in more than 18 years, since the February 1993 airing of its “Why I Love Older Women” episode, which was seen by 17.3 million viewers.

Nielsen says the audience for the surprise farewell episode that aired May 23 drew 12.3 million viewers. The second part of that gala event attracted 13 million viewers when it aired May 24.

“The Oprah Winfrey Show” averaged 8.2 million viewers during May.

5 Things We Wouldn’t Know Without Oprah

Johan Thomas — Thu, 26 May 2011 19:58:27 +0000

From her impact on the national lexicon, to propelling the careers of numerous celebrities and figures and to the countless self-help revelations and mantras that have helped us shape our lives, Oprah Winfrey’s influence will be long cemented in the public conscious.

As the daily dose of wisdom that has become the Oprah Winfrey show has now come to an end, BlackAmericaWeb explores Winfrey’s influence with a list of “The 5 Things We Wouldn’t Know Without ‘The O’.

THE “AH-HA MOMENT”

It’s one of those things that has become so popular that it’s entered the national lexicon. An “a-ha moment” is that instance of clarity that people arrive at when they see a situation from all sides for the first time. It is a phrase that has become as associated with Winfrey as “Dy-no-mite” was once associated with J.J. on “Good Times.” Winfrey’s fan base embraced the term as they learned things on her show that allowed them to see a situation from a new perspective, and hopefully end their suffering or be able to forgive.

Check out the rest of the list at BlackAmericaWeb.

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Oprah Finale Scores Biggest Audience In 17 Years

Associated Press — Thu, 26 May 2011 18:29:34 +0000

NEW YORK – Preliminary figures show Wednesday’s finale of “The Oprah Winfrey Show” scored its highest audience in 17 years.

The Nielsen Co. said Thursday that the final episode delivered a 13.3 household rating in the nation’s metered markets.

It was the highest number since February 1994. That’s when an “Oprah” episode called “People Shed Their Disguises” got a 13.4 rating.

Metered market ratings measure roughly half the nation and can’t be translated into audience figures. A viewer count for the “Oprah” finale won’t be available from Nielsen for two weeks.

The metered market rating for Monday’s surprise farewell episode of “Oprah” logged a 10.2. Nielsen said Tuesday’s episode got a 10.7.

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13 Shocking Moments Of The Oprah Winfrey Show

Charles Dixon — Wed, 25 May 2011 19:25:21 +0000

Whether she’s wheeling out a a wagon with 67 pounds of fat or having grown men jumping on couches like idiots, The Oprah Winfrey Show has had a fair share of shocking moments.

ALSO READ: ELEV8′S TOP 10 THINGS LEARNED FROM OPRAH

Take a look at the Oprah.com gallery, which highlights the the 13 most eye-opening moments in the show’s 25-year history.

CHECK OUT THE GALLERY HERE.

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Finale Of ‘Oprah Winfrey’ To Air After 25-Year Run

Charles Dixon — Wed, 25 May 2011 15:52:50 +0000

CHICAGO — Oprah Winfrey’s talk show ends Wednesday with an episode featuring only the talk show queen thanking her viewers and highlighting the lessons they have learned from one another over 25 years.

Audience members who attended the Tuesday taping in Chicago of the final episode of “The Oprah Winfrey Show” said Winfrey was the only person on stage.

“When she came out, her appearance, the way she stepped on stage and the message she brought about finding yourself, your purpose,” said Wanda Nash, 47, of Chicago, an executive assistant and foster parent. “It was all about Oprah.”

Fans leaving Tuesday’s taping said Winfrey had tears in her eyes as the television icon said a final thank you.

Winfrey kissed and hugged her longtime partner, Stedman Graham, and made her way through the halls of Harpo Studios, saying goodbye to her staff, audience members said.

There was a single chair on the stage, but Winfrey stood most of the time, they said.

Winfrey announced in November 2009 that she would end her popular talk show after 25 years.

Tuesday’s taping came a week after Hollywood’s A-list and 13,000 fans bid Winfrey farewell during a double-episode extravaganza at Chicago’s United Center. The shows that aired Monday and Tuesday included Aretha Franklin, Tom Cruise, Stevie Wonder, Michael Jordan and Madonna, among other stars of television, music and movies.

The bare-bones final taping had its share of celebrities in the audience including Tyler Perry, Maria Shriver, Suze Orman and Cicely Tyson, but none of them joined Winfrey on stage.

The finale of “The Oprah Winfrey Show” has remained a secret, even as Harpo Studios hyped it as a television event.

Top 25 Black Guests On The Oprah Winfrey Show

Charles Dixon — Wed, 25 May 2011 15:40:20 +0000

An article on The Root today lists the top 25 interviews with Black guests on The Oprah Winfrey Show.

The obvious number one is the show’s first interview with a sitting President and First Lady. Just hours after releasing his original birth certificate, and not long before he would announce the death of Osama Bin Laden, President Obama came on the show as Oprah’s guest.

Number two on the list, but certainly no less monumental, Nelson Mandela appeared on the Oprah stage, and had all 300 of the show’s staffers leaving their offices to shake his hand.

CHECK OUT THE FULL LIST HERE. FEEL FREE TO MENTION ANY YOU THINK SHOULD BE INCLUDED.

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10 People Who Owe Their Success To The Oprah Winfrey Show

Charles Dixon — Wed, 25 May 2011 14:47:17 +0000

From Dr. Oz to Stedman Graham, the list of celebrities that owe much of their success to the “Oprah Effect” goes on and on.

An article on The Grio today addresses the advantages of being affiliated with television’s leading lady, who hosts the final episode of The Oprah Winfrey Show today.

READ THE FULL LIST HERE. ARE THERE ANY THAT WERE MISSED?

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Morehouse Men Suprise Oprah During Farewell Spectacular

NewsOne Staff — Wed, 25 May 2011 11:00:24 +0000

CHICAGO– A group of Morehouse College students surprised Oprah during the “Farewell Spectacular” on Tuesday. The men are amongst a group of 400 recipients of a Oprah Winfrey scholarship.

Paying it forward is one of the ways the men have chosen to thank Ms. Winfrey for their gift. Collectively, they have pledged over $300,000 to keep the scholarships going at Morehouse.

Some past recipients of the scholarship spoke on a video about what the degree received meant to them.

Really? Man Fakes Robbery, Beats Himself Up To Get Oprah Tickets

NewsOne Staff — Thu, 19 May 2011 19:33:45 +0000

CHICAGO– Robert Spearing, 44, told police that two men beat him up and stole his tickets to Tuesday’s Oprah show, but later admitted that he’d actually used a rock to cut his own forehead and scraped his hands on the sidewalk.

Spearing and his wife had come from Ontario without tickets, and he told cops he didn’t want his wife to be angry with him.

Almost A Wrap! Celebrities Bid Oprah Farewell At Chicago Show

NewsOne Staff — Wed, 18 May 2011 10:00:55 +0000

CHICAGO — Hollywood’s A-list celebrities bid a star-studded farewell to Oprah Winfrey on Tuesday in a double-taping of her talk show that included messages from her fans around the world.

“I feel the love and I thank you for it,” Winfrey told the crowd at Chicago’s United Center. “Thank you for being a part of this great night, this celebration of what you have done for `The Oprah Winfrey Show.’ You have made it possible for us to stand for 25 years.”

Winfrey’s producers made good on their promise of the biggest stars of movies, music and television for “Surprise Oprah! A Farewell Spectacular.” The 13,000 fans who attended the event gave the talk show host a standing ovation.

Aretha Franklin sang “Amazing Grace.” Tom Hanks acted as host for the evening. Michael Jordan told Winfrey she inspires him. Tom Cruise, famous for his couch jumping on Winfrey’s show, was there. Jerry Seinfeld gave a comedy routine and Madonna said she is among the millions of people who are inspired by Winfrey.

“She fights for things she believes in, even if it makes her unpopular,” Madonna said.

Winfrey announced in November 2009 that she would end her popular talk show after 25 years. Tuesday’s taping will air May 23 and 24, before Winfrey’s final show on May 25.

“You always had the power, and that is the message you brought into our lives,” Cruise told Winfrey after walking in to the “Mission Impossible” music.

The show highlighted Winfrey’s charity efforts over the years. About 300 Morehouse College scholarship students walked along the United Center aisles as Kristen Chenoweth sang “For Good” from the musical “Wicked.” Grammy winner John Legend was beamed in from a New Orleans school and Winfrey’s book club was lauded for getting millions to read.

Josh Groban and Patti LaBelle sang “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” as Winfrey sat in a white chair onstage. Jamie Foxx and Stevie Wonder sang “Isn’t She Lovely” to Winfrey. Wonder followed with his own song, singing to her, “Oprah thank you for using your gifts to uplift so many hearts.” Simon Cowell made an appearance; Rosie O’Donnell sang a Broadway-style song.

Winfrey’s longtime partner Stedman Graham introduced Franklin after telling Winfrey he loved her and was proud of her.

“It really does amaze me that I get to be around a woman who changes people’s lives every day and who also takes her own lunch to work,” Graham told the crowd. “You know what really is amazing? You have done this, sweetheart, through all of the sacrifices you’ve made, humility you have and through God’s amazing grace.”

That’s when Franklin took the stage in a one-shouldered white gown to sing “Amazing Grace.” She later joined Usher for the show’s finale song, “Oh Happy Day,” as sparkly confetti filled the arena.

Maria Shriver, the TV journalist and Kennedy heiress, appeared on the same day it was revealed her husband, Arnold Schwarzenegger, fathered a child with a woman on his household staff more than a decade ago. Shriver did not mention her husband during the taping. Shriver was introduced with Winfrey’s best friend, Gayle King.

“You have given me love, support, wisdom and most of all the truth,” Shriver told Winfrey. “And I know I’m not alone in receiving those gifts from you.”

The taping of the second show began with Will Smith and his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, who thanked Winfrey and told her she mothered millions and “that puts you in the status of a goddess.”

Actresses Halle Berry, Queen Latifah, Katie Holmes and Dakota Fanning all appeared, along with newswoman Diane Sawyer.

Beyonce sang her song “Run the World (Girls)” backed by dozens of dancers. Rascal Flatts performed too.

“Oprah Winfrey because of you women everywhere have graduated to a new level of understanding of who we are, of what we are and most of all who we can be,” Beyonce said before starting her performance.

The stadium was decorated with pictures of Winfrey at seminal moments over the course of her talk show. Boxes of tissues were on scattered seats throughout the audience.

Harpo Productions received more than 154,000 ticket requests for seats to Tuesday’s event. Tickets were free and distributed to fans through a lottery.

Winfrey also received messages from some not-so-famous admirers. Female American soldiers gave a taped message from Iraq and three female fans from countries around the world came on stage. The show was interspersed with clips of Winfrey’s fans and flashbacks of previous episodes.

Fans started lining up outside hours before the taping started.

Cathy Deters, 52, of Cincinnati, drove to Chicago without a ticket, but someone outside the stadium gave her one.

“I don’t think anyone could replace Oprah Winfrey,” said Deters, an energy broker. “Not many people will have the chance to experience this.”

Celebrities such as Lisa Ling, Carson Kressley, Jessica Seinfeld, Ally Wentworth, Bob Greene and former Chicago Mayor Richard Daley sat in the audience.

The content of the final episode of “The Oprah Winfrey Show” is still under wraps.

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Chicago Mayor Names Street ‘Oprah Winfrey Way’

Associated Press — Thu, 12 May 2011 10:00:23 +0000

CHICAGO — Oprah Winfrey now has a street to call her own.

On Wednesday, Mayor Richard Daley, in one of his last official acts before he leaves office next week, stopped by her studio to rename a street outside Harpo Studios where Winfrey tapes her show “Oprah Winfrey Way.”

Winfrey is widely credited with helping transform a gritty part of the city into a thriving neighborhood, as her beige building with the giant silver ‘O’ proved to be a magnet for young professionals and families.

Winfrey is the latest of more than 1,000 celebrities, religious leaders and activists and others who have been honored with street signs in Chicago. Michael Jordan, Siskel and Ebert, Hugh Hefner and Frank Sinatra have been honored over the years — Sinatra twice as it turns out.

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Author Who Made Millions From Fake Story Invited Back To Oprah

Associated Press — Wed, 11 May 2011 10:20:01 +0000

CHICAGO — Oprah Winfrey’s interview with author James Frey will stretch over two episodes during the final full week of her talk show.

The shows will air May 16 and 17, more than five years after Winfrey accused Frey on live television of lying in one of his books. During a short promotional clip on Tuesday’s episode of “The Oprah Winfrey Show” an announcer deemed it “the biggest controversy in Oprah show history.”

Winfrey chose Frey’s substance abuse story “A Million Little Pieces,” for her book club in September 2005, making it a million-seller.

Frey subsequently acknowledged on Winfrey’s show in January 2006 that he had lied in the book. Winfrey told him she felt duped and that he had betrayed millions of readers.

Winfrey’s show ends May 25 after 25 years.

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Putting Oprah And Iyanla To Bed

Stephanie Robinson, Esq. — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 15:12:12 +0000

The recent and dramatic reunion between Oprah and her former relationship advisor, Iyanla Van Zant, captivated television viewers as the two women hashed out their feelings and reconciled their differences in front of a worldwide audience. But while there’s been much media hype around what went down between the two 11 years ago, I’d like to focus on what I thought was the more poignant lesson that came out of the two-part meeting.

What stuck with me was a line from the first part of the interview when Iyanla scrunched up her face and pouted to Oprah, “I just wanted you to say you liked me and you never did.”

Oprah went on to protest the statement as both “unacceptable” and totally inaccurate saying not only that she liked Iyanla, but recalling how she’d provided her a huge media platform, even giving up her own stage to sit in the audience while Iyanla did her thing in front of millions.

However, Iyanla then shouted Oprah down with these very poignant and telling words: “I thought you wanted the work… I didn’t think you wanted me.”

Wow… well there it is. That line right there says a lot.

You see, Iyanla was revealing something that many of us struggle with daily, regardless of how famous, rich, smart or talented we are seen to be. She was talking about self-worth – the way she felt in her heart of hearts, despite the ironic fact she was counseling countless others on their self-worth at the time.

I want us to really think about that for a second. How many times have we been given a good situation something viewed from the outside as a huge blessing but on the inside, have secretly felt we were unworthy or didn’t deserve it?

Perhaps it was a relationship where you subconsciously thought our significant other was “too good for us” and you ended up sabotaging it before your mate could “find out about the real you…”

Or maybe it was a position of authority you reached in your work where you constantly questioned your own worth and ability to hold and perform it?

Most of us have, at least, entertained such notions or doubts. Some rise above, others are crippled by it. Fortunately, there are many things we can do to increase our own sense of self-worth. Some folks do daily affirmations or rituals; some listen to motivational speakers; others pray and meditate daily.

All these are wonderful options we’ve heard before, yet allow me to add yet another.

Stay away from the haters. You know who they are. They’re the ones who constantly pull you down and tell you that you can’t do something, and that you need to stay put and remain miserable just like them.

If you have folks like this in your life in influential positions, the solution is, if not simple, very clear… kick them to the curb.

Now, I can hear some of you right now protesting in your minds, “But Stephanie, some of these haters are my family members…”

Too bad… kick them to the curb too. That’s what the holidays are for… you can visit them then.

Remember, before any of this transformation can happen, there has to be a fundamental commitment to yourself to take the necessary steps, whatever they may be, to see yourself in a different, more productive light.

It is a commitment to see yourself as good enough and deserving of all of the blessings life can and will bestow upon you.

Stephanie Robinson is President and CEO of The Jamestown Project, a national think tank focused on democracy. She is an author, a Lecturer on Law at the Harvard Law School and former Chief Counsel to the late Senator Edward M. Kennedy. Stephanie reaches 8 to 10 million listeners each week as political commentator for the popular radio venue, The Tom Joyner Morning Show. Visit her online at www.StephanieRobinsonSpeaks.com

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Cousin Says Oprah Fired Her For “Talking About Jesus”

Casey Gane-McCalla, Lead Blogger — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 21:01:44 +0000

CHICAGO-Jo Baldwin, a cousin of Oprah Winfrey and a tenured Professor at Mississippi Valley State and ordained minister, is claiming that Oprah Winfrey fired her for “talking about Jesus all the time.

Gawker reports:

“I was to work for her for three years, but she fired me without notice after two years… I heard from someone later that she got rid of me because she got tired of me talking about Jesus all the time… Oprah preferred the teachings of Shirley MacLaine’s books, such as Dancing in the Light and Out on a Limb, which Oprah made me read but I didn’t think much of.”

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Dead Baby In Plastic Bag Found At Oprah’s S.A. School

Casey Gane-McCalla, Lead Blogger — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 21:07:22 +0000

SOUTH AFRICA-A dead baby in a plastic bag has been found at the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls outside Johannesburg. News 24 South Africa reports:

The 17-year-old girl, who was a pupil at the school just outside Johannesburg, was taken to the Midvaal Hospital in Meyerton.

Beeld newspaper on Friday reported that the baby’s body was found in a plastic bag filled with bloodied clothes after the girl was taken to hospital.

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Michael Vick Cancels Appearance On Oprah

NewsOne Staff — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 18:43:07 +0000

CHICAGO – Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick will not be appearing on “The Oprah Winfrey Show” after all.

A show spokesman said Wednesday representatives of the NFL star called late Tuesday to cancel his appearance for personal reasons. The daytime talk show host’s interview with Vick was set to air Thursday, Feb. 24.

The interview was to cover Vick’s time in prison, his work with the Humane Society and his return to the NFL.

Vick missed two seasons and served 18 months in federal prison for a dogfighting operation based on his property in Surry County, Va.

He was reinstated to the NFL for the 2009 season and has been doing public service work, including with the Humane Society.

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Oprah Will Have Michael Vick On Show After Dropping Bet

Casey Gane-McCalla, Lead Blogger — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 19:03:31 +0000

CHICAGO-Philadelphia Eagles Quarterback, Michael Vick will appear on The Oprah Winfrey Show Thursday. Vick agreed to appear on the show after Winfrey dropped a bet with CNN host, Piers Morgan.

Winfrey had wagered $320 with Morgan over who would get Michael Vick on their show. Vick’s handlers made Winfrey drop the Wager, claiming that they didn’t want him involved in gambling. Vick had appeared on 60 Minutes in 2009 but has not had a TV interview since he has returned to the NFL.

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Jennifer Hudson Will Discuss Family’s Murder On Oprah

Associated Press — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 21:06:31 +0000

CHICAGO — In a tearful interview, singer and actress Jennifer Hudson said she’s still trying to make her mother proud, and that’s what has kept her going since her mother and two other family members were murdered.

Hudson, who has repeatedly declined to talk publicly about the killings, didn’t directly address the details of the October 2008 slayings in Chicago of her mother, brother and 7-year-old nephew. But in an interview on “The Oprah Winfrey Show” that was broadcast Thursday, she discussed the source of the drive that quickly got her back on stage and in the recording studio just months after the tragedy.

“I try to do everything to say, ‘OK, will my mother like this? Will she be pleased? Will she be proud of that? How do I know she’s happy and she’s smiling down at me from heaven?’” Hudson said. “And that’s what I try to go by and walk by.”

Shedding tears, Hudson said she could hear the voices of her brother and mother telling her to “knock it off,” stop crying and keep going.

In October 2008, the bodies of her mother, Darnell Hudson Donerson, and brother, Jason Hudson, were found in the family’s Chicago home.

The body of her 7-year-old nephew, Julian King, was found days later in a sport utility vehicle about 10 miles away. All three had been shot.

The estranged husband of Jennifer Hudson’s sister, Julia, is charged with first-degree murder in the killings.

Hudson, 29, said she doesn’t know if she’s started to heal yet.

“It’s such a shocking thing,” she said. “It’s a lot to take in. It’s like, ‘OK, is this real? Did this really happen?’ It’s hard to put it in sync with reality.”

Her son, born in August 2009, is a source of strength, she said, and “the cutest little baby in the whole wide world.”

Hudson performed her new single, “Where You At,” and talked about how she lost 80 pounds by resolving to get in shape after childbirth.

Three of Hudson’s cousins – a bus driver, a teacher and a medical administrator – joined her on the show to talk about their own weight loss and model clothes chosen for them by “Project Runway” host Tim Gunn.

Hudson, a spokeswoman for Weight Watchers, credited the program and her determination for her weight loss. Winfrey announced that audience members at the show each would get three free one-year memberships to Weight Watchers so they could sign up with two friends.

Hudson said her fiance, David Otunga, has had trouble adjusting to the attention other men are paying to her since she dropped from a size 16 to a size 6.

“It’s like a brand new me,” Hudson said. “Sometimes I don’t even recognize myself.”

Jennifer Hudson Returns To Chicago A Year After Murders

Oprah Finds Half-Sister She Never Knew About

Associated Press — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 15:54:19 +0000

CHICAGO — Oprah Winfrey says she’s learned she has a half-sister she never knew about.

Winfrey announced on “The Oprah Winfrey Show” that aired on Monday that a Milwaukee woman named Patricia discovered that the two were half-sisters.

The woman says she had been searching for years for the identity of the mother who gave her up for adoption in 1963. She says she learned in 2007 that Winfrey was her half-sister. On her program, Winfrey says she learned about Patricia last November.

Winfrey says she was 9 years old and living with her father when her mother had the daughter and gave her up for adoption. She says she never even knew her mother was pregnant.

Winfrey says the two met on Thanksgiving day.

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Winfrey Promises To Spill Family Secret Monday

Associated Press — Sat, 22 Jan 2011 16:58:16 +0000

LOS ANGELES — Oprah Winfrey has staged many a family reunion on her talk show. But on Monday’s episode, she promises, the drama will be about her.

Winfrey told viewers Thursday that she will have a reunion of her own on “The Oprah Winfrey Show.” She wouldn’t say with whom – only that it involves something she’s learned about recently and is known to only a few people close to her.

“I thought I’d seen it all. But this, my friends, is the miracle of all miracles,” Winfrey says in a promotional spot for the show. The word “miracle” appears on screen, reinforcing her pronouncement.

“I was given some news that literally shook me to my core. This time, I’m the one being reunited,” she said. “I was keeping a family secret for months, and on Monday you’re going to hear it straight from me.”

Her production company, Harpo, declined to provide further details Friday.

Given Winfrey’s tangled family history, the possibilities for her reunion are many.

She was born to unmarried teenagers, Vernon Winfrey and Vernita Lee, and raised at various times by a grandmother, her mother, and her father and stepmother in Mississippi, Wisconsin and Tennessee, according to Winfrey and various biographies.

However, Kitty Kelley’s unauthorized 2010 biography of Winfrey alleges that Vernon Winfrey isn’t Oprah’s biological father. Kelley also claims that she discovered the actual father’s identity but was keeping it secret until Winfrey learns the truth herself.

As a teenager, Oprah Winfrey gave birth to a son who died shortly afterward. That chapter of her life was revealed after a family member sold the story to a tabloid in 1990, and Winfrey was said to have felt betrayed.

Using her Chicago-based show to disclose a new wrinkle in her personal history allows her to keep other media from getting hold of it first.

Winfrey has proved herself a master at milking family reunion drama, celebrity and otherwise, on her syndicated talk show that’s in its 25th and final season. This month, she launched a cable channel, OWN.

She reunited more than 100 members of the Osmonds. She brought together both the screen family from “The Sound of Music” and descendants of the real-life members of the musical Von Trapp family portrayed in the film. After decades apart, singer Seal and his foster sister were reunited on Winfrey’s show.

There was also the memorable reunion involving Clemantine and Claire Wamariya, sisters who escaped the Rwandan genocide and later immigrated to America without knowing if their parents had survived. They learned they had, but it wasn’t until they were onstage with Winfrey that the sisters saw their mother and father again.

Oprah’s Film Flop Caused Mac-And-Cheese Binge

Associated Press — Thu, 13 Jan 2011 15:51:13 +0000

NEW YORK-- Oprah Winfrey says her worst career moment was the box-office failure of her movie "Beloved." It sent her into what she calls a "macaroni-and-cheese-eating tailspin." Winfrey starred as a former slave in the 1998 film based on a Pulitzer Prize-winning novel. The movie had the misfortune to open the same weekend as the slasher film, "Bride of C... Read more..

Chris Rock Roasts Oprah At Kennedy Center Honors

NewsOne Staff — Wed, 29 Dec 2010 21:33:12 +0000

New York — On Tuesday night, the annual Kennedy Center Honors were held to celebrate some of the biggest names in entertainment and media, including the one and only Oprah Winfrey.

The Queen Of Talk’s longtime friends and colleagues John Travolta and Barbara Walters came on stage to honor her, but also used the time to complain a bit about how much she’s used them both over the years. This humorous vibe continued until Travolta and Walters turned to a fake “Oprah” studio audience and picked on comedian Chris Rock to say a few words.

Read entire article at HuffingtonPost.com

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