Letters to the Editor
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So where's the product placement? The 317's?
A "317 announcement" is required whenever a program has received money for production - such as prizes for the contestants, closed captioning services and the like. This keeps bribery by the megacorporations at least partly visible beneath the table.
And if there is any factor about Oprah Winfrey, it's materialism. Once a year, the episode called "Oprah's Favorite Things" becomes the replacement for the Neiman-Marcus catalog of extravagant, glitzy, expensive and useless gifts. Oh, it's all given to "worthy individuals" in her audience, and it's all paid for the hour-long infomercial that promotes the schlock to the nation.
Has Oprah increased literacy in America? Sure...as long as the reading involves the middle-class, vaguely inspirational potboilers she promotes, for a kickback. The promotion of The Secret, a cribbing from other cribbings of self-help books, was a scam that the televangelists must envy.
So where's the scam in this? Where's the hidden commercials that won't be entirely hidden? Where's the three pages of 317 announcements to make it legal for the FCC, if not entirely moral?
And after the expected sarcasm from Havrilesky, and her embittered description of this mess, why does she end up liking the show? Well, asking for clarity from her is probably way to much for anyone to expect, even Oprah.
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LOLOL!!!
I was screaming with laughter reading your bit about Oprah!...oh, not the part about the giveaway, but the first part. That was REALLY FUNNY, and I needed a good laugh!
I don't love Oprah that much, but I agree she's generous and honestly means well, and in this world, that's saying a lot. I watched her giveaway show last year, and it was very touching. Actually, many of her shows (and deeds) are touching and wonderful, and I'm glad Oprah's in our world.
I don't watch Courtney Cox's show, so I won't comment on that...but I do enjoy your column, and thanks for that laugh!
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Yeah, Dirt Sucks
I couldn't watch more than 2 episodes of that garbage. Even the previews suck. I'm surprised that show made a second season. You basically said it. Horrible jokes, really bad acting, no emotion, etc.
Maybe Cox is just suffering from 'Friends Disease' still. Too bad really.
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Royalty
As likable as Oprah is, and as well meaning as she might be, she is a little too close to being Queen. When I am in danger of being swept away by Oprah worship, I just remember the shameful incident when she had a tantrum that some Beverly Hills store wouldn't open for her, after hours. And then claimed racism.
She has achieved a lot, and her heart is mostly in the right place, agreed. But no one can completely move beyond their core experiences and hers were those of a deprived and disenfranchised child. Kudos to her for turning that around into a charity-fest. But enough with the blind worship.
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The author of this article is talentless and extremely boring. So is the article.
The author of this article is without talents and extremely boring. So is the article. Could I ever get rid of this Salon Newspaper, or not? This independent media is run by the gang of, though very ambitious and conscienceless, but, simultaneously, very primitive and non-gifted people. Give me a break! Stay clear of my e-mail!
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THE HOLLYWOODIZATION OF POLITICS AND OPRAH IS A RACIST
We've all seen this happen with Reagan and Arnold and the former Minnesota governor/wrestler. Obama is no more qualified
for the job of leading this country than the man in the moon.
Thanks to Oprah, Obama is popular,but without experience, without knowledge of how to run the USA, the largest country in
the free world. The Republicans will have a field day with
his Muslim background and his racist wife and his lack of
experience. If he gets the nomination, we can expect four
more years of Republican rule. Wake up America and get your
head out of Oprah's ass. She is doing no one any favors,
beginning with her support of Obama. She puts her race above
everyone else's, and wears that chip squarely on her shoulders
like a badge of honor. Hatred is not honorable no matter what
color it comes in.
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Finally a TV show that hates the audience
Dirt is great because it shoves its absolute hatred of the viewers in their faces and they sit there like cows breathing it in. In a way it's kind of like Oprah who, as one of the world's truly huge megalomaniacs, views her audience as nothing more than a reflection of her.
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Oprah....Too Funny
Oprah...Too Funny
I loved this article, and honestly don't know how many times I laughed out loud.
Ms Havrilesky says it all about how some people, (a lot of people) love Oprah.
But her take was hilarious....... and yes I do love Oprah too, but not to that extreme.
Again, a great and very laugh out loud funny article........DoLoNa
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Inconstant Reader Fwowed Up
Dorothy Parker was wrong years ago when she wrote "Tonstant weader fwowed up" about Winnie the Pooh, so maybe I'm wrong to react in exactly the same way to Heather's Oprah essay. The front end of the piece is terrific, but then we find out that Oprah is the golden exception to Heather's rule that people who are too kempt have a tendency also to suck, just a little -- or maybe a lot. Right away I knew I was in the presence of an Obama voter, even though Obama's name doesn't come up. Oh Heather, please! Give me a break!
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“ . . . like the beautiful black mommy I never had.”
;-)
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Charity reigns supreme Oprah
I agree with you (for once) 100%. Let's try and love most people just because they are there. Each one of us is a little "god" who must to reach full potential through loving, kindness, understanding, charity, list goes on. This is Oprah. Thank goodness for Oprah. I want to be as generous as she and I am reaching that goal in my own humble way.
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Oprah's third mistake.....
....Rachel Ray
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@ Katsu & anonymous
Oprah was not admitted to Hermes in Paris during store hours (altho it was 1/2 an hour before closing).
Obama does not have a Muslim background. He has a Muslim father. He has won more elections than Clinton and served in Illinois for a number of years where he worked successfully on getting significant legislation passed, sometimes unanimously on contentious issues.