Oprah’s final original episode of “The Oprah Winfrey Show” which was aired on Wednesday focused on her no. 1 celebrity guests- her audience. A tearful Winfrey told her viewers “You and this show have been the great love of my life.”
“Thank you, America. There are no words to match this moment.”
Winfrey started her talk show career on Chicago in 1984 to WLS-TV’s morning talk show, “A.M. Chicago.” A month later the show was No. 1 in the market. A year later it was renamed “The Oprah Winfrey Show.”
Aside from celebrity guests, “The Oprah Winfrey Show” became a pioneer show which tackles subjects that are considered taboo including incest, rape, sexual abuse and depression.
Winfrey, 57 has a great connection to her audience. In her 25 years as a television talk show host, she built a unique relationship with her viewers. Popular names in politics and entertainment come to her show to promote their new projects or publicly apologize for their mistakes or indiscretion.
Her viewers meanwhile loyally followed all Oprah’s shows and endorsements.
The Oprah Book Club which started 15 years ago, has endorsed 65 titles and compose of 2 million members. Winfrey also became Santa Claus in “Oprah’s Favorite Things” giving her audience gifts and all the things that she loved most ranging from food, gadgets, clothing and books. In 2004, she gave all 276 audience members a new car.
Different from her Tuesday show, with big stars like Beyonce, Madonna and Tom Hanks, the final episode on Wednesday was a simple and humble affair where Winfrey thank all her audience whom she gave credit for all her achievements and she also introduced her fourth-grade teacher, Mrs. Duncan, whom she praised as an early “liberator” who made her feel valued.
“It is no coincidence that a lonely little girl,” Winfrey said, choking up, “who felt not a lot of love, even though my parents and grandparents did the best they could, it is no coincidence that I grew up to feel a genuine kindness, affection, trust and validation from millions of you all over the world.”
“I won’t say goodbye. I’ll just say, until we meet again,” she said.
Winfrey called on her viewers to help make the world a better place and take control of their lives. A letter from a viewer said, “Oprah, watching you be yourself makes me want to be more myself.”
“From you, whose names I will never know, I learned what love is. You and this show have been the great love of my life0.” Winfrey said.
Longtime partner Stedman Graham was with her at that moment and she shook hands with audience members before leaving Harpo Studios in Chicago.
Winfrey will start focusing on revamping her cable channel OWN (Oprah Winfrey Network), which launched in January 2011.
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