I'm Really and Deeply Surprised & Disappointed At All Of You at TC...

[[deleted user]]

...because none of you bothered to make any sort of comment on the biggest story of the day: Oprah's retiring from television.

For shame. Really. I'm ashamed of you all.

Go hang your heads in shame.

[Sally, la reina]

*hangs head in shame*

*scoots ficus in front of self*

*withers ficus because of shame emanating from self*

*buries dead ficus*

[Jackie "the Librarian"]

No, she's not. She's just moving to her own network.

[Sally, la reina]

*digs up dead ficus*

[Heidi]

I'm too upset about this. I can't discuss.

[Kevin]

who?

[Jackie "the Librarian"]

Chicago talk show host, Kevin. Very popular with daytime TV viewers.

[RandomAnthony]

I swear I almost did! Then I got distracted by coffee and granola bars and those pics from that Victoria Secret fashion show story on NPR.

[Jackie "the Librarian"]

I only know because they're talking about it in THC, and posts about it showed up on my update page.

[Cosmic Sher]

who? Hee-hee!

I just found out last night, and my initial response was "Oh. Okay. 'Bout time."

I don't mind Oprah, but she's really had her fill of being the Queen of TV and living in her own bubble of importance. Since she deigned to allow Ellen Degeneres to appear on the cover of her O mag (oddly, O is sitting atop a pedestal and Ellen seems to be paying a royal umbrage to her), I wonder if she is passing on the scepter to Ellen. Which kinda disappoints me. I've always liked Ellen, but I think she's kinda taking on that self-importance role as well. I guess it can't be helped when millions of people constantly tell you how great you are. :|

Gus, how can we get back into your good graces?

[Sally, la reina]

*feeds ficus anchovy water*

[Cosmic Sher]

(Sally, is anchovy water good for the ficus?)

[Jackie "the Librarian"]

Quit punishing the ficus, Sally.

[Sally, la reina]

*watches the ficus burst out in bloom*

[Cosmic Sher]

Well, okay then! (goes to find anchovies... wonders how to get water out of them)

[Youndyc]

The best comment I can make about the demise of Oprah's network show in favor of her cable endeavor is to highly (HIGHLY) recommend that you read - or, even better, listen to Dr. Dennis O'Leary's Why We Suck in which he waxes not just philosophical but downright poetic about Oprah. It's tremendously hysterical. I listened to this book commuting to work over a the course of a few days - and ever day I wanted to sit in traffic so that I could continue listening and laughing. Just so you know, the Oprah discussion is about mid-way or two-thirds through the book. Truly funny.

[Jackie "the Librarian"]

I don't think I've ever seen a whole Oprah show. I like Ellen, and I felt sorry for her when Chris Matthews tried to dance with her.

[Cosmic Sher]

Youndyc, I want that book! We saw Dennis on the Craig Ferguson Show and I immediately put it on my xmas list. :) (Personally, I think Craig should take up the spot of TV King, cause he doesn't give a flying rat's ass about anything and he's funny!)

Jackie, is Chris Mattews a really bad dancer? Why was it so uncomfortable?

[Cosmic Sher]

Aaaaaahhh! I found a clip where Ellen is recapping what happened with Mr. Matthews. It's pretty hilarious.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zht20z...

[Jackie "the Librarian"]

He grabbed her hands, and almost pulled her over, Sher.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPmHrO...

[Cosmic Sher]

I think that might just say something about the fact that straight, republican men should not attempt to dance with gay, democrat women.

Just sayin'.

[Jackie "the Librarian"]

Chris Matthews was a speechwriter for Carter, so I think he's a Democrat. Doesn't mean he can dance, though.

[Cosmic Sher]

Okay, so I shouldn't assume he was republican... my bad. He just reminded me of my Dad. lol ;)

KD, I can't say that I would use such strong language to describe O, but I can sure see why other people might.

[Jackie "the Librarian"]

KD's hate is strong. :)

[Cosmic Sher]

I think it's even stronger than my hate for Palin. That's sayin' something.

[Lori]

I HATE O as well. And she tearily announces it 22 months before? Why? Attention whore. Needs her ratings to climb?

[[deleted user]]

Okay, you're all back on my good graces again.

Carry on.

Just for the record, I don't dislike Oprah. I find her sincerity absolutely insincere, and there's no question she's only interested in promoting Oprah the Brand.

Maybe that's why Sarah Palin was on her show the other day...

[Reads with Scotch]

zing:)

[smetchie]

That video reminds me of dancing with my dad. It's awkward and dangerous. He's coming to visit on Monday and we're going to a show where there will be dancing. I'm scared.

also, I hate Oprah forever.

[Cosmic Sher]

Oh Gretchen, forever is such a long time.

Gus, I silently applaud your zing. :)

[Rachel]

Oprah is retiring??

[smetchie]

I wish, Rachel.

[Matt]

Sorry Gus, but I was too shaken to discuss it. I mean I am pretty indifferent about Oprah even though she gives people a lot of free stuff and has hornswaggled some folks into reading Faulkner and Cormac McCarthy who would not have done so otherwise. My disappointment stems from that literary hoax that I was eventually planning. If i'm not going to get chewed out on national tv in front of every soccer mom in America, it seems kind of pointless to even bother.

[Sally, la reina]

Where did I once hear that Oprah is the most powerful person in America?
If she even *suggests* everyone go without pants and shoes for a day, it'd happen. Nobody else wields the power that woman does.

[RandomAnthony]

I like the word "hornswaggled".

[Heidi]

I like Oprah. I don't get what the beef is with her. I will say that I'm not a fan of the books that her bookclub endorses... but that has nothing to do with Oprah the person.

[[deleted user]]

Honestly, I didn't intend for the "zing." It caught me by surprise, actually.

I also don't have a beef with Oprah. What does bother me is how she acts as if what she says or endorses is gospel that can't be questioned. And when the truth comes out, she acts as if she's God who's been wronged by one of her flock - see James Frey.

Newsweek tore her a new one several months ago - Why Health Advice on 'Oprah' Could Make You Sick.

[Sarah]

Heidi wrote: "I like Oprah. I don't get what the beef is with her. I will say that I'm not a fan of the books that her bookclub endorses... but that has nothing to do with Oprah the person. "

I don't have a beef with the books she endorses. Sometimes I get a little indignant, like "I loved that book way before Oprah gave y'all permission to like it." That happened with One Hundred Years of Solitude.
Her choice of Say You're One of Them has me fascinated. I found that book absolutely devastating, and I kind of felt sorry for all of the Oprah followers who might pick it up on her recommendation without any prior warning. It's intense.

[Heidi]

I can say the Oprah overtly dedicated followers bug me sometimes, though.

[[deleted user]]

Oprah also recommended The Road. I would love to know what some of Oprah's disciples thought of that selection; I know my mother-in-law, who was until recently all about Oprah, couldn't get past the first few pages.

[Sarah]

I forgot about that! See, I find that kind of endearing, that she's pushing people to read these tremendous, harrowing books.