OK, so this isn’t exactly the geekiest of news, but it is potentially one of the more earth-shattering entertainment news stories to break in a long time, and so here it is. Oprah Winfrey‘s label Harpo put out the press release today, officially announcing that on September 09, 2011, the very last episode of The Oprah Winfrey Show would air, which will cap off the universally popular talk show’s 25th season. It looks as if Oprah plans to concentrate on her network, OWN, when the show reaches its closure point.
Rumors of the show’s end have risen and faded, risen again and faded again, but never have they ever come to this kind of finality that her seven million daily viewers feared so dearly. As those of us who are not fans and do not watch know, Oprah is about as close to a god on Earth as there is when it comes to her loyal following, so expect many a hearts to be broken by the news. Lives have been changed, perspectives and paths and physical appearances altered, and books — good and bad — have been made into super-hits all by this woman’s hand. Love her or hate her, the end of Oprah is an occurrence of epic proportions.
Click over to the other side to read the press release from Harpo.
Dear Friends:
Over the past several weeks, my team and I have had conversations with many of you to help address your questions about the future of “The Oprah Winfrey Show.” Of course, the one question we couldn’t answer was the one that only Oprah could. And tomorrow, she will do just that.
But before she speaks to her loyal viewers, we wanted to share her decision first with you – our valued partners for more than two decades.
Tomorrow, Oprah will announce live on “The Oprah Winfrey Show” that she has decided to end what is arguably one of the most popular, influential and enduring programs in television history. The sun will set on the “Oprah” show as its 25th season draws to a close on September 9, 2011.
We welcome you to share this news this evening with your colleagues and viewers. As we all know, Oprah’s personal comments about this on tomorrow’s live show will mark an historic television moment that we will all be talking about for years to come.
We want to thank you for the partnership and friendship we have shared over the years. Your invaluable support has helped us to create the phenomenon of the “Oprah Show” that we’ve all been so proud to be a part of for the last 24 years. My staff and I will be calling all of you directly tonight and tomorrow. We look forward to speaking with you.
And, if you think the last quarter century has been something, then “don’t touch that dial” as together we plan to make history in the next 20 months…and beyond.
If anything, fans of the show can at least take solace in a couple more years of episodes to keep them happy — after that, it’s all on Ellen‘s shoulders.
Oprah’s own formal announcement will air on tomorrow’s Friday episode.
[Source: The Live Feed]
I’m mixed on this news. Part of me wants to sing and dance that she’ll finally be off the air on the major networks and that the only way I’ll ever have to see her is if I, by some random act of misfortune, happen to tune into OWN. But, being a Chicagoan, I don’t want to see her go because of her effect on the local economy. Her kingdom is worth millions to the city in terms of income, tourism, jobs, etc. That will suck to lose.
Comment by kapgar — November 20, 2009 @ 7:57 am
Lots of people have had iconic talks shows. Dinah Shore, Tom Snyder, Phil Donahue, Jenny Jones, Ricki Lake and Johnny Carson, just to name a few. Throw out those names at your average 20-something and they won’t know who they hell you’re talking about. I wonder if 15 or 20 years from now the same thing will occur with the mention of Oprah’s name.
Comment by Vince — November 20, 2009 @ 9:38 am
Wow Poor white people jealous of oprah.. that’s funny..
Comment by Patrice — December 9, 2009 @ 3:44 am