OPRAH - 25 Years

First Show - 1986

UPDATE: Oprah's final words on her show, May 25, 2011, "I won’t say good-bye, I’ll just say, until we meet again. To God be the glory."

I have never been a big fan or watched many shows, but there is no debating the "Oprah Effect" Oprah has had on TV and our society. Oprah Winfrey has had about 28,000 guests on her show and 1.3 million audience members over the past 25 years.

1988-After losing 67 pounds

Born: 29 January 1954, in Kosciusko, Mississippi to an unmarried teenage mother. Winfrey was originally named "Orpah" after the Biblical character in the Book of Ruth, but her family and friends "didn't know how to pronounce it", and called her "Oprah" instead.

Liberace-1986 on Oprah

In 1983, Winfrey relocated to Chicago to host WLS-TV's low-rated half-hour morning talk show, AM Chicago. The first episode aired on January 2, 1984.  The show went from last place to overtaking Phil Donahue for first in the ratings. Movie critic Roger Ebert persuaded her to sign a syndication deal with King World. It was renamed The Oprah Winfrey Show, expanded to a full hour, and broadcast nationally beginning September 8, 1986.
AND as the say, "The rest is TV HISTORY".

Roseanne on Oprah-1986

Mel Gibson-1987 on Oprah

1986: Winfrey gets the final TV interview with pianist-showman Liberace, six weeks before his AIDS-related death.

1986, when Roseanne Barr was just starting out on the comedic circuit, she made her first Oprah Show appearance during our comedy showcase (which also featured a young Jerry Seinfeld and Richard Lewis!).

Liz with Oprah-1987

Patti LaBelle on Oprah - 1988

1987: Australian actor Mel Gibson appeared on the first season of The Oprah Show to promote Lethal Weapon.

1987: Elizabeth Taylor appears on the show and refuses to answer questions about men, marriage, and jewelry. Leaves Oprah at a loss for words.Winfrey teased, “I declare, you’ve got to stop talking so much, Ms. Taylor!”

Bill Cosby on Oprah - 1989

 1988: Patti LaBelle appeared on Oprah singing "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" a song she would sing again on the two day finale in 2011.

Sly & Kurt on Oprah - 1989

 


1989: Bill Cosby appeared on Oprah from New York City. →


1989: Kurt Russell and Sylvester Stallone appeared on Oprah to promote there movie "Tango & Cash" 

Bob Hope on Oprah - 1990

Ice-T on Oprah - 1990

1990: Ice-T appeared on Oprah talking about explicit language in his and others songs.→


 1990: The Legendary Bob Hope appeared on the Oprah show.


 1992:The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Will Smith appeared on Oprah and she guest starred on his show aptly titled "A Night at the Oprah," the whole Banks clan travels to The Oprah Show to help Uncle Phil's campaign for Superior Court judge. O

Hillary on Oprah - 1995

1993: Oprah ventured off to Michael Jackson’s Neverland Ranch for his first interview in 14 years.
Jackson revealed candid details about his skin color, plastic surgery, his relationships and children.

Michael on Oprah - 1993

1995: Then-First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton joins Winfrey.

Prince on Oprah - 1996

1996: Prince appeared on Oprah but then known as "The artist formerly known as". This was when he was in a battle with his record company sony.

Celine Dion on Oprah - 1996

Tina & Oprah sing - 1997

1996:International superstar Celine Dion first appeared on The Oprah Show in 1996 after Oprah surprised the entire audience with a trip to Disney World. eline and Peabo Bryson performed their hit from the Oscar®-winning Disney classic Beauty and the Beast.

1997: Tina Turner first appeared on Oprah as the two danced. 

1997: Chris Rock first appeared on Oprah. They both look so young! Oprah looks fantastic in bright red— one of her go-to colors. Her ankle booties looked on trend in 1997 when this episode aired.

Dr. Phil on Oprah - 1998

Chris Rock on Oprah - 1997

 1998: It all began for Dr. Phil. Oprah met the psychologist Phil McGraw when he joined her legal team during her law suit with the Texas beef industry. McGraw proved to be a welcome guest appearing frequently to dole out advice and eventually landed his own show under Oprah’s productions company.

2000: Oprah and Diana Ross

Diana & Oprah sing - 2000

For an episode in 2000 Oprah went with a hot pink top AND hot pink gloves to duet with Diana. 

2000:  Sidney Poitier, stopped by to talk about his autobiography The Measure of a Man. Oprah says the interview with Poitier was what she considers “a once-in-a-lifetime interview.”

2001: Tom Cruise The ever-enthusiastic Cruise refrains from jumping on the couch during this chat with Oprah in 2001. Maybe it's because he hadn't met Katie Holmes yet. He would, though....

Tom on Oprah - 2001

2002: U2's Bono on the Oprah Winfrey Show in September.

2003: Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Schriver in happier times. The couple appeared live on The Oprah Winfrey Show's season premiere in September 2003 in Chicago. It was their first interview together as a couple since he announced his bid for governor of California.

2004: Dr. Oz Since his first Oprah Show appearance in 2004, Oprah says he's been both a teacher and a healer for millions of viewers.

Ashton on Oprah - 2005

2005:Jennifer Aniston's breakup with Brad Pitt was big news, and Oprah nabbed her for the first post-breakup interview. Oprah also announced she was committing $10 million to Hurricane Katrina victims.

2005: The funny and sensitive Ashton Kutcher was on with Bernie Mac in February of that year talking about their movie, 'GUESS WHO' and their personal lives.Ashton talked about Demi and that her kids call him "MOD" - My Other Dad!


2006: As she was: Kirstie Alley, here in November 2006 on The Oprah Winfrey show, lost an estimated 75lbs with Jenny Craig. She recently in May 2011 finished second on abc's Dancing with the Stars.

2007:Oprah traveled to New York City to interview David Letterman, who had started a pseudo-feud with her over the years from his own talk show. The pair, who had taped a Super Bowl promo seven months earlier, got along swimmingly.

 2008: Beyonce made an appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show, for an interview and a live performance of her hit single, “If  I Were a Boy,” from her forthcoming third studio album, I Am…Sasha Fierce,November 18, 2008.

2009: Jay-Z's highly-anticipated "Oprah Winfrey Show" interview has landed online showing the rap mogul speaking on a variety of topics including racism, his late father and secret marriage to Beyonce Knowles.

2010: The cast of the “Sound of Music” reunited on the Oprah Winfrey Show. Memories of the good old days bounced back and forth during this precious interview which was broadcasted for the First time in October 2010. Christopher Plummer, Julie Andrews, Charmian Carr and Angela Cartwright had some great anecdotes to share with the Oprah live audience. 

2011: President Barack Obama and first lady, Michelle, appeared on "The Oprah Winfrey" show

There are so many more. I will update as I can. After 25 years of Oprah, I can truly say TV has been changed forever.