Hey folks, I'm so pleased about the exciting, overnight growth on the site. I had a bunch of emails from folks asking about where they could listen to the NPR All Things Considered interview. Here is a link. I guess I'm going to have to change the way I respond to comments, which is a little sad. Up until this point, I've tried to be vigilant about answering each and every one, but I wonder if it'll be possible now...it might be a losing battle to even try. (But I'm going to to give it a try this weekend!) I've read everyone's comments so far and will get in there and respond individually as I can. I am thrilled and delighted by all the emails and comments. Some great stories, memories and insights, folks. And, y'all are too funny, to boot.
I am eating my words a bit today. Whereas my head almost exploded when I saw Oprah's intrusion on the virtual meeting between the soldier in Iraq and his wife a couple days ago, today I found myself thanking Oprah for inserting herself into a situation. If you haven't seen the show, it centers around a teenage boy who was victimized by pedophiles and thrust in the center of an online porn ring. Really terrible and really terrifying, I'm sure, especially if you are a parent. Oprah, a victim of childhood sexual abuse herself, has made it one of her missions in life to help cease the objectification and abuse of kids. So, while it would be great if the federal government was able to crack down immediately on these predators, it seems their feet are dragging...luckily, Oprah has tele-deputized herself to help stop this cycle.
This is what makes the project so interesting to me: The many faces of Oprah. One day she's a valiant soldier, fighting for children's rights and the next day she's a corporate messenger blatantly pushing products down the throats of her hungry audience like a mama bird feeding her babies. I find myself torn between admiring the media mogul and wanting to throw something at the television. It's a schizophrenic feeling to watch her daily. Her mission is not clear to me anymore. (It may be important to note that today's rerun was originally aired in February of 2006.) Has she lost thematic control of her own show? Are too many cooks in the kitchen?
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34 comments:
Robyn,
I never heard of LO until yesterday when I left work early & listened to NPR at a time in the afternoon when I never do. You go girl!
I have similar mixed feelings about the big O(prah). I admire many things that she does, her philanthropy, and her inspiration to millions, but her sense of entitlement and enormous ego turn me off. Inserting herself int & indeed DOMINATING that exchange between the soldier &his wife was awful! Also I hate when she badgers & interrupts her guests, and wants credit for trivial things (a 3 ingredient smoothie she "invented"!)
Thanks for letting me vent. BTW you were great on NPR, your ambivalence was apparent! Amanda
Amanda, The invention thing is hilarious. You are so spot on. The word "schlumpadinka" is a big one for me. She says she made it up, but it is basically a tiny twist on a Yiddish word. Maybe she invented Yiddish? Thanks for pointing that out! Ok...I'm off to catch an airplane...thanks so much for joining us! xoLO
Regarding that episode about the kid who was supposedly thrust into the world of online porn rings...you should know that the whole thing was a total sham, a fraud, a ruse. And it's really disgusting.
The kid, Justin Berry, did everything he did on his own volition, and even worse, the reporter, Eichenwald, PAID the kid money "for research" before he ever started writing about him. Seriously shady stuff.
You can read more about it here:
http://gawker.com/news/terrible-stories/kurt-eichenwald-has-a-pretty-valid-reason-for-not-remembering-anything-312806.php
...or you can just Google their names. Their story has been completely discredited...leave it to the idiots at the Oprah show to re-run the episode!
Just like with James Frey and with her disastrous school in Africa, Oprah is a gullible opportunist who will believe anything and exploit anyone, no matter the authenticity or risk of putting others in harm's way, so long as it benefits HER and ONLY HER.
What a great woman for you to emulate.
Good luck.
I think this will be hard.
"why couldn't he have joined a more mainstream religion, like Oprahism, or Voodoo?"
-Professor Farnsworth, Futurama
:)
Like susan6k3 I've never heard until LO until yesterday. I too left work and was listening to NPR; you did a very nice job. Although Oprah has definitely done more than her share to make life better for the less fortunate, I have many reservations about her and how she is a heavy influence on people. I am a person who is extremely independent, I feel I would lose that by following her recommendations to the letter. I know people, that includes some relatives who take what Oprah has to say as gospel and by doing that, one can lose a sense of individualism. Is someone making a choice because Oprah says so or does someone really really want to make that choice? I do admire you for your persistance with this project. I hope it goes well for you and it does not drain your cash resources. Best wishes.
I too never heard of your LO Blog until my friend sent me a link to the Reader article - which I loved. I have been saying this FOR YEARS!!!! I cannot even watch her anymore. I actually went to the First Birthday party O gave herself for her then new business! I still have the T-shirt they gave out as "the gift." She is SO condesending it makes me crazy. Everything is : "Don;t WE love that audience?" UGH! SO sickening!!!! And she ALWAYS interrupts, intejects, etc. ENough Sh ethinks she is God! I hope you get the biggest and best book deal - I think yoru project is brilliant. I am a publicist - I would be happy to promote you!!!! (In fact I was helping an author promote a book and that is why were on Oprah in 1987!) I wish you the BEST of LUCK in this project.
Cheers to you!
Sherri Maddick
Hi LO,
I, too, was introduced to your blog recently. What a original idea! Your insights and conflict about about Oprah are very interesting. It actually inspired me to subscribe to my first RSS feed and I'll be keeping up with you! Good luck!
Regarding what you refer to as Oprah's tele-schizophrenia, I imagine that she feels that the good work she can do with her fortune excuses the blatantly consumption-based methods used to make said fortune. I'm not sure which is a more disappointing idea, the idea that she knowingly sells out but feels that the ends justify the means or the alternative that she might not even realize just how much damage to finances, the environment, self esteem, etc. her shows do. How can she do a "diet budget" show one day and a "here's all the expensive shit you don't need but can't live without" show the next? She lost me completely over the last year with the show about the secret when she started hallucinating on air about being able to control available parking spaces with her mind or some such silliness. What really severed the cord, though, was when she released her video statement about the abuse scandal at her school and actually said that it was the single most devastating thing that had ever happened to HER?! Um, excuse me, it didn't happen TO YOU! Finally, although I support Obama 100%, I resented her heavy-handed "I have anointed him" type rhetoric. I'm glad she filled some stadiums for him in the beginning, I guess, but I hope he has the good sense to reel her in now. She's lost it.
zachary, thanks so much for posting this and bringing up a trend about oprah we haven't talked about yet on this site.
ocg, yeah. yeah, it is.
matthew! i gotta love a guy who quotes that epsiode. nice work, friend!
me, thanks so much for stopping by - you've actually voiced many concerns i have. and i'll tell you, as a pretty "march to the beat of her own drummer" kind of gal, this is VERY challenging for me. i hope you return and comment again...
hee hee ... sherri...i'm not so sure exactly how you feel. come on, let loose, tell us how you feel! :) drop me a line via email - i could always use professional input...
ok jessica, i am so cheesy, but i can't tell you how happy it made me to hear that i'm your first feed. i'm such a dork. welcome!
anon, your post really resonated with me. the point about the school scandal being devastating to her also made me hit the ceiling. i was horrified. please come back and comment again.
thanks everyone!
all the best,
LO
The comments above touch on the question that came to me when I first heard of your blog, namely is there actually a consistent 'Oprah-best-life' you can follow? It seems like one minute it's decluttering, the next it's 50 new 'Favorite Things'. It's the Angel Network AND screaming for schwag. It's meditating to find your inner guide AND gushing over brainless celebs. Have you found a lot of conflicting advice / messages when trying to Live Oprah?
Somebody left the door open! Who are all these people in my comments ;)
Congrats ROLO! (You're one of my favorite candies!) Looking forward to checking out the interview over the weekend.
Not to diminish your project but, you could capitalize on this. I predict you will be a guest on the Oprah show. btw.... Since you are LO, you have to vote for Obama this year. :)
Cheers!
It was serendipity that I happened to turn the radio on just before your interview ended: I love All Things Considered, broadcast here in Australia on News Radio, but I rarely catch it!
So - your mission is international! I will follow along with interest.
You are getting some word of mouth traffic over here in Ukraine! :) Your blog idea is creative and fun to read!
I think Oprah does give an interesting personal message to the world....save the world one day, buy expensive things the next, (and if you buy RED you can do both at the same time) then get New Agey the next day. She is an enigma to me.
I'm so happy that things are blowing up for you but so sad that what I considered my secret of livingoprah.com is now out there and its not mine anymore! but thats just me being jealous! Congrats on your serious success!! :o)
marisue, i know, right?! crazy! and ROLO is really funny. i used to love those as kids.
j.woods, yup! mccain doesn't have to campaign in my 'hood. my vote is set.
yvettedownunder, welcome. i am thrilled to hear that Living Oprah has made it to Australia. that tickles me to no end! thanks for dropping a line!
best,
LO
silvertacos. i know. i understand completely. i am SO grateful and SO happy the word has spread and that the ATC interview really launched the project to a new level...but i'll admit a certain nostalgia for the good ole days.
michelle. WOW. i'm honored! that is really great. may i ask - are you ukrainian? an american abroad? what? who? :) i'm so interested in who reading/listening!
thanks y'all!
best,
LO
Robyn,
I almost drove off the road when I heard you being interviewed on NPR... it's a long way from high school plays with Ms. Bunkley! Even though I'm not an Oprah fan, I'm finding the blog fascinating. Congratulations on coming up with such a cool and creative project, and I look forward to following your blog for the rest of the year.
-Christa Heuser
HOLY COW! Christa! I'm back the home town, visiting my folks and we all fell off our seats when we saw your comment. I'm so thrilled to hear from you. Drop me a line via email if you have time - I'd love to catch up.
xoRobyn
RO-LO! (Might work as a new moniker!) I am rejoicing in your success... but as I read comments, I am finding myself defensive on your behalf, especially in relation to people who obviously don't understand what you are doing, but feel free to criticize (mostly anonymously of course) anyway. So I just wanted to say, keep it up, and don't let 'em get you down!! Sorry your cover got blown. Have a great weekend!
Robyn,
I heard you on NPR, along with a bazillion other folks, and I have to confess a sense of serendipity: over the past six months, I've been dipping into Oprah-land, mostly through the web site, but also through the magazine if I find it on a coffee table at work or in a doctor's office. I admit it: Oprah's encouragement/empowerment format has me feeling excited and daunted at the same time. I'm not as dedicated as you, clearly, but often I feel as though I should (one of my least favorite words) be living a better life and that, if I'm not, I only have myself to blame. [In large part this is true of us all, and the tough-love sentiment is worth hearing.]
I'm looking forward to reading how it all goes. Keep up the good work. Also, if you have a chance to create a Guide For Living Your Best Life (as per Oprah) page, I'd love to read it.
Hey LO - Great news about the expanded "press"!! Can't believe it but understand why you might have to stop responding to individual comments (boo hoo). Maybe you need to grab yourself a "Gayle" to help out! :)
Regarding the episode, just wanted to say...found it bizarre that his mom wasn't there in the audience. Plus, though I know some time as passed since this story broke...the emotion emitted by her was kind of surreal. Almost as if she was completely separated from him (which, I guess to an extent, she was).
In general, hope you're having a great summer and settling in. Keep up the great work!
PS I just read the article that zachary left for you...I guess I should have prefaced my comments with the fact that his mom's attitude raised my suspicions. Whether all of it true or not, I am sure it opened the eyes of millions of parents in the US about potential threats.
once again, after reading your show post, I won't be watching this epi--too sad for this chick! I didn't see it when it first ran, thank goodness! And yes, I like my head in the sand on some issues.
since you started your project, I’m trying not to 'figure out' her mission based on reruns. the recent stuff, however is ALL OVER the place so who knows!
that is my .02 on it.
~MTV
p.s. Hellllooooo LOs Mom! teehee
Robyn,
You're a riot. You are officially in the running for becoming my new best friend. I have been trying to beat Gail in becoming Oprah's best friend for way too long, but it has been a long, hard road.
Keep up the Oprah vigilanty and if you need advice from her almost best friend, let me know.
Thanks!
Great Job on your NPR interview and congrats on all the publicity and traffic you've received to your website!
Regarding Oprah interjecting herself into interviews and segments of the show, I think this is something that is now expected of her. She's been doing this for what seems like forever, so for her to let her guests talk or to not interrupt with her opinion would be a different Oprah. She's become so popular and known for doing these types of things, there is no reason for her to stop now.
I also think that celebrities are surrounded by "yes men." They don't have to hold themselves accountable for their actions like normal people do because no matter what their opinion is, someone that depends on them for their paycheck will be there to say "yes, that's a great idea." Celebrities are fawned over, paid ridiculous amounts of money, given gifts that cost the equivalent of a months paycheck for the average American all the time. There is no way in this world that you could live that lifestyle 24/7 and still think like an average person.
Hey,
Found your site through Well Read Hostess (http://wellreadhostess.com/2008/07/18/doh.aspx). Love it. I often "drink the Oprah Kool-Aid," and lately am sorry more often than I was a few years ago. I thought she was much more interesting when she was in to Live Your Best Life/Remember Your Spirit days. My personal theory is that she started to go downhill when she didn't let herself step down when she wanted to. A few years ago, she was debating whether to keep going with the show or not. In the end, she decided to keep going, if I recall correctly, because how dare she stop after the generations of slaves before her who had no voice, and here she was, given the gift of the biggest pulpit in the world. And that's when I felt like the show jumped the shark a bit. Her real focus clearly became her school, her other philanthropies, and more of the show went to a variety of producers.
Honestly, I like her magazine more now than her show.
And, back to earlier commenters, I have to hope that somewhere, she let that husband and wife have some telecom time by themselves off camera. Usually she's good about that and have to hope that it just didn't make the taping.
Ok, enough out of me. Can't wait to hear the interview and peruse the archives, and hear what you think of Eckhart Tolle. Clearly I wasn't "ready" for it as I found it a total waste of my time. Good luck to you! (and no need to reply, I can only imagine how busy you are.)
Judes, Thank you so much for the support and the pep talk. It makes me feel good to know that y’all have my back. I hope you have a great weekend, too!
Heidi, I love that suggestion – about adding a page to the site. Thanks for the great idea!
Jax, I’m SO trying to keep up with comments. Honestly, it’s been my favorite part of the project. I love the discussion I have been lucky enough to have with you guys. It might take longer, but for now, I’m going to try! And I agree with you – as horrible this is, if it’s truly a scam, at least it scared some parents into action.
MTV, My mom just said hello back. I’m hanging out with them for a couple days. We’re all watching Oprah together! It’s a family affair. A very, very dorky family.
Betty – You are soooo funny. I loved your comment. Ok, we’ll have to start slow with this relationship, but we can give it a try! LOL!
MKC, I agree with you – I think after a while, if you’re known for certain characteristics and if people expect them of you, they become so rooted, they’re inescapable. I was thinking about Jack Nicholson as an example. (Who I love, btw). I must be so hard to break your pattern at a certain point. Great observation and thanks for the kudos!
O, I love that you pointed out the jumping of the shark. I think you are right. I remember being impressed when she was going to step down when she was at such a highpoint. I thought that was very brave. I’m in agreement about the magazine – although my favorite sections are those she didn’t write, to be honest. Who are your favorite contributors?
Have a great day everyone!
xo
LO
Your effort is great and you really explained it well on ATC.
Your comment about the soldier and his wife is right-on. I have never been a fan of Oprah (not in a bad way just didn't care one way or another). During my time in Iraq we would occasionally get TV via the military and one of the shows was Oprah. Wow, did this ever change my opinion of Oprah. There I was in a war, in the desert with no a/c, rationing water, being shot at, and people back home are applauding her for saying something ridiculous about her favorite things. Oprah wanted William Sonoma Croissants and I wanted to get home alive--it was right then and there I began to despise that woman. All of that influence wasted for such inconsequential issues.
Anon, I AM SO GLAD YOU WROTE. your email helps put things into perspective. please oh please stop by again and share your thoughts. all the best, LO
Holy Cow, LO! I have been regularly checking your blog since about Feb. of this year, and this whole thing has just blown up after your NPR interview! WOWZA!
I haven't read all of these posts, and I imagine you must be feeling a bit overwhelmed yourself trying to read and keep up with it all. Also---hearing that your name was going to be given out, oddly enough, made me feel panicked for you even though I don't know you but know that your privacy was of some importance here!
I think the turn this has taken-getting some exposure in the media, also might add another aspect of insight you might not have expected from the experiment. One question to consider--(admittedly this will not be on the same level with Oprah) but what aspect does media exposure, public scrutiny ('cause everyone's got an opinion and wants to share with you) and all that comes with putting your ideas out there--that all relates to this Oprah experiment--how does that impact the messages that are sent out as well as the perspective of the viewers? As one gains more exposure and opens themselves up for scrutiny, does the message change and does the intent of the viewer/listener/reader change? Oprah has put herself "out there" in some manner everyday for the last 20 years. I think fame and exposure and the pressures that one might feel would definitely play a role in the way a message is delivered. Definitely the feeling of being overwhelmed at times might even play a role too.
Anyway, I'm happy to see so many people interested in what you're doing--Way cool. At the same time, I imagine it may be a bit much to take at once. BUT it definitely relates to what you're doing too...
Keep up the good work, LO! :) Hang in there!
melissa,
we are SO on the same page. i have been talking to my folks about this exact issue (the idea of being in the public eye). the level of scrutiny has changed (which can be a good thing, too, i suppose). actually there have been lots of changes in a really short time. i find myself frequently thinking, "wow - i have the tiniest fraction of oprah's attention and it's totally overwhelming." you know what - especially since i don't have the tv this week - i'm going to blog on this exact subject while i'm at this yoga training. thanks so much for this great insightful comment! best, LO
So funny--I went on vacation (sans internet) and couldn't wait to get back to your blog.
Love Martha Beck most of all, mostly because she's willing to admit to the fruity and unbelievable that actually happens. Lisa Kogan usually makes me laugh. I think Val the beauty editor is the most realistic person out there with that title. Suze and Dr. Phil I could live without but I find them far more tolerable on the printed page. And I miss Julie Morganstern a ton and am always happy when she guests.
(Sorry you asked yet?)
And my new beef with Oprah: her new website needs plugins my computer rejects. Sigh. I just want to check the reruns schedule, not reconfigure my settings.
Anyway. Love the continuing story of your year. Thanks so much for your fortitude in continuing!
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