What a week. I'm exhausted, aren't you? No matter what side of the political campaign you chose, it has been an emotional roller coaster and we all deserve a moment or two to take a deep breath. I've been reading everyone's comments - several times in fact - and one thing seems clear: some of us need time to celebrate and others need time to heal and it sure would be great if we could give each other the respect and space we need to take care of ourselves. Soon enough, we're all going to need to work as a collective (no, no, I'm not a socialist) to pull our country out of the economic doldrums. For now, let's just walk a mile in each other's shoes and try to empathize with one another. I hate this 'us' against 'them' crap that many of us pull - me included - when we talk politics. What a waste of all our valuable time and energy. I'm going to commit to being more constructive moving forward.
As Oprah told us to tune in, I watched 30 Rock last night. I thought it was fine. Frankly, my disappointment was that SO much of Oprah's appearance on the show was already played in the previews as well as on O's episode earlier that day. Except for the fun twist (which was definitely amusing!) I felt like I'd seen almost everything already.
My husband watched with me. The first thing he said when Oprah sat down next to Fey in first class was, "Doesn't she have her own plane?" It made me laugh. I can't imagine where he picks up all these little details about Winfrey. I'm joking of course - I bet at this point I'm talking about her in my sleep.
I thought today's show was a little blah - although I really did enjoy seeing Mr. Man - the stranger who Oprah draped herself over through much of the Obama rally. I knew his name would be made public at some point. His face was plastered all over TV, the web and newspapers. Very funny.
It does pay to be Oprah. At the rally, she started way in the back of the crowd, but people allowed her to come forward. They parted like the Dead Sea, so she could get closer to the stage. I guess being president of the President Elect's fan club has its privileges. Well, that AND being the most powerful woman in American media.
My mom and I spent time this week, when not obsessing over the election, planning Thanksgiving. The family tradition is to celebrate the holiday at my parents house in New England. This year, I've gotten them all to agree to a twist: out the window are the usual family traditions. This year, we're celebrating Oprah-style. Our Turkey Day menu and several activities will be chosen from O Magazine and Oprah.com. I think there will be about a dozen of us at dinner and everyone is being a great sport and has given me the thumbs up on this. I'm nervous. I don't want to disappoint anyone! It's my mom's favorite family holiday and I'd like to leave her with good memories rather than PTSD (Post Thanksgiving Stress Disorder).
Have a great weekend, y'all!
Friday, November 7, 2008
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37 comments:
Hi LO,
I just read on Gawker that Oprahs home magazine has folded! Is this the first failure ever in the Oprah empire?
WHOA! Paula - thanks for this info. Let's see if this pans out. Wasn't it Gawker that said Oprah "refused" to have Palin on her show before the report had to be rescinded? I'm going to go check out Gawker right now.
And additionally, there are a few of you - paula, morepower, celeste, dawn-michelle jump immediately to mind - who are so great at finding amazing info and articles online. You should be recruited by the CIA as internet researchers.
xoLO
Isn't Gawker a paraody web page? The latest article they have on Oprah claims that after electing Obama, her work on Earth is done and she'll be returning to her home planet:
http://gawker.com/5079926/work-on-earth-finished-oprah-to-return-to-home-planet
It would be pretty cool if Oprah turned out to be an alien from a more advanced planet, here to make us more spiritually evolved with books like "A NEW EARTH".
I recorded Oprah's Tinay Fey show & her appearance on 30 rock, but after reading your blog, I'll watch the 30 rock show before the Oprah interview so I don't know to much.
I really enjoyed the end of today's show with the "New Day" performance.
ooh morepower - i liked the song too - i think i'll download it. DEFINITELY don't watch the O episode before 30 Rock. xoLO
You have a great family! Mine would have a much more difficult time giving up their favorite Thanksgiving foods for anyone else's recipes. I've actually tried incorporating a new dish or two into our holiday meals--just for something different, and I got a lot of "What is this?" and "Why did you make that?" :>P Hurrah for the flexible! (By the way, I feel I have to say in all fairness, that I never heard any of those negative comments about the food from my DH--he's awesome!)
Oh, and thank you for the sweet compliment. If I ever apply to the CIA, I'll put you down as a reference. ;>)
I think I'm with Dawn-Michelle, who commented about your family. That's so sweet of them to be so supportive. Mine would think I had two heads. I'm looking forward to reading about Thanksgiving Oprah style.
Haven't seen today's show yet, but did catch 30 Rock last night and thought it was funny. I did not watch O yesterday, so maybe that helped. Tina Fey is the best.
Sadaf
Hi LO,
I was watching today's episode (recorded on DVR) and my husband walked in. He saw the part with "Mr. Man" and couldn't believe how self involved Oprah was. I started to think about it, and I think he is right. Being who she is, I think it's hard to think about the world of others. Would you really want someone to lean on you, without even asking, and assume it's okay because you are Oprah. It's offensive. She comes off as so self involved at times.
Have fun with Thanksgiving. Trying new food is always fun and your mom rocks.
I don't think Oprah leans on people because she's self-involved. As a long time Oprah fan I know this is something Oprah has done since the earliest days on TV, long before she became a super-star. She's just naturally a very touchy-feely person.
Here's a link to a non-gawker site confirming that O at Home will cease publishing. Click on my name.
Oh, you're talking about the spin-off to her magazine. I thought you were talking about her main magazine. Doesn't surprise me that the spin-off "O-at home" folded given this economy & the fact that readers are shifting to the web. Also, it was a stretch to think the Oprah brand could maintain two O magazines. I'm surprised though that she didn't promote it more on her show. But then again, Oprah's philosphy is that if something is failing, it's a sign that you're moving in the wrong direction.
The will.i.am segment was completely inspiring.
--(and, what a coincidence that Nicole Kidman will be on Monday, after my last comment from yesterday!!!)
After watching today's show I'm sort of done with Oprah for a while. I understand she's excited about Obama's win, but really....I can't listen to her praise him and say how wonderful he is one more time. It's driving me a little nuts. Yes, I'm part of the 48% that didn't vote for Obama, so I guess I've just had my fill of Oprah telling us how he's going to save the world.
Yeah I can understand how McCain fans would be turned off by Oprah's week long celebration of Obama, but his election is a huge deal for blacks worldwide who have been at the bottom of the socio-economic hierarchy for virtually all of recorded history so seeing such a brilliant black become the world's most powerful person really validates them & sends the message that they are not third class citizens.
And as Toni Morrison so brilliantly explained, his election is actually a huge moral victory for whites, and think about what it says about America that a black named Barack Hussien Obama could get elected president.
But there's still a long way to go. Even though blacks are 12% of America, they are only 0.25% of the economic elite. Of the 400 richest Americans listed by Forbes, there is only one African American: Oprah. With Obama going to the white house, there's not a single African American in the U.S. senate. And blacks are still put in jail at sky high rates and blacks still die at much younger ages than whites do.
And of course it should also be mentioned what a wonderful thing Obama's election is for Muslims. Even though Obama himself is Christain & his parents were atheists, he is the grandson of a Muslim and his middle name is Hussein. That America would elect such a man sends a positive message to the 1.8 billion Muslims in the world who for the past 8 years have all been stereotyped as terrorists and made to feel like scum of the earth. And it lets every little Muslim American child know that he or she is part of America too.
I can't praise Oprah enough for her decision to throw all her influence behind Obama way back when he needed it most. This presidency has so much potential; I just hope it can be realized. I think Oprah's week long celebration is just her way of getting America to unite behind a man who has an extremely tough 4-8 years ahead of him. He needs all the help he can get if presidency is to be a success.
I liked the 30 Rock Episode, but I thought the "twist" was way too predictable given how goofy Liz was already acting when "Oprah" sat down.
"He saw the part with "Mr. Man" and couldn't believe how self involved Oprah was. I started to think about it, and I think he is right. Being who she is, I think it's hard to think about the world of others. Would you really want someone to lean on you, without even asking, and assume it's okay because you are Oprah. It's offensive. She comes off as so self involved at times."
Opray DID SAY in an interview that she ASKED Sam Perry if she could lean on him. She didn't just put her arm on him without asking.
I'm kind of giggling at this thought at the moment:
I guess as a saddened McCain supporter, I won't be able to turn to one of my favorite programs for some good, old fashioned TV escapism to forget my post-election melancholy! haha Oh, well!
Actually, I was really surprised by how much Oprah talked on Friday's show about the election. I know I should have seen it coming and thought it would be brought up, but I thought there might be a few other things talked about at least.
Also, I was a little surprised by how much everyone else fell in line with everything Oprah was thinking--and it was funny and kind of odd that the other co-hosts were sort of seeming to match each other if not out-enthusiasm each other in some ways in their post-election Obama excitement. Do these guys ever disagree with Oprah on these Friday shows? Are there no conflicting or opposite opinions on Oprah's Friday shows??? (I mean, not like "The View" combat-fighting disagreements or mud-slinging, but just a discussion about difference of opinion of ideas) I mean when you gather any 4-5 people, they tend to disagree on SOME things, right, even on election stuff?)
Also, I wanted to add sincerely, with no malice at all, that I'm still not sure after hearing Oprah talk quite a bit about this, *why* we all should be uniting b/c of Obama (except for the obvious part of where you support your president to help your country). I just don't understand--She talks about how everything will change now, how things will be and suddenly are different now, how "hope" won, which I don't understand--Does that mean that McCain would not have brought "hope"--I personally found him someone to be proud of and hopeful about. I just don't understand all of the "hope has won...we're living in a bold new world--change has won"--with no other thoughtful explanation, OR have I missed it...Did she actually explain this? I've not yet heard an explanation that fully makes sense to me, and I've been looking really, really hard for reasons to be excited. I just don't understand though. It feels like every move made is historic, every word is uniting and wonderous...It is interesting that the one who is often put on a pedestal (Oprah) is now putting Obama on a pedestal...
I am hoping that this "phase" of Oprah Unleashed (which I'm happy for her and many others who are so thrilled, but "O Unleashed" seems to mean ONLY talking about the election and high-fiving people) is brief, or I really will need a break from the show for a while. It's been less than a week though, I know, give it some time...
I agree with more power's comments about the importance of Obama becoming President. I loved the 30 Rock episode and the twist! I could relate to the scene of all the women crowding around Liz to find out what O's favorite things are and then that she had them on was hilarious. I'm cooking for Thanksgiving, as I did last year and as long as pernil (roast pork) is on the table somewhere, they are ok. I picked up the Rachel Ray mag because it had 30 minute Thanksgiving day meals on the cover and last year I was up at 5am and still was barely finishing up at 5pm. I'll see if O's website has some time saving suggestions because I could use them!
You know, with the Mr. Man part, my theory is kind of like just in the spirit of being so excited where you hug a total stranger--Or with the Post World War II photo of the sailor kissing the nurse--I think Oprah leaning on Mr. Man was her way of just showing her excitement, to show that she was a part of that group that was so excited about the events of the night and the election. Sort of "sharing a moment." That's my take.
But, again, leaning and crying on someone is kind of a personal space invasion. I guess you'd have to ask Mr. Man if he really minded (and I'm not sure if you'd get a really straight answer from him under the circumstances of being on the O show and because of the fact that it was Oprah leaning and crying on him.).
In response to the comment about Oprah being self involved and just leaning on Mr. Man without asking, here's what really happened:
"Oprah says Stedman was right behind her, but the crowd that night was packed in so closely that no one could move. "Stedman was right up against my butt. If I'd had my hands down, I would have been in this guy's butt," Oprah says. "And also, we were just feeling the love."
When she saw the picture in the newspaper of her and the person she'd dubbed "Mr. Man", Oprah says it was the first time she had actually seen him! Even though Oprah did ask if it was okay to put her arms on him, the crush of the crowd only allowed her to see the side and back of his face."
I am 1 of 3 Dems at work. I've realized over the years there' is no rationalizing any issue or agreement on anything. Both sides are stedfast in their convictions. With that being said, on Wednesday, the front page of one of Russia's biggest newspapers had the headline..."Our 8 years of Hell are finally over!". And that was only one of thousands of paper across the world w/ the same sentiment...We chose wisely (for everyone).
Hi LO,
About Morepower's analysis of why Obama's election is important to African Americans. It's important, I think, not to try to make interpretations for other people. White people are never going to be able to completely identify with what an African American feels about this, and I think it may be condescending to try.
You may find it interesting that, contrary to the assumption that Africans have been at the bottom of the socio-economic pile for all of recorded history, that throughout the Roman and Byzantine Empires, the slaves of choice were the slavic people; hence, the origin of the word "slave". The Ottoman invasion of Europe cut off the supply of slaves from the slavic lands to the rest of the world, which caused the market in slaves to open up. There had always been a small slave trade in africa based on the traditional model of slavery as it was known in Egypt. With the closing of the slavic market, the trade in African slaves exploded, especially in the Americas, where it was discovered that the Native American populations did not survive under conditions of slavery.
Prior to the worldwide slave trade in Africans, many of the African civilizations had achieved a very high degree of wealth and civilization.
Teresa,
It seems that nomatter what the outcome of the election, other countries' (and our own) collective "personal hells" would have been over--No more Bush, which is super-positive. Seems like Russia could have printed that headline either way.
Well, as long as Russia's happy...
melissa & Courtney, (big sigh) reread the first part of my last comment again to see how we stand on this.
LO: "(no, no, I'm not a socialist)"
well, you voted for one....
Teresa,
I get it, I do understand-- Beliefs are beliefs--They are personal, they're not changed easily, and they often are beyond reason. I got it. We all have different beliefs.
I read the Russian article and some other articles from international newspapers, and in each case, I was surprised by how much is expected and wanted and requested for our government (unrealistically) from each country (One German article was a 10 page long list of congratulations and demands-The only thing missing was "All people of Earth will receive a pony and there will be world peace."). All the wants seemed different (from each article, newspaper, and country), and the wants sometimes seemed to conflict with other countries and even with OUR own needs. I understand we have a key role for a lot of people in the world, but at the same time, it seems clear that no matter what happens, people will most likely be disappointed because no one can meet all of the demands that are out there while at the same time taking care of the needs of our own country. The election is over, what's done is done. Whatever. I'll hope for the best. That's all any of us can do.
Oprah related content:
1) It seems that people in the US and around world expect a lot and project a lot onto Obama...much like people do with Oprah. He and Oprah seem to have a lot in common that way--People have big expectations for them. They go to them wanting them to change things, and project their hopes and dreams onto them. Why do you think that is? Is there a style of speech, of listening? Is it because people might think we know who these people are, even if we really don't? Is it because they have overcome struggles? Is it the feeling of personal relationship? What do you think? Seems like there are similarities and differences.
2)On 30 Rock, I got the biggest kick from Tina Fey's impression of Oprah's "introduction yell" of "Please welcome Liz Lemooooon!" hehe :)
And somehow I did not see the twist that was coming...
My friends and I came from Canada to go to the Nov.7th Oprah show. Needless to say we found the show a blah and we weren't the only ones in the audience that felt that way.
Does anyone have any comments on attending an Oprah show. We were very disappointed. During commercial breaks she did not even acknowledge that we were there. We felt she had no connection with the audience and the persona that you see on camera quickly fades away once the camera is turned off.
As for the experience of attending the show it is a bit self important. You wait to get tickets, travel a long distance, spend a lot of money to get there, you line up early and you get to be in the beginning of the line and then you are ushered in and told where to sit and when you ask if you can move up closer as there is lots of room you are told no.
I thought that the whole point of the shows were her audience and without her audience who would she be.
I can tell you that Oprah has lost 3 fans from Canada. Recently she has steadily been disappointing us and attending her show has confirmed this. I think she is the ultimate Diva.
Disappointed from Canada
Melissa, I agree with you that the U.S. cannot possibly please everyone in the world. It is pretty much impossible that everyone in the U.S. will be pleased with whatever the new administration and Congress choose to do (or not do), much less the world.
However, I am puzzled as to why you question the reason that everyone expects so much from Obama and projects a lot onto him. Could it have anything to do with the fact that throughout the last 2 years he has done nothing but build people's expectations? He and his campaign have welcomed and encouraged not only the citizens of the U.S., but from reading this blog the world as well, to view him as the agent of great change. He has stoked everyone's visions of what his Presidency will bring, and he has masterfully worked a great many people into a near frenzy of expectations. Now it is time to see if he can actualize these hopes and expectations.
As for Oprah, I have no idea why some people look to her for answers. I think she likes to present herself as someone who has those answers, but personally, I just don't see it.
Anon 2, I just thought it was so interesting to see that so many people had so many ideas already built up of what he will bring. You're right--It seems that the act of campaigning for over 2 years could lend itself to creating some big expectations. I guess I was just curious about what other folks might think about it--Really, in every different country and from person to person, the expectations seemed to vary quite a bit (form the articles I've read and from what I've heard people say)...There is just no way to please everyone.
It seems like people do that with Oprah, I guess that's a part of the premise of LO's experiment, but we also do it with other people, in our day to day lives and especially with famous people in the spotlight --at the moment, most especially, with Obama. I just kind of thought it interesting that even Oprah has such big hopes for Obama and for how much things will change. It seems that famous people, especially if they are touting change and hope for others, can become a place to project your feelings and thoughts and dreams, and it's interesting the level at which Oprah's done just that with Obama.
Also, Anon 1, that's rather surprising about Oprah's show...I'm sorry to hear you traveled so far for a kind of disappointing experience. I've never been, but I thought that getting tickets was next to impossible.
Hi LO,
I'm so with you on the "us" vs "them" thing -- I couldn't be more over it! Here in CA there were a number of propositions that were quite significant on our ballot, and I was out actively trying to pass one of them and defeat the other. The one I tried to defeat eliminated rights of some citizens of my state. That said, even when I met people who supported it, I couldn't get mad at them. Granted, my rights weren't being eliminated on that day so perhaps I could afford to be generous. But I really believe that people have the right to vote however they wish. If a vote doesn't go "your" way, then work with the system to change it. But don't demonize your fellow humans beings. We've done that for far too long, and it doesn't seem to be getting us anywhere positive.
Off my soapbox now -- anyone for a group hug? ;-)
I'm surprised its not the LAST failure. Oprah has clearly made her agenda known. And it's not for women's rights.
- former fan
Gloria Stienem voted the way as Oprah, and she practically invented womens rights. Don't let the GOP fool ya into thinking they are pro-women just because the trot a women out as their puppet.
Hardly seemed like Palin was a puppet. I think she was demonized by the media and others and put in situations to make her look a particular way. This election shows how much control the media has--My question is, "What ever happened to neutral, bias-free journalism, just reporting the facts?" Seems like that motto is long gone & every pundit and so-called journalist has to rally for their candidate.
Plus, at this point in the game, to be a feminist, one does not have to agree with all other women and vote one way or another because a woman is on the ticket--Now THAT would make you a puppet. If one woman doesn't vote for another, it is not a slight, it's just that we are so far along and have made such progress that we can agree to disagree.
Now the way the media treats women in the spotlight, Hillary and Palin, is another story...
Oprah's reason for not having Palin on her show is perfectly valid and definitely understandable but is also most certainly convenient for her.
Personally, I think the reason Palin has gotten so much grief since the election from some of McCain's aides is because she wouldn't be their puppet. I believe they wanted a puppet, treated her like a puppet at first, and when she finally wouldn't play along they turned on her. My views couldn't be farther from hers, and I can't imagine ever voting for her, but I think she has been treated very shabbily by the media and her own party.
She did "go rogue"--a phrase I fully plan on implementing in my daily life from now on, especially if I can do it with the Wassilian accent that Tina Fey mimicked perfectly. :)
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