So, the other thing I was going to say about Oprah was:
Sometimes I romanticize things, but thinking about Oprah last week made me envy the idea of a “sisterhood.” It’s a total stereotype, but I’m thinking of small groups of female friends who live in the South or somewhere suburban where there’s mostly shopping centers and chain stores, and when each of them is alone they watch Oprah and wish they could make their own lives better, and when they get together as a group of friends, they all discuss Oprah.
I’m not sure why this idea appeals to me. Maybe it’s because I’m sentimental and don’t have many friends. And men aren’t traditionally supposed to be sentimental and have heart-to-heart talks with each other. Despite having come out of the closet more than a decade ago, I’m still sometimes ashamed of the parts of my personality and emotional makeup that are not traditionally seen as masculine.
I feel like Oprah’s show is meant for women and that men aren’t supposed to get anything out of it. But the ideas she talked about in her final episode apply equally to men and women: find your calling, take responsibility for getting there, and remember that you’re as worthy and as allowed to be happy as everyone else.
I like Oprah – I admire everything she’s done to promote reading and education. Although I have to admit, I didn’t watch the show regularly, usually just when she had a guest I wanted to see. And I’ve never been into the self-help, bare your soul type of thing. So she’s not meant for ALL women. ;-) Honestly, I don’t know anyone else who watches her regularly but maybe I’m not the demographic. I mean, I was more likely to discuss the latest episode of Lost with my friends.
And I have say, the crowds at the United Center (I think that’s where it was) reminded me of a rally for a televangelist. I expected to see a phone number with donations running across the bottom of the screen and Oprah go out into the audience and lay her hands on people to try and heal them. Ok, slight exaggeration. I was in the audience at The Late Show once, so I know they really encourage you to whoop it up but still, it was all a bit much!
The other interesting thing is, for all of Oprah’s popularity some of her fans were quick to turn on her when she endorsed Obama. Some of them didn’t want her to be involved in politics at all. Others thought she was committing some kind of gender treason by not endorsing Hillary Clinton. I’m sure some racism was involved, too.
What has been surprising is the lack of folks leaving comments about the last shows. Oprah accomplished alot because she found the one thing that will make people love you forever……make them think you are giving them free stuff. Come on now..her ratings went thru the roof after the first favorite things and Chiiiiiii-town never recovered from “You get a car..you get a car…you get a car”. Once she became the the around the year Santa…her place in Television history was sealed.The love started to fade withe airing of the Behind the Scenes show. We saw a whole different person. This wasn’t the warm and fuzzzy..we will get thru this together ’cause we are woman Oprah! This was a not very pleasant..Egotistical..kinda unpleasant boss..who actually told a young woman that she did not like her makeup..go and wash yourface and then I will talk to you. This the Oprah who talked about the boss who wanted her to change her hair! We rooted for the Oprah who battled chilhood demons and seemed determined to live large. That Oprah has left the building. She doesn’t need us anymore…so See ya’!