“The Queen of talk shows” has ended on Tuesday evening her famous productions, along with Aretha Franklin, Michael Jordan, Madonna, and many other stars. For 25 years, Oprah Winfrey (57 years old) has developed programs about people and their problems. The last show was about her.
The show, held in Chicago in front of an audience of 13,000 people, was recorded and will be broadcasted on 23, 24, and 25 May. Invited to her show, the U.S. media reports that Oprah did not know the actual program of the performance nor the guest list – which is why the show is called “Surprise Oprah! A Farewell Spectacular”.
In the arena where the show has taken place, there were Kleenex packs placed under each seat, organizers expecting the audience to drop many tears for the star who kept the TV viewers attention in the last two decades.
Oprah, “surrounded by love”
Many celebrities came to Chicago, attended the recording of the last episodes of the show and wanted to honor by their presence the efforts of the famous producer and presenter of television in education and the fight against poverty.
“It’s no secret that millions of people feel inspired by Oprah. I am one of those people. She fights for what she believes in, even if this makes her become unpopular”, said Madonna on stage in Chicago. “Your show has turned surprises into a kind of art”, said Tom Hanks. “Oprah Winfrey, now you’re surrounded by nothing but love”, also said the actor pointing with his arms to the huge arena in Chicago.
Aretha Fraklin sang “Amazing Grace” and Beyoncé said that, because of the famous producer, “women from everywhere have come to better understand what they are, who they are, and who they can become”. Oprah wept several times during the show, after a new guest made his appearance on stage. Maria Shriver, whose husband, Arnold Schwarzenegger, has publicly acknowledged that has a child born from a relationship outside his marriage, was also there to greet her friend for over 30 years.
The celebrities included Tom Cruise, Will Smith, Halle Berry, Jerry Seinfeld, John Legend, Diane Sawyer and Michael Jordan. The TV producer closed the night crying and thanking her audience. “I feel your love and I thank you for it”, she said.
“The Oprah Winfrey Show” is the leader of the daytime talk shows audience in the United States, being also broadcasted in 140 other countries. The TV producer has launched her own television station, OWN on January 1, and has recruited already several Hollywood stars as TV presenters.
The Star’s career in numbers
25 years produced the show named “Oprah Winfrey Show”.
25,000 trees will be planted in honor of the 25 seasons of the show.
4,987 editions of the show.
62 million people watched the 1993 edition, when Michael Jackson spoke about his problems. It remains the largest audience of the show so far.
$ 2.3 billion is the fortune of the TV producer, according to “Forbes”.