After watching The Oprah Winfrey Show today and hearing her teary announcement about her decision to end her syndicated talk show, I had one thought in my head. Oprah Winfrey is doing a Johnny Carson. She's writing her own script (no pun intended). Oprah is leaving while she's still wanted, while she's still strong, and by setting the date 18 months down the road, she's giving herself a victory tour.
This is very much like Johnny Carson's decision to leave The Tonight Show. The difference, of course, is that Oprah's show is not an established landmark entity like The Tonight Show, which had Steve Allen and Jack Paar as hosts before Carson. No, Oprah was/is The Oprah Winfrey Show. She will not leave it behind for someone else to inherit the throne. She's taking the throne with her.
I thought that Cheech and Chong and Ann Coulter's gloves-off, no holds barred showdown/friendly exchange of ideas was the weirdest match up of all time. I officially stand corrected.
Rapper 50 Cent's posse and sportcaster Marv Albert got into a little backstage tussle on the set of Jimmy Kimmel Live and no one seems to know exactly why. If only we had someone at the scene who could describe what was happened "blow by blow" and then utter some kind of high energy word or phrase when something really exciting happens.
Apparently, a security guard just announced that Marv was walking down the hall the same time that 50 Cent and his crowd and the two threw down. Whatever the cause, it's unfortunate that it happened but more unfortunate for 50 Cent. If Marv Albert can walk away from your security entourage, maybe you need to consider some corporate restructuring.
So Oprah is ending her talk show in September 2011. The news first came out yesterday, but when she announced it on today's live show, there were still a few surprised moans in the audience. What, they didn't know about it already? Weird. Anyway, here's the clip with her announcement.
I hope she can still collect unemployment when the show ends, but I don't think you can if you quit your job.
The entire time I watched this clip from last night's Late Night, I was thinking, "if Taylor Lautner smashes into a wall face-first or falls off of the mini-bike and cracks his head open, Fallon is going to be in big trouble." The two guys raced around the NBC hallways on mini-bikes. The winner wins because he cheats.
Not coincidentally, that date is the day after the 25th anniversary of her first nationally-syndicated episode, and she'll mark the anniversary on her last show. Bennett told WCCO that this decision was under discussion for months, but the decision ultimately came down to the big O herself.
There's a major movie opening tomorrow. It's the movie everyone is talking about and obsessed with, to the point of standing in line for hours and hours, and they say it could be the highest-grossing movie of the year. Of course, I'm talking about The Blind Side.
Kristen Stewart is in a movie tomorrow too, and last night she appeared on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon and threw footballs at plats. If the whole movie thing doesn't work out...
Last night, Spencer Pratt announced on The Tonight Show that he might run for President. His reasoning? It has to do with becoming hated by everyone and hacking computers. Or something. I don't think he's thought it through yet. Seth Green gets a little dig in, and the audience is obviously tired of him and Heidi.
What you don't hear in the clip (it cuts off early) is the audience actually booing Heidi and Spencer. My favorite part of the show was the end, as the music played and credits rolled Conan talked to guest Brian Setzer and Green talked to Andy, leaving Speidi all alone in the middle on the couch, not sure where to look or who to talk to.
For the first time ever, Chelsea Handler called in sick the other night. On last night's show she came in to explain what happened (and infect everyone on her staff, apparently). She gets in a funny jab at her older boyfriend too.
Oddly, even though Handler is getting over a sickness she sounds clearer than she usually does.
[Watch clips of Chelsea Lately and other shows at SlashControl.]
I watched The Oprah Winfrey Show yesterday to see the one on one between two of the most powerful and influential women in America. Whether you're a fan of Oprah Winfrey or Sarah Palin, there was no doubt that they command a large chunk of public opinion. How could I not see what they would be like in an interview setting?
My impression was that they both were completely civil and reserved. I didn't pick up the makings of a great friendship, not that that was likely considering Oprah's support for President Obama.
Still, what I found interesting was that if you read the body language experts, they're reporting that Sarah was not nervous. They're coming to that conclusion based on her ability to control her blinking. Over-blinking mean you're agitated and a normal blink per minute rate -- 30-40 blinks -- is normal. Sarah was blinking normally.
At 8, ABC has a new, two-hour Dancing with the Stars, then a new Castle.
CBS has a new How I Met Your Mother, followed by new episodes of Accidentally on Purpose, Two and a Half Men, The Big Bang Theory, and CSI: Miami.
NBC has new episodes of Heroes, Trauma, and The Jay Leno Show.
FOX has a new House at 8, then a new Lie to Me.
The CW has a new One Tree Hill at 8, followed by a new Gossip Girl.
AMC has Part 2 of The Prisoner at 8.
Food Network has Dear Food Network: Thanksgiving Turkey at 8, followed by a new Dear Food Network: Top 10 Thanksgiving ProblemsSolved and a new Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives.
TLC has two new episodes of Little People, Big World at 8, then two new episodes of Jon & Kate Plus 8 and a new Cake Boss.
At 9, USA has a new Monday Night RAW.
Cartoon Network has a new Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack at 9.
At 10, Lifetime has two new episodes of Rita Rocks.
E! has a new The Soup Presents at 10.
Also at 10: Bravo has a new Million Dollar Listing, followed by the series premiere of Chef Academy.
There's a lot of speculation in the biz about what will Oprah do next. The daytime talk show giant supposedly made up her mind recently and decided that her syndicated show, The Oprah Winfrey Show, would end its run in syndication and move to OWN, the Oprah Winfrey Network (formerly Discovery Health). An official announcement is anticipated before the end of the year, but is that really was Oprah has decided? Nobody knows for certain.
There are pros and cons on either side. The companies that syndicated her talk show stand to lose a significant asset if she wraps up the current incarnation and abandons the market. Think of all those afternoon hours around that country that count on Oprah at three or four o'clock, or the morning slots where Oprah leads in to noon newscasts. Companies like CBS Distribution and the Tribune Company have feasted on the robust ratings Oprah has consistently delivered.
After watching The Oprah Winfrey Show today and hearing her teary announcement about her decision to end her syndicated talk show, I had one thought in my head. Oprah Winfrey is doing a Johnny Carson. She's writing her own script (no pun intended). Oprah is leaving while she's still wanted, while she's still strong, and by setting the date 18 months down the road, she's giving herself a victory tour. 
I thought that 
At 8, CBS has a new Ghost Whisperer, followed by new episodes of Medium and Numb3rs.
There had been lots of 
At 8, CBS has a new Old Christine, followed by new episodes of Gary Unmarried, Criminal Minds, and CSI: NY.
I watched 
At 8, ABC has a new V, then new episodes of Dancing with the Stars and The Forgotten.
At 8, ABC has a new, two-hour Dancing with the Stars, then a new Castle.
Mike Henry and Daryl Hall on a Cleveland Show Thanksgiving
The TV Squad Podcast: The Prisoner, '80s TV, soap news and more
Let's talk about spoilers ...
