Oprah's Long Goodbye Begins With Tears

By PopEater Staff Posted Nov 20th 2009 03:58PM

With her eyes welling with tears, Oprah Winfrey looked directly at her viewers on Friday to explain why she will be ending her show in 2011 after a quarter-century on the air. It was prayer and careful thought that helped her decide, she said. "I love this show. This show has been my life. And I know when it's time to say goodbye."

"Twenty-five years feels right in my bones and feels right in my spirit."

Winfrey offered no specifics about her plans for the future, except to say that she intended to produce the best possible shows during her last 18 months on the air.

"Over this holiday break, my team and I will be brainstorming new ways that we can entertain you and inform you and uplift you when we return here in January," she said. "And then, season 25 - we are going to knock your socks off."

Winfrey talked about being nervous when the 'The Oprah Winfrey Show' began in 1986 and thanked audiences who had invited her into their homes and lives over the past two decades.

"I certainly never could have imagined the yellow brick road of blessings that have led me to this moment," she said.

In a statement released Thursday afternoon by Harpo, Inc. -- Winfrey's production company behind her massive empire -- the company announced that the talk show queen would tell her audience and the world of her show's end on Friday. "The sun will set on the "Oprah" show as its 25th season draws to a close on September 9, 2011," the statement published by WIVB.com says of Winfrey's impending bombshell.

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Oprah Winfrey Pics

Oprah Winfrey is seen here with Sarah Palin and family during a taping of her show in which the former vice presidential candidate appeared. Click for More Oprah Pics >>>

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Heidi and Spencer Snapshots

©BAUER-GRIFFIN.COM Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt leave the Alexa Chung Show at the MTV Studios in Mid Town Manhattan, where the promotional pair share a kiss... again. NON-EXCLUSIVE November 16, 2009 Job: 91117Z1 New York, New York www.bauergriffin.com www.bauergriffinonline.com

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NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 16: Heidi Montag (L) and Spencer Pratt promote "How to be Famous" at Borders Books & Music, Columbus Circle on November 16, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by Will Ragozzino/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Heidi Montag;Spencer Pratt

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NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 16: Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt promote "How to be Famous" at Borders Books & Music, Columbus Circle on November 16, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by Will Ragozzino/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Heidi Montag;Spencer Pratt

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NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 16: Spencer Pratt promotes "How to be Famous" at Borders Books & Music, Columbus Circle on November 16, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by Will Ragozzino/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Spencer Pratt

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For weeks, rumors of a change in Oprah's show -- namely buzz that Winfrey would be taking her show off of syndicated public television and onto her own cable network -- grew at a frenzied pace. There had been little communication from Oprah or Harpo until this bombshell announcement.

In a report earlier this month, Deadline Hollywood Daily blogger Nikki Finke reported that Winfrey would be taking her show to her cable network OWN (The Oprah Winfrey Network) and that there was a good deal of behind-the-scenes tension between Winfrey, CBS and Discovery Communications over the decision. Finke's reporting seems to be dead-on, as the Nov. 5 post stated: "in several weeks, Oprah will tell the public that she's ending her syndicated Chicago-based daytime talk show when her current deal runs out and moving it to OWN headquarters in Los Angeles probably as soon as mid-2011."

According to the New York Times, both CBS and ABC stand to lose millions from her departure.

CBS owns syndication rights to Oprah's show, while ABC airs the program -- which generates high ratings and leads into the network's local news.

Tags: oprah, oprah winfrey, OprahWinfrey

Comments

(200)

Saturday 21 November

By Bumble Bizzle

Highest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

I very rarely watch the show but I am glad to see her go. I find her to be extremely racist and belive that she has gotten away with more racist remarks and actions than any other tv celebrity.

If a white talk show host would have practiced the same behaviors there would have been hell to pay.

TV will survive and will be better for it

By SHARIANN MILLS

HER SHOW SHOULD HAVE BEEN CAN A VERY LONG TIME AGO.ONE BIGGEST QUESTION.WHY IN 2011 NOT NOW?

By donny

NOT a fan, haven't been for years, with her "new age" crap, and her endorsement for that loser in Washington. The media is acting like it's such a big deal that she's leaving, who cares??????

By BigBlackRod

Low Ranked Vote down Vote up Report this

How can White folks in America call ANYBODY else racist? I agree that she was okay with y'all until she endorsed Obama. Like White Republicans ever gave a damn about Black folks. The hell with all y'all...PEACE.

By whocares

Vote down Vote up Report this

When Susan Smith killed her kids Oprah came to SC. One night while out eating with my wife and brther we came across the fat biggot. The bathrooms were tucked away and when i went to use it one of her body gaurds tried to keep me from going down the hall. I asked were the restrooms broken he said no Oprah is in there. I said well im going in the mens so who cares. He said im gaurding the hall and my reply was. You either move your effin arm or im gonna piss on your feet and still go where i want. Screw you and that bigger nitch. He grabed at my shirt and boy did he screw up. LOL. As i came from the rest room he and oprah looked my direction as if they were going to say something and a lady said well oprah he did grab the mans shirt and when he knocked his tooth out it was funny as hell. Of course the cops came and with this lady as a witness i told them i didnt want to press charges once they did and i finished dinner laughing at this fat biggot and her "body gaurd". She thinks she is royalty and all she is is a nich rigger who got a lucky break. I hope this breaks her. If i would have been thinking i would have sued her but i make my own way and unlike blacks suing isnt my thing for people acting niggorant.

By Bella

I'm thrilled this racist is leaving television. I'm sure her best buddy NObama will give her a seat in his cabinet too. Birds of a feather y'all...

By cindyh2009

High Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

Oh Boooo Hoooooo!!! Make billions of dollars but too self centered to even have a family. She might have to think of someone besides herself.

By Mike

Why is Oprah announcing this now but waiting until 2011? Her ratings must be sinking and she is desparate for more viewers...sorry Oprah,,,I will not be watching any of your shows! I have better things to do with my time.

By Debbie

Lowest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

I think Oprah has done several good things for all people, she is well respected. If you don't have the respect for Oprah you are the one with a problem, what are you doing to better the plant and mankind? I am sure she will go one to even better things. Good Luck Oprah.
Debbie

By Robert

Good riddance

By kewi130

What show have you all been watching? Have you ever looked into her audience ? Alos, where have you been living President Obama did not get us into debt. Read people.....

Tuesday 24 November

By Bob

She is a racist and a fake.

Sunday 22 November

By KEN

She's a traitor. She showed what she was made of when she went and did full support for that dictator we have for a president. She shouldn't be on te air. In fact, why do we have to wait until 2011 ? Why can't she just leave now ? I wonder if she had a tele-prompter in front of her when she showed those (?) tears ? Of course, the news media will follow her every where she goes so we'll never really get rid of her. Just like an addicting habit.

By kj

I STOPPED WATCHING WHEN SHE MADE HER RACIAL POLITICAL SPEECH

By byron

good, its about damn time she starts to wrap it up and hit the road.take dr phil and your other protoges with you.

By panhermes

Saint OW is leaving the building-the oh so perfect and highly savvy media mogul realizing ratings are not improving, makes mournful announcement in pitch to improve viewership. Well Mz. Big Bling, prior to exiting could you provide a list of your US philanthropic work? WE read and hear nothing of your USA altruistic interests, right here in the nation which is repsonsible for providing you so much. List for us the following: USA schools you've opened, scholarship programs, hospital wings any and all boards you sit on that enhance the quality of knowledge or health, HERE in this great nation you so often mention while excluding US from your benevolence. And it best not be biased toward only little black girls, but inclusive of all races and sexes. While it is fully understandable one of your power, in your specific situation might want to maintain a certain exlusivity, it is highly unseemly so to do.

By cecil

she isn't quitting , she's getting into it even more. What's more she will end up working for Obama with her face on the tube every day, this routine is a big farce

By bb

OPRAH,
YOU'VE ALWAYS BEEN A RACIST TO WHITE PEOPLE. LOOK AT THE RATINGS ON THIS VERY SITE.
PEOPLE HAVE FINALLY FIGURED OUT WHO YOU REALLY ARE.
WE'RE SOOOOO VERY HAPPY YOU'RE LEAVING!!!!!!

By lira

one thing I have always wondered is that on tv they make Oprah appear to have medium black to lighter skin and in real life and when she started out she was pitch black in color -- did she bleach herself or just insist on great lighting wherever she goes??

By springdyer

She lost me when she went for race instead of the best person for President. This country is in serious trouble, I am an American I love this country, not only did Oprah lose me, ABC,NBC, and CBS lost me, I want to see News not personal opinions. Oprah turned into a political show. If not for AOL this morning I would not know the show is ending. I do not know anyone that watches her show any longer. If you haven't been in the military, you have no business with the title President. God help us all, I pray this country will get back to Nation under God.

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