Could Tyra Banks Have Ever Filled Oprah's Shoes?

By Rashod Ollison Posted Jan 7th 2010 09:30PM

With a media empire steadily growing under her piercing runway-ready gaze, Tyra Banks seemed poised to be the next big talk show diva -- after Oprah Winfrey, of course. The former supermodel, the force behind 'America's Next Top Model,' expanded her brand even more with 'The Tyra Banks Show', now in its fourth season.

But despite winning two Daytime Emmys for the sometimes-zany talker, whose topics centered mostly on women's issues and, uh, Tyra, the California-born media personality announced in late December that she's ending the program in spring 2010. With Oprah's coming vacancy, there were hopes Tyra would expand her show even more in an effort to fill the void left by her mentor.

"I think many turned to Tyra in hopes that she might fill the void that will ultimately be left by Oprah. But let's face the true fact here: There will never be another Oprah," says urban TV personality BJ Coleman, CEO of Coleman Entertainment. He appeared on Tyra's show in early 2008. "No matter how much success Tyra had on daytime television, she nor anyone else could fill Oprah's shoes."

Maybe it's for the best. Without the familiar, older-sister-like warmth of her mentor on another station, Tyra's over-stimulating style would be in danger of becoming downright insufferable. But there's no doubt that the decision to leave her talk show was a strategic business move.

"She's been able to succeed at whatever she puts her mind to, so it was definitely a smart move on her part," Coleman says. "The bad news now is that the only face for black women on the television circuit is Wendy Williams -- and I don't know how good that will be for pop culture."

But the "fierce" media star certainly doesn't plan to slow down. Her mission to uplift young women and celebrate all things that make her great will continue, just not on the small screen.

Tyra is aiming for film. After the show ends, she plans to launch Bankable Studios, a production company focused on movies that project positive images of young women. This direction makes sense for Tyra. There are only so many times on her talk show that she can disguise herself in a fat suit, reveal the true length of her hair, confront old nemesis Naomi Campbell, or gab about the wonders of Tampons.

Tags: oprah winfrey, OprahWinfrey, Tyra Banks, Tyra Banks Show, TyraBanks, TyraBanksShow

Comments

(22)

Thursday 07 January

By ken

Vote down Vote up Report this

They're about the same size.

Friday 08 January

By sally rogers

Who are you talking about?

By one-nee-ta

that no good-4-nothing could fill the shoes of a monkeygirl..i think ophar can`t be replaced oprah is so wonderful and she loves corndogs.

By jake

Not with those big fat ham hock gams size shoes ...

By Jo

Do you just mean the "only face for black women" in daytime? Both Monique and Wanda Sykes have television shows as well, albeit in nighttime and in Wanda's case only on Saturday night.

By sweet

They all look the same to whitey!

By BILLY

WHO CARES?

BUNCH NONSENSE................

OBAMA IS RUINING THIS COUNTRY!

By mc

Does the title of this article look right to you?
Are the journalists on AOL from India or the Phillipines?
Oursourcing writers now?

By beadabgood

mc , agreed ... mr. ollison is probably not an outsourced writer , but a product of our liberal educational system !

By Leila

Tyra would have never been able to fill Oprah's shoes...Oprah is one-of-a kind and THE Media Queen!
The Tyra show was never really that great, so we won't be missing anything special once she leaves.
But counter to what was said in the article, there are actually more Black women in daytime TV now then there ever was.
Of course there is Oprah, Tyra and Wendy, but also Whoopi and Sherri from "The View" and Hoda from the TODAY show. I counted in Hoda because the fourth hour of TODAY feels more like a daytime talk show than a morning news show. And not to mention Mo'Nique and Wanda Sykes got late-night shows this year, too.
The landscape for Black women is a lot better now than it was a couple years ago when Oprah and Star Jones were the only Black women in daytime television.

By Maki Maus

Unfortunately, you lost me at the header to your article. Anyone with grammar that atrocious doesn't deserve to be taken seriously as a writer. Maybe he's a product of the "No Child Left a Chance" act, which concentrates on teaching children how to mark the right answer on a test, rather than actually teaching them the subject about which they're being tested. Pathetic.

Tuesday 12 January

By Caring Kate

Please reread your headline for this article. Some editor was out to lunch.

By quemzeee2

TYRA, ha, I dont think so. She is smart, and she knows stage presence, but as far as shoes go, I think Oprah was the total success story of the world.'
Oprah is awsome.
She is a self made person.A black female from Baltimore whom has truly made her self in spite of all the negative things that have happened to her, In spite of the racial crude from years ago.
A black single female whom became one of the most powerfull financialy persons in the world. Truly i absoulutly am humbled by this person. What a wonderfull success story.

By Barb

Anyone off the street can fill Oprah's shoes. As long as they are obese.

Are you crazy ?

By Susan

Whew, you guys are seriously in need of proofreaders for the titles of your articles.

By Frany

Tyra may never be Oprah but she is TYRA, awesome, amazing, unbelievably fun, unpredictable and not to mention uncensored.I am sooooooooo going to miss her show. She is like a shining star and a big sister to young women like me. I sure wont miss Oprah, maybe my grandma will.lol

By king jordon

although tyra and oprah have a different type of talk show they have the same magnitude of power to capture an equal number of audience

By ablacksafari

Both have never been married or had children and they think the world revolves around them so it is possible that Tyra too can get many American sheeps, I mean people to follow her too. LOL

By Alli

Tyra is to busy looking in the mirror thinking shes the best thing since sliced bread. If she was that good she would not give up her show. She was going to be cancelled and she tried to save face by quitting. Shes a stuck up model that thinks she better than anyone. SO LONG TYRA !!!!!!!!!!

Page 1 of 2