Oprah Battles Claims of Vote Rigging in Reality Contest

By John Mitchell Posted Jul 1st 2010 07:30AM

As Oprah Winfrey's focus shifts from the day-to-day grind of hosting her talk show to running her namesake television network, OWN – The Oprah Winfrey Network, the TV legend is searching for the next big thing.

Earlier this year, Winfrey announced a contest to give some lucky person their very own reality TV show on her new network. The competition has become hugely popular -- 9,504 entries were received by the June 26 deadline, and the two front-runners, Zach Anner and Dr. Phyllis, have so far accumulated approximately 9 million and 7.2 million votes, respectively, with two days of voting remaining. But it has not been without controversy, as accusations have surfaced that the contest was somehow rigged against Zach, a 25-year-old Texan with cerebral palsy. OWN has indicated it is investigating the claims.

"Are you one of those people who have always been told that you should have your own show ... Well, here's your chance, America," Winfrey says in a video message on the contest's website. "What would you do with your own show? We are looking for people who have it – infectious energy, a unique sense of humor, personality galore. Pair that with a fun and creative idea, and you could end up with your own show on OWN. Someone somewhere will get the big break of their lives."

In reality, according to EW, the online competition is really a precursor to a planned OWN reality show where contestants chosen through the online search will then vie for a future reality show on the net.

Early in the voting, Zach assumed a commanding lead with his idea for a travel show for individuals who believe, for one reason or another, that they can't travel.

Zach's oprah deal from Zach Anner on Vimeo.

However, web-savvy bloggers at Geekosystem became suspicious of a late-in-the-game surge by Dr. Phyllis as the window for video submissions neared its close. Upon investigation, the bloggers allegedly discovered that the source coding on the voting button for Zach's main rival, Dr. Phyllis, was different from those of all other contestants. As a result, Dr. Phyllis, whose show proposal revolves around teaching because "the drama is in the classroom," saw a huge increase in votes for her audition video.

Exactly how long any alleged tampering with the votes went on is anybody's guess, but the Huffington Post notes Dr. Phyllis surged by at least 300,000 votes in just 20 minutes, and Geekosystem reports that by later that same day, Dr. Phyllis's votes-per-minute average dropped from a high of 1,923 to 3.

When asked for comment by EW, OWN issued the following statement: "The online voting rules for the 'Your OWN Show' video submission competition were carefully crafted to be fair to everyone. Any allegations of impropriety will be investigated and the appropriate actions taken to keep the process unbiased."

For his part, Zach isn't buying conspiracy theorists' claims that Winfrey or the staff at her eponymous network purposefully sought to diminish his chances in the competition. "I sincerely doubt that Oprah would do anything like that," he says in a statement to EW. "She's probably too busy building schools and helping children to even notice someone like me. I'm grateful for everyone's continued support and to Oprah for giving me this opportunity. Thanks again, happy travels and keep being sexy!"

Voting for the competition continues through July 3. Winners chosen through the online competition will appear on 'Your OWN Show: Oprah's Search For The Next TV Star,' which will begin airing on OWN in January. The winner of that competition would presumably earn their own reality TV show.

Oprah is teaming up with reality TV mega-producer Mark Burnett ('Survivor') on 'Your OWN Show.' "The landscape and acceptance of ordinary people on television is widely accepted," Burnett tells the Press Association. "Much in the way 'American Idol' finds unknown people [to be recording stars] there's no reason we can't find someone who deserves their own show."

Tags: oprah winfrey, reality tv

Comments

(15)

Thursday 01 July

By Marie

Vote down Vote up Report this

To jess and Alice simply pathetic.

By Fann

High Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

She's in it for the money billions are not enough for her. helping people are the lest of her concern and only if it means more money

By denise

i'm not an o fan or hater and i think when u get that high up people r always lookin 2 bring u down. that's what i think. Glad she's moving on though; hope her programing beats oxygen...

By Bob

Something like this happens to all these popular celebrities eventually. Look at Alan Alda in the late 70's. He could do no wrong. People just get tired of these overpraised icons after awhile and find cracks in their armour.

By chris

First off I wish they would stop using the term "reality show" as there is no such thing. Put cameras,ratings and buckets of money in play and the "reality changes". John and kate was a great example, if the show never existed I doubt they would have been on Oprah, or ace of cakes etc, false realities are 'set-up". This concept is no different. Which will make the most money,period.

By zet26

I totally agree, and besides, who wants to see a reality show about drama in the schools ? We have enough of that going on as it is. All I can see about a show like that is more drama and worse.
She has this new network and has no clue what to do with it. Oprah, get on a bus and drive around and stop gang bangers and drug dealers then I might regain an ounce of respect. What happened to Zach or didn't happen is no surprise, you've let down so many others in the past.

By goatman

She is just like our muslim born guy in the white house. She is crooked and uses that chicago style politics to get what she wants. They both should leave our country.

By Donna Schwartz

Can you please fill me in on whats going on with oprah, I really havn't heard anything...I don't watch her show anymore, I just don't like her at all...

By shar40

amen to that

By N2

OPRAH IS AN ENTERTAINMENT ICON. SHE HAS NOT ONLY EXCEEDED THE BAR, SHE HAS SET IT TO NEW HEIGHTS. SHE IS TRUELY AN AMAZING PERSON WHO SHOULD BE APPLAUDED FOR HER GIVING AND ADMIRED FOR THE HURDLES SHE HAS BEATEN TO GET TO WHERE SHE HAS.
NORM

By Diana

Oprah is one of the biggest rasict there is.
She was great about helping children in other countries, like Africa. But not so much here in America. I think she was afraid, she might accidently help a white child.
Shes made her money, now time to move on, I hope she does,, move on,, far away.

By bill

Oprah is a lying racist.

By Teresa

I am sure that Oprah does not advertise every good deed she has ever done. If she chooses to use her money to build a school in Africa, guess what? Its her money to do with as she wishes. All of us can do better and money is not required to enrich anothers life.
Crooks in politics and racism...yeah new phenomenons never heard of nor experienced until President Obama and Oprah Winfrey...hilarious!

Sunday 18 July

By maggiepss

I used to respect oprah, loved to watch her show, I dont any more , because she thinks obama, is jesus christ, and I know deep down he thinks he is, and I only respect the people that agree with me, the rest of you go join Obama, because he is going to hell, where he belongs.

Well your lady Oprah, is condonning everything that obama says,and one of the crooks is OBAMA!! What does thst say for her!!

Page 1 of 1