Oprah's Last Taping Shrouded in Speculation

By Elizabeth Yun Posted May 17th 2011 05:21PM

Everyone is abuzz counting down the hours until Oprah Winfrey sits down for her last live taping of 'The Oprah Show' after 25 triumphant years on the air. The taping will take place tonight at the United Center in Chicago, just steps from her usual stage at Harpo Studios.

The venue, which serves as home to the Chicago Bulls and the Chicago Blackhawks, has a capacity of over 20,000. But its capacity still comes nowhere close to accommodating the over 154,000 ticket requests sent to Harpo Productions for the event. Those lucky enough to score one of the coveted free tickets were determined by a random lottery.

Just hours before fans pack the arena, details about what to expect are still closely under wraps.

Reportedly, even the queen bee herself doesn't know the roster of A-list celebrities who will be coming to see her off. According to blogger Perez Hilton, Madonna and Beyonce Knowles are in Chicago for the taping, although whether or not they'll be performing still remains to be seen. Meanwhile, many say that Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith, longtime friends of Oprah, will definitely be making an appearance to pay homage to the first lady of daytime talk.

And in light of recent events, another contender has been tossed into the mix -- Maria Shriver. Following shocking news that she and husband of 25 years, Arnold Schwarzenegger, had separated because he had fathered a love child with a former household staff member, Shriver might be a last-minute addition to the bill. Oprah and Shriver are friends, and Oprah even bestowed her the honor of becoming the first ever guest editor of O magazine in February.

'Surprise Oprah! A Farewell Spectacular,' will air over the course of two days on May 23 and 24 before the show's finale airs on May 25.

Watch clips from Oprah's final season.

Tags: oprah winfrey

Comments

(10)

Tuesday 17 May

By chuck

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Who gives a rats behind. This queen bee is causing a title seeking Bulls team to give the Heat extra time to rest. She could possibly cost the Bulls a title chance by ruining their schedule. Don't let the door hit you in the rear oprah, you are leaving Chicago anyway!

By Daisy

Last taping or sex life?

By lisa

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James has already apologized. Why are we spending 2 days on this subject? I do not see the need for him to continually apologize. He made a mistake, now let's move on.

By pommy

I feel strongly that Ms O and Stedman will marry on her last and final show.
Hows that for speculation!

By Jan

Unless I hear Oprah's last interview is with Jesus, I won't be watching. If it's not Him, it's as unimportant as every interview she did the past 20 plus years.

By sheila

Jan - YOU ARE SOOOO RIGHT. Couldn't have said it any better!!!!!!

By Synclaire

Maria was always on the guest list Rosie O is also there.

By the_fool

Here is what I'd like to see as the last taping of Oprah's show -
someone tapes her dressing room door closed and she can't make it to her last show. Ha ha ha.

Wednesday 18 May

By Charlie Taylor

I FULLY AGREE..... I WILL SUPPLY THE TAPE AND A FORK LIFT TRUCK TO ENSURE THE COW DORSNT GET OUT.....GOOD RIDDENCE

By nancy

I really cannot believe that O is so arrogant that she had to have that loser Frey on for TWO shows with only a few days left in her 25 year odtssey. It just shows me thae amount of iron-fisted control she demands and Frey basically saw a way to make a million bucks by being named to her Book List. He flipped her the bird a few years ago and then again on the first of the two episodes this week (I didn't watch the second half.) He totally pulled the wool over her eyes and laughed all the way to the bank and it is killing her. Oprah loses.

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