Oprah Winfrey Says Goodbye After 25 Years

Oprah Winfrey/ABC News(CHICAGO) -- After 25 years and 4,561 episodes, Oprah Winfrey finally said goodbye to her talk show on Wednesday in Chicago. Gone were the glitz and glamour that characterized the massive, star-studded pre-finale shows that aired over Monday and Tuesday. Although a few celebrity guests were in attendance, like Tyler Perry, the final show was an intimate affair, just Oprah at her best: with a studio audience.

Winfrey, wearing a rose-colored dress with a matching sash, opened the show by saying "There are no words to describe this moment." She took a stroll down memory lane for an hour, opening the show by discussing her first-ever episode. "There was no hair and makeup," she jokingly recalled. "No stylists. Just a Jheri Curl and a bad fur coat." She said that while she was initially happy just to have a job, she soon realized that she began to see herself in her audience, and vice-versa.

Winfrey stressed that what she wanted her audience to take from the past 4,500-plus shows was her viewers to live for their passions. She repeatedly remarked what an honor it was to be let into her viewers' homes every day.

Winfrey also delved deeply into spirituality and God, saying it's the only explanation for the miracle of her career. She also noted the importance of treating others the way they'd want to be treated, and illustrated that by showing a clip of Whoopi Goldberg in The Color Purple.

The host also recapped moments from past shows which dealt with addiction, sex abuse, homosexuality and domestic abuse -- praising how the series began "lifting the veil" on family dysfunction. "Little by little, we started to release the shame," she said.

Winfrey next thanked her production company's staff, "the Harpo Family," without whom she says she never would have made it. "My team and Jesus," is the answer Winfrey said she gives when asked how the show lasted 25 years.

The talk show host flashed back to other episodes that touched her, including Tyler Perry's admission that he was sexually abused in his youth -- she said it helped her deal with her similar past.

Winfrey urged her audience to be the safe haven for each other they felt she was to them, before personally welcoming her 4th grade teacher Mrs. Duncan, and thanking her for being one of the first people who made her feel validated.

Winfrey ended the show by telling fans, "I won't say goodbye, I'll just say 'Until we meet again.' To God be the Glory." And with that, an emotional Winfrey walked off the stage, kissed longtime partner Stedman Graham and shook hands with audience members, and after exiting the studio itself, with staffers, who had formed a massive receiving line.

"Oh, we did it!" Winfrey yelled triumphantly, before retiring by herself to her office, where she lifted up her dog and said "We did it, Sadie!"

Copyright 2011 ABC News Radio

Final Episode of 'The Oprah Winfrey Show' Airs Wednesday

Barry Brecheisen/WireImage(CHICAGO) -- After 25 years, The Oprah Winfrey Show ends its run on Wednesday.

The 4,561st and final episode, recorded Tuesday in Chicago, had no guests -- just Oprah Winfrey taking a stroll down memory lane, according to the Chicago Tribune, which spoke with some audience members afterward.

Jessica Llamas said Winfrey opened the show by telling the audience that the episode was a "letter to all her viewers."  Another audience member, Curt Evrard, said Winfrey focused in part on the serious topics her show has explored through the years, including child abuse and molestation.  His wife, Tammy Evrard, paraphrasing Winfrey, said the daytime queen encouraged the crowd to "be a beacon for other people" now that she has ended her talk show.

The taping reportedly ended with Winfrey thanking the viewers and staff before tearfully walking past the crowd.  She was then seen on a screen in the studio kicking off her shoes in her office and picking up her dog.

The finale lacked the star power of the two-part tribute to Winfrey that aired Monday and Tuesday, though Maria Shriver, Tyler Perry, and actress Cicely Tyson were in the audience.  Winfrey's longtime partner, Stedman Graham, and her best friend, Gayle King, also were there.

Copyright 2011 ABC News Radio

Man Charged for Allegedly Lying About Stolen Oprah Tickets

Jupiterimages/Thinkstock(CHICAGO) -- Oprah Winfrey's star-studded salute in Chicago on Tuesday night has turned into a legal headache for Robert Spearing. He is facing a felony charge after he allegedly lied to police by telling them he was assaulted and had tickets to the event stolen from him.

According to WLS-TV, police say the Canadian man, who flew to Chicago with his wife, intentionally scraped his hands on the sidewalks and cut himself on the forehead, then told police he was attacked. Police say Spearing later admitted he made up the story because he didn't want to disappoint his wife, since he didn't have tickets to the show. He's charged with felony disorderly conduct.

"Surprise Oprah! A Farewell Spectacular," a two-part episode airing next Monday and Tuesday, was taped at Chicago's United Center and featured celebrities including Tom Hanks, Tom Cruise, Madonna and Maria Shriver.

Copyright 2011 ABC News Radio

Celine Dion Gets One-Hour Special on Oprah's OWN Network

Frazer Harrison/Getty Images(NEW YORK) -- You've heard of Three Men and a Baby -- now get ready for Celine Dion: 3 Boys and a New Show.

That's the name of a one-hour special which will debut on Oprah Winfrey's OWN network on June 26 at 9 p.m ET.

The special will give fans a behind-the-scenes look at Dion's day-to-day life as she works on her new Las Vegas show, spends time with her husband, cares for her newborn twins, and looks after her older son, Rene-Charles.

The show will be preceded by a six-hour marathon of the OWN series that stars another Canadian-born superstar: Why Not? with Shania Twain.

Copyright 2011 ABC News Radio

Author James Frey Returns to 'The Oprah Winfrey Show'

Jeffrey Mayer/WireImage(CHICAGO) -- Five years after he was humbled by Oprah Winfrey on her talk show, author James Frey returned to the program on Monday.

During his 2006 appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show, Frey was rebuked by Winfrey, who had selected his memoir, A Million Little Pieces, for her book club before learning that it was partly fabricated.

On Monday's show, Frey said, "I was dishonest in promoting the book" and that he "made a mistake and at a certain point it came time to pay for it."

Frey said he's never seen the 2006 interview with Winfrey, which he called a "personal car crash."  His latest conversation with the talk show host continues Tuesday.

Copyright 2011 ABC News Radio

Oprah Winfrey Courting Maria Shriver for Her Cable Network, OWN

Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images(LOS ANGELES) -- Maria Shriver recently split with her husband of 25 years, former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, but the end of that relationship seems to have opened the door to a new opportunity.

RadarOnline reports Oprah Winfrey is courting former TV news personality Shriver to work at her cable network, OWN.

A source close to Shriver said, "A talk show featuring Maria as the sole host was discussed.  But now that Maria has formally separated from Arnold, Oprah is on a full court press to lock Maria up."

The source added, "Maria is looking at make a comeback and she is getting tons of offers from the major networks.  Maria's children are almost all grown up, her youngest son is 15.  It's not a matter of if Maria will return to television, but when."

Copyright 2011 ABC News Radio

Chicago Mayor Names Street for Oprah Winfrey

PRNewsFoto/Discovery Communications, George Burns(CHICAGO) -- Oprah Winfrey will have a section of the street outside Harpo Studios -- home to the Oprah Winfrey Show -- named after her, outgoing Chicago Mayor Richard Daley announced Wednesday.  The street will be called "Oprah Winfrey Way."

While honoring Winfrey outside Harpo Studios Wednesday, Daley said he was proud to have the talk show host's name appear on one of Chicago's streets and that Winfrey has long "been a gift [to Chicago]."

Winfrey said the honor is "better than an Oscar or an Emmy," and thanked the mayor and the city of Chicago, which she referred to as the "greatest city in the world," for embracing her.

Winfrey will tape her final show in Chicago at the United Center on May 17.  The show will air on May 25.

Copyright 2011 ABC News Radio

Oprah Winfrey Heading to Broadway?

ABC, Inc.(CHICAGO) -- Oprah Winfrey may be saying goodbye to her talk show, but she still might appear in front of an audience.

Winfrey, whose daytime show ends later this month, told The Chicago Tribune she's mulling over appearing in a show on the Great White Way.

She said, "I have a stack of plays in my bag right now that I am reading.  And just this past weekend, I was in New York meeting with producers.  We were just talking about what would be the best route to take.  But yes, this is really going to happen....Life is too short."

Winfrey adds, "[After The Oprah Show wraps] it's time to do something for fun.  This next phase of my life should be pure delight."

Copyright 2011 ABC News Radio

Chaz Bono Talks 'Becoming Chaz,' Cher on 'Oprah'

ABC News(CHICAGO) -- After years of struggling with his sexuality, Chaz Bono opened up about transitioning to a man on Monday's Oprah.

"Life was always so much more difficult," he told Oprah Winfrey about his former life as Chastity Bono. "It also felt like my body was literally betraying me."

Bono, the 42-year-old son of Cher and the late Sonny Bono, made a documentary about his transition, Becoming Chaz, which airs on Oprah Winfrey's OWN Tuesday. The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January, which Bono attended with his partner, Jennifer Elia. Cher was absent.

On Oprah, Bono revealed that Cher has seen the film and that, "She really liked it a lot. But I think it was probably hard to see," he said. "She has finally gotten that this is the thing that's making me happy."

The Bono in Becoming Chaz is desperate to erase all signs of his femininity. He injects himself with testosterone; he binds his chest so tight he has trouble breathing. "I'll be really happy to get rid of these," he declares before finally going under the knife to remove his breasts.

No one seems more uncomfortable with Bono's change than Cher. The two appear together in one scene at the end of Becoming Chaz, after the credits start rolling. But the majority of Cher's input in the movie comes via a single-camera interview in which she often refers to her son as a woman.

Watch Chaz Bono's interview on ABC's Nightline Monday at 11:35 p.m. ET/PT and tune in for more on Good Morning America Tuesday at 7 a.m. ET/PT.

Copyright 2011 ABC News Radio

Head of Oprah Winfrey's New Network Fired Due to Poor Ratings

PRNewsFoto/Discovery Communications, George Burns(NEW YORK) -- The head of Oprah Winfrey's new network, OWN, is out.

The New York Times reports channel bosses cited lower than expected ratings in its decision to let go of CEO Christina Norman.  Peter Ligouri, the chief operating officer for Discovery Communications, will replace Norman on an interim basis.

In a statement obtained by The Hollywood Reporter, Winfrey said, "I want to thank Christina for her important accomplishments, incredible passion and many sacrifices in helping to launch the network.  With the final taping of The Oprah Winfrey Show only a few weeks away I will soon be able to devote my full energies to OWN.  This is a natural point of transition and I am confident that Peter, as an integral part of the launch of OWN, will be a terrific partner for me going forward."

Discovery and Winfrey, who share ownership of OWN, said the change represents a "transition from a launch phase to a more long-term focus on business and creative strategy, development and execution following the network's debut on January 1st, 2011."

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