Nov 20, 2009

When exactly Oprah Show is going to end?

Oprah Winfrey was set to announce Friday that her powerhouse daytime television show, the foundation of a multibillion-dollar media empire with legions of fans, will end its run in 2011 after 25 seasons on the air.

Winfrey planned to announce the final date for "The Oprah Winfrey Show" during a live broadcast, according to her production company, Harpo Productions Inc.

Many fans heading into Harpo Studios on Friday morning seemed to support Winfrey's decision to end the show.

"You always want to end a show when people want more — and not when people are sick of watching you," said Rebecca Switaj, 31, of Chicago.

Said Sandra Donaldson, 51, of Indianapolis: "It's time to elevate to something new. Whatever she does is going to be a blessing. It's going to be rewarding and eye-opening. Her name alone opens doors."

Once a local Chicago morning program, the production evolved into television's top-rated talk show for more than two decades, airing in 145 countries worldwide and watched by an estimated 42 million viewers a week in the U.S. alone.

"Oprah Winfrey is in a category of her own," said Robert Thompson, professor of television and popular culture at Syracuse University. "This is a great American story and like any great American story it's supersized."

A Harpo spokeswoman declined to comment Thursday on Winfrey's plans except to say that "The Oprah Winfrey Show," which has seen ratings slip 7 percent from a year ago, will not move to cable television.

Winfrey, 55, is widely expected to start up a new talk show on OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network, a much-delayed joint venture with Discovery Communications Inc. that is projected to debut in 2011. OWN is to replace the Discovery Health Channel and will debut in some 74 million homes. An OWN spokeswoman declined comment Thursday.

CBS Television Distribution, which distributes "The Oprah Winfrey Show" to more than 200 U.S. markets, held out hope it could continue doing business with Winfrey, perhaps producing a new show out of its studios in Los Angeles.

"We know that anything she turns her hand to will be a great success," the CBS Corp. unit said in a statement. "We look forward to working with her for the next several years, and hopefully afterwards as well."

Fans expressed hope that Winfrey would announce another project.

"Oprah, she impacts everybody, her life, the way she gives," Shawana Fletcher, 29, of Chicago, said outside Harpo Studios. "I hope she's not totally done. That's what we're praying."

Winfrey's 24th season opened this year with a bang, as she drew more than 20,000 fans to Chicago's Magnificent Mile for a block party with the Black Eyed Peas. She followed with a series of blockbuster interviews — Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield, singer Whitney Houston and ESPN's Erin Andrews, and just this week, former Alaska governor and GOP vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin.

As a newcomer, "The Oprah Winfrey Show" chipped away at talk king Phil Donahue's dominance. Later, turned to inspiration. The show covered ranged from interviews with the world's celebrities to an honest discussion about Winfrey's weight struggles.

"As the show evolved, it really kind of dressed up the neighborhood of the daytime talk show," Thompson said.

In 1986, pianist-showman Liberace gave his final TV interview to Winfrey, just six weeks before he died. In a 1993 prime-time special, Michael Jackson revealed he suffered from a skin condition that produces depigmentation. Tom Cruise enthusiastically declared his affection for the much-younger Katie Holmes on the program in 2005 — and jumped on the couch to prove it.

In 2004, Winfrey unveiled her most famous giveaway, when nearly 300 members of the studio audience opened a gift box to find the keys to a new car inside. The stunt became a classic show moment as much for Winfrey's reaction — "You get a car! You get a car! You get a car! Everybody gets a car!" — as its $7 million price tag.

The show also became a launching pad for Oprah's Book Club, which then launched best-sellers. The titles ranged from "Song of Solomon" and "Paradise" by Toni Morrison to Wally Lamb's "She's Come Undone" and Elie Wiesel's "Night."

For others, the selection backfired. "A Million Little Pieces" exploded in sales after Winfrey chose the James Frey memoir in fall 2005. Soon after, it was revealed as a fabricated tale of addiction and recovery, and Winfrey later chewed out Frey on her show.

"I call her `Queen of the New Consciousness' because she did so many things to change lives, the books that she promoted," said hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons.

The loss of "The Oprah Winfrey Show" would be a blow to CBS Corp., which earns a percentage of hefty licensing fees from TV stations that use it — largely ABC affiliates. CBS Chief Executive Leslie Moonves told analysts two weeks ago that the contract with the show runs through most of 2011 and "if there's a negative impact, it wouldn't hit us until '12."

"Oprah's been a force of media and there's really no person you can look to out there who you could say, `That's the heir apparent,'" said Larry Gerbrandt, an analyst for Media Valuation Partners in Los Angeles. Gerbrandt noted many stations build their schedules around Winfrey's show.

"It's a big loss, but not as huge as it would have been 10 years ago," he said. "However, it still commands the biggest audience and ABC station competitors are licking their chops."

Talk of the show's end often has accompanied Winfrey's contract negotiations. Before signing her current contract in 2004, she talked about quitting after the 2005-2006 season. As far back as 1995, she called continuing "a difficult and important decision."

Winfrey started her broadcasting career in Nashville, Tenn., and Baltimore, Md., before relocating to Chicago in 1984 to host WLS-TV's morning talk show "A.M. Chicago" — which became "The Oprah Winfrey Show" one year later. She set up Harpo the following year and her talk show went into syndication.

Powered by the show's staggering success, Winfrey built a media empire. Harpo Studios produces shows hosted by Dr. Phil McGraw and celebrity chef Rachael Ray. O, The Oprah Magazine was the nation's 7th most popular magazine in the first half of 2009.

"I came from nothing," Winfrey wrote in the 1998 book "Journey to Beloved." "No power. No money. Not even my thoughts were my own. I had no free will. No voice. Now, I have the freedom, power, and will to speak to millions every day — having come from nowhere."

Earlier this year, Forbes scored Winfrey's net worth at $2.7 billion.

Nov 16, 2009

Paris Hilton is Pissed the Kardashian’s Are More Famous Than Her!

Paris Hilton and Kim Kardashian used to be best friends until recent months of fame and popularity around the Kardashians sisters that pushing Kim's fame and earnings edging higher than Paris! So now, Paris is furiously sounding out her discomfort and jealousy on Kim Kardashian's recent success and fame!

Paris Hilton VS Kim Kardashian Fame And Fortune

The hotel heiress is complaining that Kim got her first big break by hanging out with her on the Hollywood scene, have recently eclipsed her in the fame and money stakes.

A source told Page Six: "Paris is furious that Kim got her start by hanging out in Hollywood with her -- and now, the Kardashians have it all, the reality shows, the magazine covers, the big appearance fees and promotional deals.

"She used to command $100,000 for club appearances, but now Kim is the hottest girl -- and they aren't friends anymore. The magazines are bidding around $300,000 for Kourtney's baby-shower and baby pictures. And Khloe's wedding brought in record ratings for E!

"Paris has realized that standing for excess in a recession doesn't appeal," our insider continued. "The Kardashian girls seem more real, and girls identify with them more. She's got to ditch the pink Bentley and concentrate on developing herself."

Sources close to Hilton said she's carefully working on the launch of her new hair and beauty line, which she'll unveil in Beverly Hills on Tuesday, taking the lead from the Kardashians by having her family at her side.

And she's keen to play up her more stable relationship with Doug Reinhardt and talk about the possibility of marriage and babies.

The source added: "Paris has 15 product lines on sale. She isn't really a party girl anymore, she is quite settled with Doug. She wants more people to appreciate that she's grown up." A rep for Hilton declined to comment.


Picture of Paris Hilton is Pissed the Kardashian's Are More Famous Than Her!
Picture of Paris Hilton is Pissed the Kardashian's Are More Famous Than Her! [source:bricksandstonesgossip.com]


Joe Jackson is seeking to dismiss the executors of his late son's estate

Joe Jackson, the father of Michael Jackson, is still seeking to dismiss the executors of his late son's estate with a new appeal filed in court.

According to the papers, filed Friday in Los Angeles Superior Court, Jackson objects to the appointment of John Branca and John McClain as executors of the estate and requests that they be dismissed in an appeal of the final order delivered by the judge on November 10.

Last week, Superior Court Judge Mitchell Beckloff decided that Jackson cannot challenge the executors of the King of Pop's will or inherit the late star's assets, according to the Associated Press. The judge said that the 81-year-old Jackson patriarch can follow through with a motion to seek a family allowance from Michael's estate -- but he cannot inherit his late son's assets because he is not named in the will.

Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt at MOCA 30th Anniversary

Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt at MOCA 30th Anniversary:

Hollywood couple Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie slammed the rumours of their drifting apart after they appeared together at Moca's new 30th anniversary exhibition. The air was filled with the love.
Imdb.com. reports that Jolie, 34, was dressed in an adorable strapless Armani Prive dress, while the 45-year-old Pitt was looked dashing in his black slacks, a jacket and a tie.
The couple has recently been plagued by rumours of relationship troubles, but there was no sign of any problem when they walked from room to room admiring different pieces of artwork

AMANDA PEET: ‘I have an inner conflict'

AMANDA Peet says she tries to keep her sexy body in check — but she often wonders why she bothers.

The 37-year-old actress — who stars opposite John Cusack in the brilliant new movie 2012 — admits she realizes she can’t stop her body from aging.

“It’s not really working,” Peet told Parade magazine. “I have an inner conflict. I’ll be at the gym and I’ll start thinking, ‘What am I doing? I’m going to sag no matter what I do.’

“I’ve certainly taken my clothes off on camera, but you have body make-up and special lighting.

“I mean, someone with a figure like Jennifer Aniston has a trainer, a cook spinning out some version of the latest diet, and probably a stop at the tanning salon. Then teenage girls go, ‘God, I wish I could look like that.’ Maybe they wouldn’t if they knew what it took.’”

Peet — who has a daughter, Frances Pen, with her screenwriter husband David Benioff — then opened up about returning to New York after living in Los Angeles.

“I feel very vulnerable even though I grew up here,” she said. “I mean, it’s a huge crowded city where 9/11 happened. Sometimes if they raise the alert level or something I walk down the subway steps and wonder if I’m going to be in danger.

“I guess I think about it most when I’m on the subway. But I always say to myself, ‘Just get on the train and don’t give in to this sh**.’”

The actress also revealed that she’d like to do a romantic comedy with Cusack.

2012 is our third film together and at least we sort of got to be lovers more than we ever have been before. John has this kind of vulnerability, this kind of Tom Hanks everyman quality, but he’s a little more edgy with this great dry sense of humor. I just think he’s wonderful.”

Oct 9, 2009

David Hasselhoff was drunk again in London

It seems he just can’t shake his desire for drink, and earlier this week David Hasselhoff was reportedly hospitalized for two days after a drunken bender in London, England.

The worst part about it is that the former “Baywatch” hunk ended up punching a doctor during his binge at the St. Martins Lane Hotel.

The Hoff was released on Thursday from the Capio Nightingale Hospital after being held for 48 hours to sober up and sort himself out.

David is across the pond to help celebrate Simon Cowell’s birthday, though it doesn’t seem that he’s paying too much attention to the “American Idol” icon.

A Nobel Peace prize for Obama. WHY?


“He won what?” is the first universal reaction.
And second, at least on the Right: “Why did they do that?”

Even the
Nobel committee’s citation does not pretend Barack Obama has actually achieved anything. Rather, it was given to him “for his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples.” That’s efforts, not achievements.

Reading carefully through the entire citation suggests that Obama is being celebrated for two reasons. Its chatter about “a new climate,” the United Nations, a “vision of a world free from nuclear arms,” andgreat climatic challenges” points to his being the anti-George W. Bush.

Second, the prize committee hopes to constrain Obama’s hands vis-à-vis Iran. It lauds him for not using force: “Dialogue and negotiations are preferred as instruments for resolving even the most difficult international conflicts.” This is obviously gibberish: Whereas Bush did not use force against North Korea, Obama does not rely on dialogue in Afghanistan. But the statement does pressure Obama not to use force in the theater that counts the most, namely the Iranian nuclear build-up.

So, from the Leftist Norwegian point of view, it’s a twofer — bash Bush and handcuff Obama.


My prediction: The absurdity of the prize decision will harm Obama politically in the United States, contrasting his role as international celebrity with his record devoid of accomplishments. Michael Steele, chairman of the Republican National Committee, notes that Obama “won’t be receiving any awards from Americans for job creation, fiscal responsibility, or backing up rhetoric with concrete action.” Expert to hear much more along those lines.