Oprah -- What the Hell?

Watched the rerun of Tom Cruise's wack-o appearance on Oprah last week. Pretty disgusting. Just like Katie, Tom couldn't offer up a plausible story about how they actually met (where are the PR people here? I'll write you a plausible story, for God's sake). He posed, smiled, and yukked it up with Oprah during the hour-long commercial for War of the Worlds.

Most disturbing, though, was the fawning and pawing between Tom and Oprah. They reminisced about he "Legends Dinner", where she honored black women who have made achievements in culture (Mariah Carey? What? Was Cecily Tyson booked?). Oprah kept reminding us how long she has known Tom and that she has never "seen him like this." The capper came when she informed us that Tina Turner spent the night at her house. This is just the most recent show that prominently featured Oprah's great life, famous friends, and big money. We all saw the lavish 50th birthday parties. Recently, we've learned she has a mile-long driveway, she hosted the lavish wedding of her trainer, Bob, and her Santa Barbara mansion has had a $50 million renovation. Substance has taken a back seat to Oprah's fame and fortune (and sensationalism). Is this really what she wants her show to become?

A few years ago, I heard a graduate student quote writer bell hooks as saying Oprah Winfrey is evidence that "black people get to the top and stay on top only by sucking the dicks of white culture." Not Oprah!, I thought. She's not afraid to tell us the truth about tough issues (her reunion of the Little Rock Five with their tormentors was a classic -- I used it in my American History class for years), she introduces us to new writers and good books, she raises money (and gives plenty of her own) to great causes. Oprah, I thought, is being true to herself helping us all to be the best we can be. She may have a fun show every once in a while, but she is not pandering to whites or anyone else.

Oh, what I fool I've been. My disgust began with the magazine, which I subscribed to and quickly dropped when every featured product started at at $100. Then came the "Oprah's Favorite Things" episodes -- an obscene orgy of female consumerism made no less vile when it featured an audience full of teachers ("people who really deserve this"). The car show? Oye! Episodes are more likely to feature Amy Fisher than Condoleeza Rice or John Travolta over Dolores Huerta (she's been a Farm Workers advocate since she was in her early 20s, she raised a passel of successful kids, started out as a teacher and learned to be a labor organizer and negotiator...pretty interesting, huh? Might make a good show!).

Look, Oprah, I know the failure of the film Beloved was a disappointment and I honor you for getting fit and healthy, and the author who screwed up the Book Club was an idiot for dissing your imprint. But don't forget what made you so precious to your early viewers. You raised our consciousnesses. You showed us what we were like, what we were thinking, what we should be ashamed of, what we should know. Ms. hooks accused you of only being successful when you were pleasing white culture, but it feels like your show has focused on pleasing (and ONLY pleasing) everybody. What about challenging us? Informing us? Enlightening us?

I don't mind an occasional show on wrinkle treatments, but how about if you stop celebrating the art of shopping? I know you have cool life, but if I want to know how to get it, I could read a feature in Architectural Digest or In Style or even your own magazine. Use your show to help us become more interesting people. A whole hour with Valentino? No. An episode where you auction off your old evening gowns? Uh uh. If you keep treating your viewers like greedy, empty-headed gossips who only want to know about the private lives of celebrities, how to get rich, or how to live like you (as IF), that's exactly the kind of viewers you will create.

Oprah has frequently been quoted as saying she doesn't watch television because it "promotes false values." Lately, she and her producers have fulfilled that prophecy. It's time for them to take a long hard look at themselves and get back to using her show for good. Come on...there's no competition. Rosie's gone. Wayne's cancelled. Jane Pauley didn't stand a chance. Dr. Phil won't compete. Oprah has a bully pulpit. she should use it to create a legacy to be proud of, not one that will make her want to wash her hands on her way out of the studio.