The Last Oprah
Today is the last episode of Oprah.
I haven’t ever known television without Oprah (I am 28).
I can’t believe her show won’t be on to indulge in anymore on my days off.
In honor of the last episode, I thought I would share about the time my friend Marissa and I went to The Oprah Show.
We went to the University of Wisconsin-Madison, a short two-hour bus ride from Chicago. At that time, Oprah.com would post last minute ticket availability on their website. I think you had to call or write in if you were able to attend.
I set that page as my homepage and after a few weeks secured two tickets! When the woman called me that she had two tickets, I was over the top excited.
Marissa and I took the bus early, early in the morning, then a bus to get to the studio. It was a cold day in January.
When we got there, I excitedly chatted with the lady checking us in.
I was REALLY excited.
Really, REALLY, REALLY excited.
She was so kind and I think didn’t quite know what to do with my excitement. 🙂
So she did what someone at Oprah only could.
She put us in the FRONT row.
YEOW!!
The episode a recap of Oprah’s 50th birthday, so it was her and Gayle chatting and a lot of clips from the celebration.
After the show we all got Karen Neubauer pajamas that said Oprah’s 50th Birthday on them and matching socks. The gift bags must have been leftovers from the show because everything was L – XXL. I got an XL, but didn’t even care.
I have worn them proudly for eight years. 🙂
Matthew is SO over them, but they are so big and comfy – and about the only pjs that fit these days.
Today I will be celebrating 25 great years of Oprah on television – and thinking of my fond memories of being in her studios.
Will you be watching the show today? Have you ever been to a taping of Oprah?
Be sure to check out Matthew’s column on The Washington Post about Oprah’s last show.
and for fun, some of Oprah’s best moments:
You were at an Oprah taping and you got free Oprah swag?! You lucky girl! I’m so sad that this is Oprah’s last show. We didn’t have tv at home so I only began watching her 2 1/2 years ago when I got married. Although I havent agreed with all of her shows or her philosophies, I will still miss watching her show.
Oh, Jessica, this is so amazing! Thanks so much for sharing the wonderful time you had visiting with Oprah! That is awesome! I love the montage that you shared with us. It’s very well done. Oprah will be a part of all of us! Once again, thanks for this fantastic post!
Just to clarify, we took my loveable and trusty Grover that morning!! Thanks for the amazing suggestion Jess. IT WAS A DAY I WILL NEVER FORGET!!!
I told my husband yesterday that it would just be odd to not have Oprah on TV, because I’m 26, so….basically my entire life, she’s been on TV. It’s just so odd for me.
I always remember fondly her visits with Presidents. Can’t wait to watch this montage.
Your husband’s article was awesome! So well written…it kept my husband and me chuckling as I read it to him out loud yesterday! Thank you!
How FUN!!! My girlfriends and I took a trip to Chicago about 8 years ago–celebrating our friend’s “Cancer-Free in 2003!” One of our friends had a college friend who was a producer at the time, and she secured us 4 tickets. Boy, did we talk about and worry about what we’d wear for our show… Would you believe it–there was a woman who was wearing the SAME jacket I was!! And…let’s just say…she was a good 25 years older than I was. NOT very good for my ego! This still makes us giggle! Our show was divided into a couple of different shows–we saw the Hilton sisters (Niki and Paris), and Nick and Jessica, while they were still filming their newlywed show.
Okay, I’ve rambled on enough about my Oprah memory. It sure was a fun one!
HOW DID I NOT KNOW THIS STORY???
My friend Jenny got to go to a taping and I so would have been her plus one but i was already too ill to travel that far. So amazing. I love it. Her show today was excellent.
I’m 28 as well and I have never known life without flipping through channels and Oprah being on either.
Your husband’s article is the best! He has such a sense of humor and “O” so true.
Thanks for sharing him with us.
Linda Miller
Charlotte NC