The Big O Taken Down A Notch!
After the premiere of her 24th season, Oprah Winfrey has a long year ahead of her!
Whitney Houston's tell-all interview was an energetic start to a show in which viewership has been consistently slipping for the past year.
According to the Nielsen ratings, Oprah fell under 7 million viewers last season. Not only is that down 7% from last year, but during a July rerun, the talk show queen had her lowest ratings since her 1985 debut.
There are many reasons given for the decline considering that Live with Regis and Kelly, Jerry Springer, Maury Povich and Martha Stewart all lost viewers this season, yet Oprah is a specific case.
It's been said that Winfrey has alienated her conservative audience. First, with the endorsement of Barack Obama's presidential campaign and her recent book club selection, Eckhart Tolle's A New Earth, a new age religion tome.
But Janice Peck, author of Age of Oprah, says that young people just aren't that into Momma O. Adding, "They see Oprah as kind of like who their mom likes. This is not a good sign for her."
Despite the decline, the Oprah Winfrey Show is still the most-watched talk show by a wide margin, yet it remains to be seen whether she will renew her contract, which expires September 2011.
Maybe she'll retire next year?
[Image via WENN.]
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Not only that but on Fridays she has her panel of idiots on there which consists of Gail, Kelly Ripa's useless husband and George Stephonopoulus's (I have no idea how to spell that) wife, it is just unbelievable that these people are up on a panel every week discussing things they know nothing about, she's just lost all credibility in the past few years, she lost me after what she did to James Paterson
…maybe Oprah was happy that Whitney had a drug abuse problem? Just asking.
Conservative people are pathetic. Just because she supported Obama doesn't make her show less watchable. And I've read A New Earth, it's not just some new age crap, it's an amazing, eye-opening book that everyone should read.
who ever is writing for mario now really sucks.
just sayin'………..
Now why in the heck would conservatives watch a black woman on tv??? Truth is, people just get bored with it all. DUH.
I never really understood her hype. I think shes done a lot for t.v. and if she retires, she will be missed for many. Before she goes i would love to go on her "my favorite things" show!!
I think O's support for Obama is great. Shes the only one who supported him but thanks to her, im sure he gained a lot of support… Thanks Oprah for helping america change for the better!!
She's old and sounds like a broken record.
I'm 23 and she's been on for 24 years that's like 80 years in showbiz…
time to retire or go bless the world with your billions….
WHAT! I'm 21 and I love O!!!!!
Like she cares. She's still ridiculously rich.
PS. I am glad she isn't trying to please Conservatives.
Thats what happens when celebrities start supporting Politicians as publicly as she did. Should kept her Obama worship to herself.
A lot of her viewers are probably forced to work now due to the economy… but in my opinion the constant programs about how to be healthy and live longer, etc. etc. were so lofty and boring. When I watch her I just want to chill out, not freak out and think about how much spinach and acai berries I should be eating
Another reason for fewer viewers is that her show was rescheduled for 12:35 am because of the tennis match. Not that many people are going to take the time to wake up and watch Oprah in the middle of the night. But of course you forgot to add that.
It's as if the proliferation of new media outlets are creating a steady erosion of television viewership across the board.
What the hell. She's been doing her show for over 20 years. Of course it will start to decline in the end. It's not bad running a syndicated show for as long as she has. It will probably last four or five more years.
I think more than anything else - she is losing viewership because she continues to have Doctor Oz on. Every time that I turn the channel to give her another chance, he is there explaining some medical crap that I don't care about.
Hopefully since he is getting his own show - she will go back to having interesting topics on each episode.
This posting is copied like word for word from the article in the paper from around 5 days ago. What gives?!?!?
whatever the case Oprah has accomplished more on television than anyone before her or after her. she is a mogul off of gab and smarts. I love oprah and when I can I will watch her show. ellen is just dull to me, she seems like a clown with all that stupid dancing.
Hey Mario,
I heard someone is compiling the details and facts on your declining numbers and lack of relevance. That report I'm excited for.
But hey you're right, I'm sure after being the number #1 show on daytime for 24 years, making billions of dollars, changing peoples lives for the better and having the respect of 100's of millions of people, Oprah is probably crying herself silly over losing a single digit percentage of viewers. Oh wait no, because not everyone is a shallow twit like you (and by you I mean the tween girls you let write for you)
Whether your conservative or liberal, smart business people know that you don't mix your business with your views on politics or religion. By showcasing one side of the story without giving an equal opportunity to the other, she most likely did alientate many viewers. You're all forgetting that a major section of Oprah's viewing audience are upper middle class conservative housewives. She may have lost this portion of her viewers. I, personally don't watch her as I have a job and work all day!!!
Re: Spindoc – thought i was the only one who noticed that… lazy perez staffers….LOL
Re: Captain Canuck – oprah is still so relevant. after watching her most recent green episode she got me to switch to Brita instead of plastic land filling drinking water bottles. and because of me, my bfs family and my own have made the switch the water is tasty and I no longer go through all those plastic water bottles.
another reason for fewer viewers is because she has become boring. she's self indulgent. i'm sick of listening to her repeat everything the guests say. she needs to move on.
oprah is so yesterday….time to hang it up o
man perez you just steal, don't you. what research do you do besides just take from other websites. can you say huff like a week and a half ago.
It is true isn it? She has done many shows about menopause and skating dogs. This is either for someone in their 50s or in their teens.
This is not interesting at all to someone in their 20s like myself. I like her, I think she is a great human being but maybe she is a little out of touch with the new times.
I didn't know that if you had conservative values you had to be white @ Anti_Emo. Everyone's ratings are slipping because people are more in control of how they're entertained and what they're entertained by. When YouTube videos are getting millions of hits one can see why ratings are lower on television.
Its about time racist Oprah is taken down a peg. She has jumped the shark a LONG time ago. NO ONE cares about what she has to say anymore anyway. GO away PLEASE…
Having great wealth and success can definitely make people believe they are invincible, but they're not. Since the country is almost evenly divided as to political opinion, for a celebrity to make a stand on one side or the other automatically alienates 50% of the viewing (and paying) audience. Oprah banked on Barack Obama, but with the federal debt now entering the stratosphere and beyond, the bank is nearly broken.
O please Perez.. you'll never be big enough to hurt OPRAH's feelings.
I HAVE POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE FEEDBACK.
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NEGATIVE - THAT'S WHAT SHE GETS FOR MAKING BILLIONS OFF OF THE BACKS OF WOMEN FOR DECADES, THEN DOESN;T EVEN ALLOW HILLARY TO APEAR ON HER SHOW!
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THE FIRST WOMEN TO EVER ATTAIN THAT LEVEL OF SUCCES AND OPRAH NOT ONLY THREW HER UNDER THE BUS, SHE RAN OVER HER AND BACKED UP TO RUN OVER HER AGAIN!! TACKY TACKY TACKY!! AND WOMEN KNOW IT!
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POSITIVE - SHE LOOKS GORGEOUS IN THE DRESS IN THE PICTURE ABOVE!!
I guess a lot of people are sick of Oprah's JOURNEY — there is too much Dr. Oz and her latest health discoveries…the show is more about her than anything else. And yes, as for myself, I am sick of Eckhart Tolle and — her anointing of Obama as The Messiah last year. Her protege, Dr. Phil also lost me when he changed his show — and started his own reality "house" shows. UGH. Enough. Go back to what you do best, the both of you!
Brown Okra started losing viewers when she became the lap poodle for Messiah Hussein Dumbama. Her self serving, all know attitude is as revolting as the fat on her ever increasing body.
But Janice Peck, author of Age of Oprah, says that young people just aren't that into Momma O. Adding, "They see Oprah as kind of like who their mom likes. This is not a good sign for her."
..um what? im 16 and i never miss an episode of oprah
she looks like she's squatting to take a pee in that dress.
I have college tuition to pay for, cable TV is just not a priority at this time! Oprah still rocks.
Uh…Oprah only wanted to do 20 YEARS. The only reason she changed her mind was because that little boy that ended up dying told her she should do 25 years because it's a better number.
So the little boy died and in honor of him Oprah took his advice. So NO, she'll have no interest in renewing a contract.
Dob't agree with Oprah's politics but I do have alot of respect for her. She is interesting, intelligent and does give alot to the community.
Last season did lack something. I can't put my finger on it but it was missing something. Hopefully it will pick up again this season.
WooHoo Oprah!
I have been over Oprah for years, ever since I figured out she is racist. I can't stand how she leans on the shoulders of white people, never on people of color or famous people. She kisses all black guests and famous people, but never white people who are not famous, she just shakes hands. Mostly, I hate HOW SHE REPEATS EVERYTHING AT LEAST TWICE just to make sure we dumbies in the world understand how profound she thinks she is. I think she should just go be a teacher at her racist school.
I wish she would retire! I'm so tired of her. That's what she gets for being political. I can't understand why she's so popular anyway. I never understood that at all. Her show is too depressing.
I believe that the generation I belong to (I'm 22, generation A?) has caught onto Oprah's repetitive nature. She sells herself by acting like the "everywoman". She pretends she doesn't know about things during interviews and special segments because she feels the general population is clueless and will be able to identify with someone of a clueless nature. She insults the intelligence of her audience. For example, in a fashion segment she asked, "Show me how to fold a scarf! I always see women wearing these scarves and I have no idea how to wear one!" Ummm really O? You've never put on a scarf? One of the better examples is her "weight loss battle". She continually gains and looses weight. When she gains weight she always says the same thing, "How did I let myself get this way?!". Well guess what folks, she did it so she could sell more magazines about how to loose that extra weight. Everything she does is geared towards convincing women that being delirious is alright, letting yourself go is alright. And why is she convincing you of this? We'll you actually do know that theses things are wrong so you look for answers. You look to answer the question, "Who can help me fix myself?", and the answer is…Oprah of course! She'll keep you stupid, help you out of it, and then help you fall into your delirium again. Oprah, the act is getting tired and smart women don't need you.
She's lost viewers because she forget WHO made her in television. Stay at home white matrons. She's a HUGE racist - it's sooo obvious. This latest pathetic attempt with Whitney turns my stomach - Whitney sits there - the idiot crack head who's lost her voice and SHOULD have lost her child and doesn't deserve a come back. O is just bowing and scraping. A waste of prime time.
HMMMM How about, the economy is in a terrible place and many stay at home moms have had to get off the couch and get jobs. Does that have anything to do with the daytime television ratings drops???HELLO!!!
The reason the ratings are slipping is because of the economy lol, those damn houseives are having to get jobs. They can't sit on the couch all day watch the soaps and Oprah.