Posted on 01/26/2006 12:09:39 PM PST by Mike Bates
Today's Oprah Winfrey program featured her interviewing James Frey, author of "A Million Little Pieces." The book has come under fire for being much less than accurate. Greatly due to Ms. Winfrey's endorsement of the book, even after its inaccuracies and fictions had been detailed, "A Million Little Pieces" enjoyed incredible success.
This morning Ms. Winfrey told Frey, "I really feel duped." Reuters reports: "In 19 years in television 'I've never been in this position before,' said Winfrey. . ."
The talk show host was being disingenuous She's been duped before. Journalist Michael Fumento notes one example from 1987, when the talk-show host asserted:
"Research studies now project that one in five – listen to me, hard to believe – one in five heterosexuals could be dead from AIDS at the end of the next three years. That's by 1990. One in five. It is no longer just a gay disease. Believe me."
The problem, from my perspective, is that Oprah's viewers do believe her. Even when she's been duped.
(Excerpt) Read more at newsbusters.org ...
Back to watching Oprah.....
Looks like Oprah and Teddy have the same problem discerning fact from fiction.
Watching the show now. MOST PAINFUL interview I have ever seen. Frey is being TORN APART. Oprah is ANGRY at him but probably because she took a lot of flack for buying into his obviously FALSE shtick. End result is that she is now tearing Frey a new a**hole. Best way to describe this interview.
Not every was untrue...just the interesting stuff.
But a "F" to Oprah for being a putsche.
Oprah does get some good episodes and she has been generous to some degree...pssstt..I've watched a few when I was off during the weekdays, however, I'm not a follower of famous people, Hollywood, Jerry Springer stuff, pro wrestling, Judge 'whoever'........not being a snob, but that kinda stuff never really catches my eye/hear unless I'm on the couch sick. I do admire Oprah in how well she has done in her profession considering her past obstacles in her youth.
Oprah just ripped into the publishing rep bigtime. BTW, I am convinced that a TON of "non-fiction" autobiographical books out there are mostly fake starting with "Lying History" by Hillary.
But Teddy is recognized by millions for his faults while almost no one - including otherwise conservative women - will criticize Oprah.
Anyway, it is painful to watch the poor shmoe being ripped apart on the tube...even though he deserves it.
This "memoir" reminds me of a lot of stuff I read in DUmmieland especially the "conversions" threads where the DUmmies get a Republican friend or relative to "see the light."
It was entertaining television, that's for sure. And I'm glad Oprah did this. But she should have done this show two weeks ago, instead of defending the guy.
I guess you're right. I think his name is real.
The same audience that reads every word of "Cosmopolitan" magazine year after year - and thinks the articles are completely valid instead of the endlessly recycled/updated dreck they really are.
Good to hear that she came off so strong. I just saw the end of the show. I got impression that she was pulling her punches at that point, that she was measuring the anger she truly felt at the situation. I'm not as cynical as others on this; I believe she truly felt betrayed, angry, and that she realized she was wrong to him early on (how lame was that "emotional truth" schtick!). But I've only seen bits and pieces of this.
The bad guys: Frey -- continues to lie, even after Oprah called him on it (it was funny; she supplied him with that word several times when he tried to avoid it: LIE). Publisher -- smarmy.
And his parents. His mother knew he was lying. But instead of being embarrassed or ashamed for him or the family, went along with it. What's with that? (Is she acknowledging that their lives are hohum and need the spicing up he provided?!)
I LOVE this pic!
Good points. Yeah, that mother of Frey is a real piece of work.
Exactly. The scary part is that this audience would vote en masse for Hillary for President if (probably when) Oprah and the ladies of "The View" endorsed her...
He could have easily done that by being up front with the editor about his desire to protect the identity of others and still maintain the authenticity of a memior/autobiography. Even putting a caveat on the book that some of the facts have been changed to protect the innocent would have gone a long way.
Just tell the truth, it's easier to remember.
I think Sgt. Joe Friday has a copyright on that "The names have been changed to protect the innocent" shtick.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.