Posted on 01/26/2006 3:09:35 PM PST by RightSideRedux
IMHO, Oprah has a lot of repenting to do. See this questionable book from last year's Oprah reading list.
I just finished watching this show - and before I start getting slammed, NO, I do not worship Oprah. I just happened to have the TV on and this show was on. I have rarely seen her take on someone like she did. I consider myself a pretty good judge of character, and it seemed to me that nearly every word out of this author's mouth was a lie.
I read the book (and FYI - not because it was on the Oprah list. I didn't know that at the time. It came as a recommendation for a friend). It was an entertaining read, as he uses language in a unique way. I had a feeling most of the stuff in the book was crap, but like I said - it was entertaining.
I wish I could've watched the interview. I saw part of the Larry King interview and thought it was silly, but when I heard Oprah changed her tune about Frey - I knew the gloves were gonna come off.
Its at times like these I wish I had tivo.
oprah uses bread and circus to make money and peddle her influence. most of us don't need her bread, the smarter of us don't watch her circus.
I pride myself in not having the foggiest notion of what is on "Oprah's reading list." And, if I did know what was on Oprah's reading list, I'd damned sure make certain that that book never appeared in my house. Talk about liberalism run amuck!
Frey had the popular formula down just right.
1.) portray self or main character as endlessly victimized, horrible things happen to self/main character, relentless violence and unhappiness.
2.) Sex.
3.) Self/main character has arrogant, defiant attitude.
That's about it.
After watching the show, I must conclude that Oprah is a genius. She perfectly made this Brit publisher take the blame and exonerate herself. Brilliant. She deserves to be a billionaire. What a head for the public she possesses.
Never heard of Oprah. Never seen her show. Don't know who she is. Or that she starred in "The Color Purple", dates a guy named Steadman, and runs a magazine called "Oxygen". Nope, don't know her at all.
So it's HER responsibility to fact check every book she recommends. That's absurd.
Actually, that Brit publisher is American. I noticed that she had a fake Madonna-style British accent. But she is American - married to writer Gay Talese.
She was duped and I don't blame her for being upset. Frey also duped millions of people.
Maybe the book should be re-categorized into "melodramma-non-fiction-fiction."
That's my soapbox rant... please drive through.
Her biggest mistake was going on Larry King Live a few weeks ago before her people got more info. Other than that, she did the right thing.
Oprah is not a person, she's a brand. Millions of people trust her and takes what she says seriously and she respects that. Anything that could take away some of that trust will take away from her brand and translate into less confidence in her and less cash at the end of the year.
That Frey clown actually hid behind his mommy's skirt on Larry King then finally fessed up when cornered, just like Bill Clinton did.
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