Oprah Winfrey is obviously a legendary interviewer who has talked with many of the greats. But, we just learned something new about Oprah’s history with the late Whitney Houston. According to a new revelation from the game-changing TV personality, there was a time when she got an entire audience to keep a secret after the struggling pop star had a faux pas during a performance on her show in 2009.

Whitney Houston died at the age of 48 due to an accidental drowning in a bathtub at the Beverly Hilton while she had drugs in her system. The singer behind one of the most iconic movie songs in Hollywood history and a ton of beloved hits struggled with drug addiction for 30 years, and apparently Winfrey and her audience once saw this firsthand. As the talk show host shared:

Winfrey revealed what happened while receiving the LionHeart Award at The Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity on Tuesday (via Variety). As she continued to say about the memorable interview:

During the in-depth sit down itself on The Oprah Winfrey Show, Whitney Houston spoke to Oprah about her drug addiction by getting honest about the ways in which substance abuse became a coping mechanism for her during her marriage with Bobby Brown. Houston also talked about how her own mother staged an intervention to get her to rehab. The singer ended up going to a 30-day program, but sadly the stint didn’t help reverse her decades of struggles.

While Winfrey says Houston was clean during the initial interview, when she came in to perform on the day of the show's taping with a live audience, she was reportedly under the influence again, and fell in front of everyone. As Winfrey added:

Looking back, it’s rather impressive that the audience stayed to their word and never let slip the incident. It perhaps speaks to the public's respect for both Oprah Winfrey and Whitney Houston. At the time, Houston was having a comeback moment with her album I Look To You, which ended up being her final record. In May 2011, she went back to rehab for drug and alcohol abuse before dying nine months later.

In 2022, Naomi Ackie portrayed Whitney Houston in the biopic, I Wanna Dance With Somebody. It’s currently available to stream with an Amazon Prime subscription. While The Oprah Winfrey Show may be long over, Winfrey continues to be a greatly decorated interviewer with her own podcast debuting new episodes every week.

A number of notable celebrities have remained mostly mum on Sean “Diddy” Combs’ sex-trafficking trial and other legal woes. Nevertheless, several stars found themselves wrapped into the drama for one reason or another. Oprah Winfrey and Bishop T.D. Jakes are among the public figures who’ve been tied to the drama, as it’s been rumored that they attended Combs’ infamous Freak Offs. Now, Jakes and Winfrey are openly addressing the “salacious” chatter surrounding them.

Both Oprah and T.D. Jakes recently headlined a discussion as part of the latter’s annual Good Soil Forum. While the pair discussed a myriad of topics (including artificial intelligence), talk eventually turned to Diddy. That topic was sparked due to the 71-year-old former talk show host talking about a NSFW, A.I.-created image of her and the embattled rapper. Oprah (via The Dallas Morning News) directly stated that she did not attend any of the rapper’s parties and shared a point about how she usually handles shindigs:

After that, T.D. Jakes chimed in, saying that “people love salacious stories.” In 2024, the 68-year-old Texas-based bishop was at the center of various rumors in connection with Sean Combs. Some of the misinformation was spread by way of YouTube accounts, leading Jakes to seek legal assistance in combating the situation. During Good Soil Forum chat, Jakes had this to say about the rumors that swirled around him:

Diddy’s Freak Offs were allegedly parties that featured young women (who’d been weighed) performing sexual acts for attendees, with some of those being recorded. Additionally, Diddy held what have been referred to as Wild King Knights, which reportedly occurred in hotel rooms. Those events apparently involved drugs, baby oil and other items. Some of the people who’ve discussed the events recalled being on high alert during those parties.

Following Sean Combs’ arrest in September 2024, he was federally charged with counts of sex-trafficking and racketeering conspiracy, and he faces up to life in prison if found guilty. Combs’ trial began in May and, since then, witnesses have provided testimony about his parties as well as his alleged sexual preferences, drug use and more. The “Shake Ya Tailfeather” performer is also facing numerous lawsuits involving claims of sexual assault, violence and more. Jay-Z was also named in rape allegations alongside Combs, though that case has since been dismissed.

As the trial remains ongoing, rumors are still circulating in regard to Diddy’s personal dealings. When it comes to the speculation that hounded them, Oprah and T.D. Jakes seem to be more amused by it now. Their panel discussion also saw them poke fun about being in the same position, with Jakes even joking, “Let’s get Jerry Seinfeld on there.”

We have gotten a number of biopics for certain, specific Black figures over the course of many years. For example, in our article on movies to watch on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. day, there were a total of three movies that featured an actor playing Dr. King in a prominent role.   

However, there are other Black figures who don't have biopics, and they are long overdue. Now, I'm not talking about documentaries, as we already covered several great ones to watch for Black History Month. Nope, these are biopics featuring actors and actresses portraying the Black figures in question. So, who are these seven famous Black figures who deserve biopics? Well, you’re about to find out. 

Gerald “Jerry” Lawson  

Nowadays, video games (and in turn, video game movies and TV shows) are bigger than ever before. In fact, the video game industry is now bigger than any other form of entertainment, period. Music? Video games are bigger. Television? Video games are bigger. Movies? You guessed it: video games are bigger. But, this wasn’t always the case. In fact, it might not have been the case at all if not for one Gerald “Jerry” Lawson.   

Mr. Lawson created the Fairchild Channel F, which was groundbreaking for one very distinct reason – it was the first video game console that used interchangeable cartridges. Before that, you needed whole machines to play a single game, like the Magnavox Odyssey, which was primarily just a Pong machine. 

A cool biopic would be about how Lawson fell into circles with the big electronic engineers at the time, such as Steve Wozniak. Because Lawson was usually the only Black face in the room, and it would be great to see how he created something that would go on to change the video game landscape forever. Make a biopic about this man already, dammit! 

Paul Robeson  

Not too long ago, I wrote about how I don’t think enough people talk about Paul Robeson, and yeah. Not enough people talk about Paul Robeson!   

The dude was a true Renaissance Man, as he was an athlete, a singer, a stage actor, and a movie star. The guy really did it all! The Communist Party also claims him as their own, and his beliefs in Socialism are also well-documented. So, of course, this would be interesting to see if there was ever a biopic created about him.   

I always thought that Jonathan Majors (prior to his conviction after being found guilty of assault and harassment, and losing project after project) would make for an interesting Paul Robeson. But now, I’m not really sure who could fill in those mighty big shoes. Because it would surely take a towering performance, if not necessarily a towering individual.        

Maya Angelou  

Okay, so here’s what’s interesting. There kind of already is a biopic of Maya Angelou. But, that’s only if you count the television film, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, which is based off of the autobiographical book by Maya Angelou of the same name.

However, that’s not what I mean when I say I want a Maya Angelou biopic. Because the woman, who was a fry cook, a sex worker, an actor, a director, a member of the Civil Rights Movement, and a poet…just to name a few titles, deserves a biopic that goes over her full and rich life. 

And since this is my article, I can dream cast whomever I want. So, I’d love to see Jennifer Hudson in the role. It would be amazing to see a film that chronicled Angelou’s life all the way up to when she recited her poem, “On the Pulse of Morning” at the first inauguration of Bill Clinton. I mean, seriously. Why hasn’t this biopic been made already? 

Octavia E. Butler 

As a novelist myself, you’re going to find that I want a number of biopics focused around Black writers. I considered putting Toni Morrison on this list (who is also very worthy of a biopic of her own), but I’ve decided to focus on Octavia E. Butler instead. 

Why Butler? Because she was the first prominent Black female science fiction writer in America. And, I want to see a movie about her since the idea of a Black woman science fiction writer was seemingly unheard of back when she started.

I know we’re supposed to finally be getting a Parable of the Sower movie from A24, (which I’ve already dreamcasted, by the way), but I would love to see a film dedicated to her work, and her craft. Honestly, there’s a lot that I don’t know about Butler, and I’m hoping that a biopic could rectify that.    

Richard Wright 

Since I’m still on the topic of writers (Didn’t I tell you?), I’d absolutely LOVE a biopic on one of my favorite novelists, Richard Wright. The author of Native Son, Black Boy, and Uncle Tom’s Children, Wright wrote unflinching portrayals of Black Americans, and painted a picture that was often unflattering, if not necessarily incorrect.  

And, guess what? James Baldwin wasn’t a fan, at least not of Native Son. What I’d really love to see in a biopic of Wright is one where the two literary giants meet, and perhaps have some words with one another (not necessarily fisticuffs). If not that, then it would be great to just see Wright disavow America for Paris, as he loved the latter, and was immensely disappointed with the former.  

Obviously, it would be an artsy fartsy kind of biopic, but a man as intellectually gifted as Richard Wright deserves a biopic that’s equally intellectually profound.    

Oprah Winfrey 

I had to really make sure that there wasn’t already a biopic about Oprah Winfrey, because honestly, it doesn’t make any sense that there isn’t one. But, all I could find was a biographical documentary that was supposed to be coming to Apple TV+, and as I mentioned in the intro, a documentary is not what I mean.

What I want to see is a biographical movie that gets into Oprah’s difficult childhood with her grandmother, to her rising in the ranks and getting her own talk show, and to her ultimately becoming the megawatt business mogul that she is today. The only issue is, who the heck could possibly play Oprah? The actress in question would have to be extremely versatile, as Oprah has also been an actress in her own right. 

Honestly, I don’t even know how a movie of this magnitude could be made, but as the title of this article suggests, her biopic is definitely long overdue.   

Beyoncé  

Maybe, just maybe, it’s too soon for a Beyoncé biopic. After all, Whitney Houston only just recently got a biopic in I Wanna Dance With Somebody, and just last year, we got the concert movie, Renaissance: A Film By Beyonce. So, perhaps she is still just too prominent to have a biopic made about her.      

But, that doesn’t necessarily mean that she doesn’t already deserve one. From her competing in early talent shows, to her work in Destiny’s Child, to her acting career, to her marriage to Jay-Z, all the way to today, if anybody is deserving of a biopic, it’s Beyoncé. 

Even though we’ll likely eventually get a movie about her, like we’re getting for Michael Jackson, I’d really like to see one sooner rather than later. The woman damn well deserves it, after all.    

What famous Black figures would you like to see get a biopic made about them who hasn’t had one already?  

Who doesn't love Oprah Winfrey? Well, rumor has it that the ladies of The View—comprised of Joy Behar, Sunny Hostin, Sara Haines, Alyssa Fara Griffin, Ana Navarro and Winfrey's The Color Purple co-star Whoopi Goldberg—currently aren't the biggest fans of the media mogul.

The alleged bad blood actually revolves around the latest critically acclaimed film adaptation of The Color Purple, this one a remake of the titular stage musical rather than the 1985 Steven Spielberg-directed film that featured one of Whoopi Goldberg’s best performances as Celie and Oprah Winfrey in a career-defining role as Sofia. The latter actress serves as an executive producer on the new film.

However, given the history between Oprah and Whoopi, many The View fans thought that they'd be able to witness a long-awaited reunion between the two icons when the rest of the 2023 The Color Purple cast showed up at the daytime talk show to promote the film. But Winfrey notably didn't join actors Fantasia Barrino, Taraji P. Henson and Danielle Brooks, and director Blitz Bazawule during the roundtable discussion with The View hosts. And now, as one source told Page Six: 

The supposed slight comes after Winfrey appeared on several other New York City stops during The Color Purple promo tour, including Gayle King‘s CBS Mornings, Drew Barrymore's The Drew Barrymore Show and Sherri Shepherd‘s Sherri.

However, per another insider, the reasonings for Oprah's absence during The View appearance was far less passive-aggressive and simply a scheduling issue. The source told the outlet that, though The View usually airs live, the December 13 episode on which The Color Purple cast appeared as "taped on Nov. 27 when [Oprah] wasn't available."

A spokesperson for Winfrey’s Harpo production company also told Page Six:

Despite Winfrey's absence, the coming together of Goldberg and the new cast members was a moving one, with Blitz Bazawule praising the performer and leading his actors in a round of applause to Whoopi:

Insiders highlighted Goldberg's "incredible moment with the cast," telling Page Six: 

However, fans weren't feeling the "nasty energy" that has surrounded The Color Purple's promo tour, which has also included another rumored feud between Winfrey and star Taraji P. Henson, after the latter publicly called out her salary for the musical film. 

One X user took to the platform to call out the rumored behind-the-scenes drama:

Another added their two cents about the Whoopi versus Oprah beef:

Whether the Winfrey-Goldberg drama is the real deal or simply manufactured for clicks, the new The Color Purple has been a success so far on the 2023 movie schedule, becoming the biggest Christmas box office opening since 2009, earning $18 million in North America on its first day. 

There’s been a lot of controversy surrounding what Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have had to say about the royal family since choosing to step away from that life. Conversation seems to be at a fever pitch recently, with the wild revelations made in Spare, the Duke of Sussex’s new memoir, as well as the brutally reviewed Netflix docuseries Harry & Meghan. But perhaps nothing has caused as much shock as what Markle said during the couple’s infamous 2021 interview with Oprah about conversations that were had when she was pregnant regarding her son’s skin color. Prince Harry spoke about that issue while promoting his new memoir, clarifying the allegations his wife made.

In their 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey on CBS, Meghan Markle discussed issues that arose when they were expecting their first child, Archie, including his not receiving a royal title, money or security detail. The Duchess of Sussex said there were “also concerns and conversations about how dark his skin might be,” which led to public accusations of racism within the royal family. Prince Harry said during this 60 Minutes interview with Anderson Cooper that they believe those conversations were not “based on racism” but rather the result of “unconscious bias.” Harry explained (via CBS News): 

Prince Harry has refused to discuss those alleged conversations with undisclosed family members but described the reaction from the British press as “a hunt for the royal racist.” He and Meghan Markle — whose mother is Black — did confirm it was not the late Queen Elizabeth II or Prince Philip who brought up Archie’s skin color. 

The Duke of Sussex further explained his thoughts on the difference between racism and unconscious bias in an interview with ITV's Tom Bradby, with Prince Harry saying (via US Weekly): 

Following the claims made in the bombshell Oprah interview, the royal family put out a statement, noting that some of the allegations made by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were concerning, “particularly that of race.” The family said the issues raised were “taken very seriously and will be addressed by the family in private.”

Revelations made in Prince Harry’s new memoir include accusations that William and Kate were involved in Harry’s decision to wear a Nazi costume to a 2005 party, how Charles and Camilla wanted William’s wife to change her name and Camilla’s “dangerous” relationship with the press. 

Spare is out now, and you can also see the former royals on their docuseries Harry & Meghan, which is available for streaming with a Netflix subscription. 

Oprah Winfrey might be able to afford to give everyone cars, but not everyone can give their mother a car for Christmas. In this case, one person asking Winfrey for gift ideas for their mom couldn’t afford the first option the talk show host recommended, so while shocked the fan couldn’t afford a $100 gift, she quickly came up with an alternative. And obviously, the internet has thoughts about it following the video going viral on TikTok. 

In a TikTok from 10gsocial, which now has over 695 thousand views and over 40 thousand likes, Oprah is shown talking gifts with a spectator. At first, she recommended a red jewelry box that she had on her favorite things list. The man said that was too expensive, and Oprah looked a little shocked, but quickly said he should make his mom a nice sentimental card for her. 

Charlie Intravaia commented on the TikTok noting Oprah’s quick response after being shocked the person couldn't afford a $100 jewelry box, writing: 

While Lor wrote about the judgment she thought she picked up on in Oprah’s voice, writing:  

Meanwhile, user2580164774047 took note of how the unexpected A Wrinkle in Time star went from a $100 gift suggestion to a completely free one, writing: 

TastebudCT is out here defending Oprah, writing: 

She makes a good point, the producer and talk show host’s point of reference for what’s affordable is likely very different from many, considering she’s the first Black woman to become a billionaire, which is something you may not have known about Oprah. Also, Winfrey just sold her house to Jennifer Aniston for $10.5 million dollars which is in the same neighborhood Prince Harry and Meghan Markle live in. I think it’s safe to assume Winfrey has a lot of money, and buying something under $100 is like nothing to her. 

Also in the comments, Stephanie Falconi Br noted the look on Oprah’s face, writing: 

From working her way up to the queen of daytime with her talk show (a timeslot that is now owned by Kelly Clarkson) to becoming a busy producer, she’s clearly done a lot to earn the money she now has. Oprah's also been in such a high place of success for a really long time, so yeah, I’d think she would be a bit shook when someone said $100 was too expensive. 

All Oprah’s shook-en-ness aside, she quickly turned it around and gave the man a wonderful, free, gift idea. 

While Oprah may be a billionaire, she is still out here working hard to create important projects. There are lots of projects from Winfrey that you can currently stream, she’s also working quite a bit for the upcoming year. She’s a producer on the movie adaptation of the musical The Color Purple, which is on the 2023 movie schedule, she’s also producing a limited series called  The 1619 Project that is currently in pre-production. 

Jennifer Aniston has joined the impressive list of A-Listers to move to Montecito, California. Turns out, the Friends actress just bought Oprah Winfrey’s home in the ocean town near Santa Barbara. This makes her the newest neighbor in a city that includes residents like Meghan Markle and Prince Harry as well as Ariana Grande, Rob Lowe and Tyler Perry. So while I don’t think this is a situation where Oprah Winfrey can give everyone a house, I do think it’s the perfect place for Aniston to call home.  

The Morning Show star bought Oraph’s Tuscan-style farmhouse for a cool $14.8 million, according to Homes and Gardens. The site reported that according to records from Siteline Santa Barbra the talk show host sold her home for $17 million total, split between two transactions. According to the article, Aniston bought the main house. The property also features two small cottages and gardens. 

What surprised me about this sale was the fact that Oprah really didn’t live there long. She bought the home from a New York hedge fund manager, and she paid $10.5 million for it. According to Dirt, the property was never publicly listed, and the other buyer was Bob Greene, Winfrey’s trainer and property manager, who paid $2.3 million for the cottages. 

The price tag on Winfrey’s, well now Aniston’s home, seems to be in line with what other celebs have paid for their houses in Montecito. According to Homes and Gardens, Markle and Prince Harry paid $14 million for their home, and Ellen DeGeneres repurchased a ranch there for $45 million. 

Markel and Prince Harry moved to Montecito after staying with Tyler Perry in his LA home when they moved to the U.S. Not long after moving to the states they also had a bombshell interview with Oprah, so it seems like the royal couple trusts their neighbors, and it would be very fun to see them interact with Aniston now that she lives there too. 

When you think about all the celebrities who live, or have lived, in Montecito the common factor is they are all incredibly successful, and rich. I mean, one thing you might not know about Oprah is she was the first Black woman to become a billionaire. As for Aniston, she and her co-stars from Friends still get royalty checks from the NBC hit. As Matthew Perry put it, “they’re not bad,” after being asked if he still receives “bountiful” checks for the show. 

It’s also worth noting that Aniston has worked consistently on popular projects in the years since her time as Rachel. She’s been the lead of movies and TV shows, including The Morning Show, which is currently in production on Season 3. The show will likely premiere its new season on the 2023 TV schedule since Aniston has been posting lots of fun BTS photos from the sets. So, on top of her Friends checks, she's also starring in a big drama for Apple, making it even clearer why she could afford to move to Montecito. 

All in all, I think it’s safe to say Jennifer Aniston is a good fit for Montecito, and hopefully, it’s a great place for her to live too. My hope is someday we’ll get to see photos from the actress of what I imagine will be a stunning home. 

While Aniston gets situated in her new house, previously owned by Oprah, you can check her out on The Morning Show with an Apple TV+ subscription, or if you’re feeling nostalgic, you can watch Friends with an HBO Max subscription. 

Halle Bailey has carved out an impressive career for herself, both as a singer and as an actress. So it shouldn’t be a surprise that many of her most exciting roles allow her to combine both of those talents. Now that she’s wrapped on The Little Mermaid, she’s turning her attention to another adaptation of another famous story – this time, the musical version of The Color Purple. And if she has any fears about taking on such a tremendous story, it sounds like she’s got Oprah’s seal of approval. 

Earlier this week, Oprah Winfrey revealed the cast members for the latest adaptation of The Color Purple to Variety. While cast members like Fantasia Taylor, Taraji P. Henson, Danielle Brooks and In The Heights’ Corey Hawkins are undoubtedly excited to get to work, their new co-star, Halle Bailey, took to Instagram to share her own joy at the opportunity: 

If you have read or seen The Color Purple in any of its adaptations, you know that Nettie is the sister of the protagonist, Celie. When Vanity Fair's Anthony Breznican pointed out that even though Nettie runs away in the story, she’s still a vital character and requires an actress who can still make an impact even without much screen time. Oprah agreed: 

Oprah has a long history with The Color Purple, which was first a novel by Alice Walker before it was adapted into an Oscar-nominated film directed by Steven Spielberg. She rose to fame off the strength of her performance as Sofia, and went on to become a celebrated actress, talk show host, and media mogul. 

In 2022, the media mogul will step behind the screen and serve as a producer for the new film, which is itself an adaptation of a Broadway musical, not unlike West Side Story. So knowing that she believes that Halle Bailey is capable of playing Nettie has to be a huge boost of confidence for the young actress. 

We already know Halle Bailey is ready for big things in her career. She recently spoke about how thrilled she is to have been given the chance to reinvent the role of Ariel for Disney’s upcoming live action Little Mermaid adaptation. And though we already know she looks (and sounds) the part of a Disney princess, taking on such an important role in such an important film will likely make her even more in demand. 

There’s no word yet on when The Color Purple will hit theaters – but The Little Mermaid is set to premiere on May 26, 2023. Until then, keep an eye on CinemaBlend’s new movie release guide for up-to-date information about what’s hitting theaters next. 

Oprah’s bombshell interview with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle sent shockwaves around the world as their discussion dealt with racism, mental health and the monarchy. Everyone from reality television stars to even bigger names had some kind of reaction. But, it was Meghan Markle’s Suits television dad, Wendell Pierce, whose comments went viral, prompting the veteran actor to make a few clarifications.

Many perceived Wendall Pierce’s initial reaction about the Meghan Markle interview to be dismissive and judgmental of Markle's struggles, especially given their former father-daughter relationship on Suits. In a follow up interview with Entertainment Tonight, Pierce clarified what he really meant, and said:

Wendall Pierce’s initial comments came across to many as downplaying Meghan Markle's perception that she was under a mental health crisis and faced racist scrutiny while being an official royal. He certainly didn't seem to offer as much rallying support for his former Suits daughter as her other past co-stars. Ahead of the Oprah interview, Patrick J. Adams lambasted the allegations of Markle being a bully.

For his part, Wendall Pierce claimed to not know much about the controversy and his views are now much more supportive of Meghan Markle. The Chicago P.D. star elaborated by noting that he believes his comments were purposely taken out of context in order to fan the flames of drama during a particularly sensitive time in our history. He stated:

The interview was indeed explosive, prompting a global social media dialogue about exactly how racist or belittling the British royalty and its tabloids might be. The initial airing on Sunday brought in roughly 17.8 million viewers. That's good business for CBS, which is set to cut its normal primetime lineup in order to re-air the interview on March 12.

The network had teased and taunted the public with many clips of Meghan Markle and Oprah up until it's official airing. The buildup inevitably created a divide among celebrities and fans alike,with many feeling that either you're with Markle or you're against her. Without knowing the deeper issues discussed, though, Wendall Pierce initially opted for the safer route of saying that, speaking in general terms, the world's problems weren't hinging on tell-alls from former royals. His initial comment to Britain’s LBC radio station was:

It does seem unfair to crucify Wendall Pierce for wanting the primary focus to be on life-or-death matters. But, the conversation surrounding Meghan Markle's Oprah interview is but a continuation of a larger cultural dialogue we're having about the mechanisms in place that may allow someone like Britney Spears to have a public breakdown, or push Markle to think, at five months pregnant, that her life wasn't worth living.

We often like to situate celebs as the public hero or public villain because it is easier, and perhaps more entertaining. However, the problem with doing so is, like in this case with Wendall Pierce, good intentions can get lost in the hype.

To say that Meghan Markle has become a major public figure in the past few years would be a major understatement. The public began examining the former actress very closely when she began dating Prince Harry back in 2016, and that only increased after the two married in 2018. Between all of the interviews and TV specials, it feels like we know quite a bit about Markle at this point. However, her recent interview with Oprah allowed her to open up even further. The interview included a number of major bombshells, but people seem to be particularly consumed with a funnier detail we learned about Markle’s past.

During the wide-ranging chat, Meghan Markle opened up about some of the jobs she took on before becoming a working actress. And what people were most surprised to learn is that her first job, which she earned at the age of 13, was working at a yogurt shop. But here’s the funny part -- the shop was called Humphrey Yogart. I guess you have to appreciate the corny but cute name, which is a nice tribute to iconic actor Humphrey Bogart.

The internet, as you would imagine, is having too much fun with the idea of a young Meghan Markle working at the yogurt shop. Some have even joked on Twitter that this reveal is their favorite takeaway from the recent interview:

Humphrey Yogart is a frozen yogurt shop that is still operating in Sherman Oaks, California today, and many viewers were thrilled to see the shop get a shout-out from Meghan Markle. Some even took the time to share their own connections to the shop:

Based on some of the messages on social media, many love the idea that Meghan Markle began her career serving frozen yogurt. Her past occupation seems to be striking a particular chord with fellow former frozen yogurt and ice cream employees:

The new development also has some fans pondering their own futures now. People are getting serious hope from the fact that Meghan Markle began her career serving frozen yogurt and eventually made her way to Buckingham Palace:

In life, everyone has to start somewhere, which means you could begin your professional career by working a job that may not appear too glamorous. You’d be surprised just how many well-known public figures held positions and titles that greatly differ from the jobs we know them for.

All in all, Meghan Markle doesn’t seem to have any problem with having worked at Humphrey Yogart, and she shouldn’t. It was steady work for a young teen, and it now gives her funny stories she can tell to people like Oprah Winfrey. Not only that, but it also appears to be making her even more relatable in the eyes of her fans.

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The drama surrounding Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s departure from the royal family is one that never seems to die down and continues to make news around the world. The fervor surrounding the royal exit is getting even more attention than ever before, on the eve of Orpah Winfrey’s CBS primetime interview with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex on Sunday, March 7. And while millions of royally obsessed viewers huddle around their television sets to watch the 90-minute conversation and all of its revelations, some may be wondering how to go about watching Oprah with Meghan and Harry streaming.

Well, those cord-cutters out there who don’t want to miss a second of the scorching interview touching on the couple’s decision to leave the royal life behind are in luck as Oprah with Meghan and Harry: A CBS Primetime Special is in fact streaming, and watching it is actually not as difficult as one might think.

When Does Oprah With Meghan And Harry Air?

Oprah Winfrey’s highly-anticipated sit-down interview with Meghan Markle and Prince Harry will air on CBS on Sunday, March 7 at 8 p.m. ET. Those wishing to watch Oprah with Meghan and Harry: A CBS Primetime Special will just need to turn their dials to their local CBS affiliate, sit back, and take it all in.

How To Watch Oprah With Meghan And Harry Streaming

Those without cable, satellite, or over-the-air antenna service aren’t going to be left out in the cold on Sunday as Oprah with Meghan and Harry: A CBS Primetime Special will be streaming, with a number of different ways to do so.

First and foremost, the 90-minute interview will be streaming on the Viacom-CBS streamer Paramount+. The new streaming service, which until recently was called CBS All Access, gives users access to a live CBS feed (from their local affiliate) in addition to thousands of hours of movies, shows, and exclusive content.

Watch Oprah with Meghan and Harry: A CBS Primetime Special on Paramount+ here.

Alternatively, anyone with an internet-based TV package like YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, Fubo, Sling TV, and others that give users access to CBS will be able to watch Oprah Winfrey ask the Duke and Duchess of Essex all those tough questions about their decision to start a new life. Don’t have an internet-based TV service? Sign up for one below:

• YouTube TV - $64.99/month
• Hulu + Live TV - $64.99/month
• Sling TV - $35/month
• Fubo TV - $64.99 - $79.99/month

Each of these services offer a free seven-day trial for new subscribers.

What Can We Expect From Oprah With Meghan And Harry?

If the two “First Look” trailers released by CBS are any indication, Oprah with Meghan and Harry: A CBS Primetime Special will feature an interview in which no subject is off limits, including Meghan Markle’s treatment by the royal family and the British press. Prince Harry will also reportedly pay tribute to his mother, Princess Diana, whose own departure from the royal life nearly 30 years earlier resembles the struggle her son and his wife are currently experiencing.

Watch the two trailers for Oprah with Meghan and Harry: A CBS Primetime Special below:

All of this and more will be discussed when Oprah with Meghan and Harry: A CBS Primetime Special airs on CBS Sunday, March 7 at 8 p.m. ET.

You don't even have to be much of a royal watcher to know that there's already been a lot said about Oprah's upcoming interview with Meghan Markle and Prince Harry. The exclusive interview, Oprah with Meghan And Harry: A Primetime Special, was only announced a couple of weeks ago, but many people are already very emotional when it comes to either what might be revealed by the conversation, or by the very fact that the couple has agreed to the sit-down at all. Now, though, we know that there will likely also be some emotions over the interview because of a subtle tribute to Princess Diana.

Whether you're a fan of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle or not, it's quite common to inspect everything they do or say with the eye of a highly skilled detective. Millions of people are already dying to know exactly how much they will share during their talk with Oprah, and while you can probably bet that the conversation will set tongues wagging even more, viewers can also get ready for a small nod to Princess Diana. According to Good Morning America, Markle will be sporting a lovely diamond bracelet which comes from the late Diana's jewelry collection.

Those who watch royal fashion will probably be able to note two things about this particular bracelet. The first is that Princess Diana was seen wearing this special piece at several events shortly before her tragic death in 1997, so she clearly had an attachment to the bracelet, which Prince Harry likely remembers. Secondly, this will not be the first time that this bit of jewelry has been important to Harry and Meghan. The Duchess of Sussex has worn the bracelet before, and was seen doing so during a 2018 trip to Fiji.

This is also the bracelet which Prince Harry had some diamonds removed from in order to make Markle's custom engagement ring in 2017.

We were recently treated to a brief teaser from Oprah with Meghan And Harry: A Primetime Special, and it seems pretty clear that it will be a tense, all-encompassing interview. Oprah says in that clip that nothing was off limits for her, and it's expected that the couple is ready to open up about pretty much every aspect of their lives. This, will, of course, include a lot of conversation with Markle about becoming a part of the royal family, motherhood, marriage, her treatment by the press and the people of England, and how she's been handling the intense public scrutiny.

Prince Harry will also be a huge part of this interview, and many will already know how he's offered public support to his wife as terrible things were said about her in the press. The couple are also fully expected to talk about their decision to leave their duties to the crown behind and move to the United States, which, of course, caused a firestorm of publicity, both negative and empathetic.

All will be revealed when Oprah with Meghan And Harry: A Primetime Special, airs on CBS, Sunday, March 7, at 8 p.m. EST.

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There are some people, they say, you would have to live under a rock to never hear of, but even in the case of Oprah Winfrey, that would have to be one big rock. As an Academy Award-nominated actress (1985’s The Color Purple) and producer (Lee Daniels’ The Butler among others), a daytime talk show icon, and a trailblazing social activist and philanthropist, to not know Oprah, in many ways, would be not know culture itself.

Of course, even the most prominent figures are private about some things, and that includes someone as famously open about her past and her philosophies as Oprah Winfrey. The media mogul, who followed up the end of her long-running syndicated show in 2011 with the launch of the Oprah Winfrey Network, has a few things that are not as well known to the world.

That being said, before you call yourself an expert on all things Oprah Winfrey just because you binged everything she has put her aggrandizing name on, let us help you figure out if you can verify that claim. The following are eight of the most insightful, relatively lesser-known, and overall inspiring facts about the multi-talented celebrity, starting with the fascinating truth behind her already unique and unmistakable name.

Oprah Winfrey’s Name Came From Frequent Misspellings Of Her Birth Name

While it would not be surprising to learn that her easily recognizable first name is really a stage persona, that is not exactly the case for Oprah Winfrey, although “Oprah” is not how her birth certificate identifies her. On January 29, 1954, Winfrey was born “Orpah” (a name from the Old Testament), but few people from her Mississippi hometown managed to pronounce -- and, as a result, spell it-- correctly. After enough years of people writing the “p” before the “r,” Winfrey came to adopt it as the official spelling she would go by, which would eventually become the biggest name in daytime talk show history.

Oprah Winfrey’s First Talk Show Gig Came From News Anchor Demotion

Years before earning that status, Oprah Winfrey started out as an evening news anchor for WJZ in late 1970s Baltimore, which her 2019 book The Path Made Clear: Discovering Your Life’s Direction and Purpose revealed to be an unceremonious debut, according to CNBC. After enduring her employers’ criticism for her appearance and performance, Winfrey was later demoted and made co-host of the station’s talk show People are Talking. The job allowed her to finally be herself and the was first step to achieving her own self-titled program.

Oprah Winfrey Was Involved In The National Child Protection Act

Her achievements outside of her television career should also not go unnoticed, especially her crusade against the child abuse. In addition to dedicating multiple episodes of her show to the subject of sexual abuse, Oprah Winfrey was also a major component to passing The National Child Protection Act, informally called “the Oprah Bill” by an official White House press release (via attorney Andrew Vachss’ website), which was signed by President Bill Clinton in 1993 as Winfrey stood right beside him. Her commitment to preventing children from such misconduct stems back to her own personal history of it.

Teenage Oprah Winfrey Became Pregnant By Her Abusive Uncle

For years of her youth, Oprah Winfrey suffered molestation from multiple family members, including her uncle, which resulted in pregnancy when she was 14. She spoke to Piers Morgan on CNN about hiding the child from her father out of shame and contemplating suicide until she ended up having a miscarriage, which she saw as an opportunity to turn her life around. In 2015, while delivering her one-woman show to an Australian audience, summarized later by The Herald Sun, Winfrey announced that she decided to honor that second chance by naming her unborn son Canaan, which means “new land, new life.”

Oprah Winfrey Made Herself Ineligible From The Daytime Emmy Consideration

The opportune life and career that Oprah Winfrey has led since the darker days of her past was recognized in 1998 when she received the Lifetime Achievement Award at that year’s Daytime Emmy Awards ceremony, following six consecutive wins for Outstanding Talk Show Host. As CBS News recounted, after her seventh win (shared with Rosie O’Donnell) in 1999, Winfrey opted to pull permanently out of the category, which her friend and fellow daytime talk show host Ellen DeGeneres would also do after her fourth win in that category.

Oprah Winfrey Became The First Billionaire Black Woman

Conquering life in the eyes of the Daytime Emmy Awards was just one of many outstanding feats Oprah Winfrey has achieved. One significant example was in 2003 when, according to Money.com, she became the first black woman to earn a net worth of $1 billion, which she more than doubled since, as Forbes can confirm, with $2.5 billion currently. However, that may not even be her greatest reward.

Oprah Winfrey Received A Presidential Medal Of Freedom

Arguably, Oprah Winfrey’s highest honor came from former president Barack Obama who, in 2013, awarded her with the Presidential Medal of Freedom. According to online archives from Obama’s White House term, among that year’s 15 other recipients was Bill Clinton - a key element of the Child Protection Act and one of the great philanthropic acts which helped earn Winfrey the Medal.

Oprah Winfrey Is Obsessed With Truffles

However, no awards were given to Oprah Winfrey’s 2017 cookbook Food, Health, and Happiness, which includes 115 recipes, eight of which (according to BonAppetit.com) are for truffles. The website also goes into how deep Winfrey’s infatuation with the edible fungi has gone since Lisa Marie Presley first gifted her with a basket of food that included Truffle Salt, leading her to write multiple essays about her love for the delicacy in O Magazine and teaching Stephen Colbert how to cook a “sexy breakfast” with it on Late Show.

What do you think? Are you now fixing to make truffles the main snack for your next Oprah Winfrey binge party? Let us know in the comments and be sure to check back for additional information and updates on the influential media personality, as well as even more in-depth looks into the lives of your favorite celebrities, here on CinemaBlend.

There are few people who have not been inspired by Oprah Winfrey in some way, shape, or form. It could have come from a segment on her long-running syndicated day time talk show, her Academy Award-nominated starring role in The Color Purple, or even in the many times Drake & Josh hilariously paid homage to her.

Jokes aside, the strength of Oprah Winfrey’s presence in said hit Nickelodeon sitcom, despite never actually appearing on it, is good enough evidence to me of how influential the 66-year-old American icon is by her name alone. In fact, the amount of films, TV shows, works of literature, and other media that may not have received the same level of attention and/or praise without her involvement is undeniable. Whether she is serving as a producer, a cast member, or simply appearing as a “Special Thanks” credit is, typically, all you need to get excited for a project.

In case all this talk has suddenly gotten you excited for an all-day Oprah marathon, we got your covered. The following are 12 examples of movies and TV shows that Oprah Winfrey put her name on in some way that you can stream right now, starting with the first acting gig she ever landed before becoming a quintessential face of modern media.

The Color Purple (Hulu)

A portrait of the life of a Black, Southern woman (Whoopi Goldberg) suffering the abuse of her father, her eventual husband (Danny Glover), and others in the early 1900s.

Why It Is A Great Option For Oprah Fans: Eleven Academy Award nominations were given to director Steven Spielberg’s 1985 adaptation of Alice Walker’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel The Color Purple, including for Oprah Winfrey’s supporting role as the fiercely independent Sofia, giving audiences a taste of own persevering personality.

Stream The Color Purple on Hulu here.

Greenleaf (Netflix)

Sinful secrets and damning lies threaten to tear apart a well-to-do family and ruin their reputation as the owners a popular megachurch in Memphis.

Why It Is A Great Option For Oprah Fans: In addition to serving as executive producer, Oprah Winfrey appears in the recurring role of Mavis McCready an extended member of the titular Greenleaf family, in this acclaimed hit soap opera, which is also an original series from her cable channel, OWN.

Stream Greenleaf on Netflix here.

A Wrinkle In Time (Disney+)

Years after the mysterious disappearance of her scientist father (Chris Pine), a young girl (Storm Reid), along with her younger brother (Deric McCabe) and neighbor (Levi Miller), is given the chance to find him in a place that exists outside of space and time by a trio of mystical beings (Oprah Winfrey, Reese Witherspoon, and Mindy Kaling) as their guides.

Why It Is A Great Option For Oprah Fans: Excluding her extravagant costume design, Oprah Winfrey’s performance in director Ava DuVernay’s visually stunning adaptation of Madeleine L’Engle’s iconic fantasy novel A Wrinkle in Time as the omnipotent and often, literally, larger than life Mrs. Which is only a slight exaggeration from her true nature.

Stream A Wrinkle in Time on Disney+ here.

The Princess And The Frog (Netflix, Disney+)

Thinking a kiss will change a talking frog (Bruno Campos) back into the prince he claims to be, a New Orleans restaurant server (Anika Noni Rose) instead turns into the amphibious creature herself and must work with His Royal Arrogance in order to figure out how to break the spell.

Why It Is A Great Option For Oprah Fans: Before teaming with Disney for its take on A Wrinkle in Time, Oprah Winfrey provided the voice of Eudora, the mother of protagonist Tiana, in its animated, unique reinterpretation of the classic story of The Princess and the Frog, which was nominated for three Academy Awards including Best Animated Feature.

Stream The Princess and the Frog on Netflix here or on Disney+ here.

Bee Movie (Netflix)

After leaving the hive to go on his own for the first time, a disillusioned bee (Jerry Seinfeld) discovers how humans have been profiting off his species’ honey and makes an attempt to sue them for it.

Why It Is A Great Option For Oprah Fans: While her time in Jerry Seinfeld’s charming animated adventure Bee Movie is relatively small, Oprah Winfrey’s character Judge Bumbleton (who, despite what her name may suggest, is not an insect herself) is very crucial as her verdict in Barry B. Benson’s case is what decides the future of honey industry.

Stream Bee Movie on Netflix here.

Charlotte’s Web (Netflix, Tubi)

After a runty pig named Wilbur (Dominic Scott Kay) is devastated to learn that he will be slaughtered for bacon by the end of the season, a kind spider (Julia Roberts) who resides in his pen hatches a plan to save his life.

Why It Is A Great Option For Oprah Fans: Directed by the late Gary Winick, this charming, live-action adaptation of the E.B. White novel Charlotte’s Web from 2006 features a slew of big names as Wilbur’s barn animal friends, including Oprah Winfrey as the voice of Gussy - a wise, stern, and often funny goose.

Stream Charlotte’s Web on Netflix here or on Tubi here.

The Immortal Life Of Henrietta Lacks (HBO Max)

With the help of a journalist conducting research for a book on the subject, a woman delves into the history of her late mother, whose cancerous cells were harnessed and used in the development of groundbreaking advancements in medicine without her authorization in the early 1950s.

Why It Is A Great Option For Oprah Fans: Based on the book by Rebecca Skloot (portrayed by Rose Byrne), The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks tells the fascinating true story of a woman (Renée Elise Goldsberry) who unwittingly contributed to the first immortal human cell line told through the eyes of her daughter Deborah Lacks, played by Oprah Winfrey, who also serves as executive producer on the 2017 HBO original film.

Stream The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks on HBO Max here.

When They See Us (Netflix)

A group of five Harlem natives fight to defend their innocence in the case of a white, female jogger’s brutal assault, which begins when they are just teens and ends far into their adult years.

Why It Is A Great Option For Oprah Fans: In one of her most powerful, yet heart-wrenching, collaborations with developer and director Ava Duvernay, Oprah Winfrey also executive produced 2019’s When They See Us, a four-part miniseries based on the true court case that lasted from 1989 until 2014, for Netflix, on which you can also find her special interview with the real Central Park Five called When They See Us Now.

Stream When They See Us on Netflix here.

Precious: Based On The Novel Push By Sapphire (HBO Max)

Illiterate, overweight, abused by her hateful mother (Mo’Nique), and currently pregnant with her second child by her rapist father, a teen nicknamed Precious (Gabourey Sidibe) receives much-needed hope for a better life from an alternative school teacher (Paula Patton) in late 1980s Harlem.

Why It Is A Great Option For Oprah Fans: While not based on fact, Precious is a deeply emotional, grounded, and, arguably, just as brutal story as our previous entry and made director Lee Daniels an Oscar-nominated household name with help from producer Oprah Winfrey, whom he would cast in 2013’s Lee Daniels’ The Butler.

Stream Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire on HBO Max here.

Running From Crazy (Tubi)

A chronicle of the infamous history of mental illness within the descendants of Ernest Hemingway, told through the eyes of his great-granddaughter - Oscar-nominated model and actress Mariel Hemingway - as she struggles to outlive her family’s tragic legacy.

Why It Is A Great Option For Oprah Fans: The Emmy-nominated documentary Running from Crazy, which originally aired on OWN in 2013, is yet another intriguing and heartbreaking true story of overcoming great odds that producer Oprah Winfrey helped bring to light.

Stream Running from Crazy on Tubi here.

The Handmaid’s Tale (Hulu)

In a male-dominated dystopian society, a woman (Elisabeth Moss) forced to bear children for infertile government officials is determined to rebel against patriarchal oppression consuming what used to the United States.

Why It Is A Great Option For Oprah Fans: In a surprise cameo, Oprah Winfrey made two uncredited vocal appearances as a radio news announcer in the second and third seasons of the Emmy-winning The Handmaid’s Tale, based on Margaret Atwood’s novel, which is right up her alley as she got her start as a Nashville news anchor.

Stream The Handmaid’s Tale on Hulu here.

Ellen And Her BFF Oprah (Amazon Prime)

A collection of clips from The Ellen DeGeneres Show featuring visits from America’s other favorite daytime talk show icon.

Why It Is A Great Option For Oprah Fans: It is a beautiful thing to see two women in the same industry join forces as comrades instead of fighting over popularity and Ellen and her BFF Oprah, which sees the host in some of her greatest moments with the woman who practically made her show possible, Oprah Winfrey, is a testament to that.

Stream Ellen and Her BFF Oprah on Amazon Prime here.

What do you think? Have we provided you with the ultimate Oprah binge by suggesting the above titles, or will nothing ever beat her award-winning talk show? Let us know in the comments and be sure to check back for additional information and updates on the inspirational public figure, as well as even more of own suggestions of what you can stream today, here on CinemaBlend.

Dolly Parton doesn't need to prove anything to anybody. The country singer-songwriter-actress-producer-businesswoman-philanthropist has excelled in numerous ways throughout the past few decades, and her wealth of success only continues to shine. But she continued to become the subject of dating rumors related to her best friend, Judy Ogle. Rumor has it, Ogle is actually Dolly's partner, and Parton is not actually romantically intertwined with her husband of more than 50 years, Carl Dean. But Dolly Parton is claiming those ongoing media reports about her sexuality are simply not true. During a recent interview, Parton again tried to put the rumors to rest, saying there's no real validity to this perpetual piece of gossip directed her way.

Dolly Parton's latest response to these dating rumors came up in an expansive and personal interview with The Sun. These rumors have long been a source of frustration for the musician, according to the publication, as they continue to sprout up even when Parton tries to take them down. But she has nothing but great admiration and continued support for all her fans and friends who are LGBT.

The legendary singer just has a very intimate, non-romantic relationship with her best friend, according to her own admission. And Dolly Parton says it's hard for women to have such close bonds without rumors spinning. Parton and Judy Ogle have been best friends for 64 years, and they have a close-knit bond that only comes for several decades spent together. But Parton continues to insist that the relationship is simply platonic in nature, and while she calls Judy her "girlfriend," they are not actually romantic.

As Dolly Parton said in the statement found above, she has been outspokenly supportive of the LGBT community and she has been vocal about loving everyone for who they are and who they wish to be. If these rumors held any truth, they would certainly come as a surprise to her many fans that she would be holding back on such a personal piece of information, particularly in 2019. But Dolly Parton claims this story is simply "gossip" and not true.

This is certainly not the first time these rumors regarding Dolly Parton's sexuality and relationship with Judy Ogle have been discussed by the singer. Parton released a similar statement six years earlier when the topic was brought up, and her response then echoes her thoughts on the matter now.

And there is a chance that, no matter what Dolly Parton says about the matter, she will continue to battle these rumors -- whether she wants to or not. It can be hard to be a celebrity at times. In any case, this interview provided Parton with yet another opportunity to dismiss these allegations about her.

Marvel's Black Panther has been one of the main topics of entertainment discussion this year. And a sizable amount of digital attention dedicated to the question of whether or not this monumental film will be acknowledged with nominations come Oscar time. As we race ever closer to awards season, that talk will only grow louder. Adding her voice to the conversation is Oprah Winfrey, who just put her public stamp of support on Black Panther for Oscar season, saying:

Speaking to a group of over 100 Academy members at the London West Hollywood hotel, as reported by THR, Oprah Winfrey threw her full support behind Black Panther's Oscar campaign. She speaks to the incredible impact the film has had; beyond just being a good movie, it was a phenomenon that had a real effect on the culture and the industry.

The "Bobby" she mentions contacting here after seeing the film is none other than the head of Disney, Bob Iger, with whom she has been friends for many years. As she told him via email, Black Panther exceeded the lofty expectations that had been built up around it for her, and Oprah is moved by what the film will mean to black children who now have a superhero in a blockbuster film that looks like them.

Oprah went on to elaborate about how Black Panther was a cultural moment, where people took their families and went back to see it multiple times. This fact can be seen the omnipresence of the film and its incredible box office.

Oprah Winfrey's review is positively gushing, and as evidenced by the sales of her book club recommendations, the media mogul's stamp of approval matters. Oprah is an Academy member and here she lets her fellow Academy members know where her vote is going. Oprah is very influential and having her endorse the film, alongside a group that included Ryan Coogler, Bob Iger, Chadwick Boseman and Michael B. Jordan, can only benefit Black Panther's Oscar prospects.

It's clear that Disney is pushing Black Panther for Best Picture, as well as multiple other awards, and getting Oprah's support just shows that the Mouse is bringing out the big guns in its quest for the statue. As the season begins to ramp up, there are some positive signs for Black Panther getting a Best Picture nomination too.

Ryan Coogler's film received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Motion Picture - Drama and received 12 nominations from the Critic's Choice Awards, including Best Picture. Those are by no means a guarantee, but a nice little boost to Black Panther's Oscar hopes.

We'll see how far Black Panther can go when the 91st Academy Awards airs on February 24, 2019. For all of the biggest movies hitting theaters next year, check out our 2019 Release Schedule.

One of the hot button issues in Hollywood right now is proper inclusion and visibility in the media. The call for more diverse stories and casts have been made louder recently, and Gary Ross' new heist film Ocean's 8 seem to answer the call. Featuring a diverse, all-star cast of actresses, the Ocean's spinoff won box office supremacy during its first weekend, managing to overcome Solo: A Star Wars Story in the process. Given the film's success, sequel talk has already begun, with cast members like Sarah Paulson vocally supporting the idea. Plenty of names are being thrown around to possibly join the motley crew of crooks, and now none other than Oprah Winfrey has expressed her interest. When recently asked if she'd like to join an Ocean's 8 sequel, Oprah said the following,

And just like that, the legendary Oprah Winfrey has thrown her name into the hat to join a possible Oceans' sequel. Now the question is whether or not Gary Ross and the cast would like to return for another all-female heist film. But now that ET revealed they could land Oprah, maybe the process can begin.

While the all-female Ghostbusters was met with massive early backlash due to its less than stellar first trailer, Ocean's 8 was spared most of the same hate. This may be due to the franchise's history of rebooting and changing casts, or because the actresses assembled for the film were just so stellar. With Sandra Bullock and Cate Blanchett leading the big heist, the crew is filled out with the ranks of stars like Anne Hathaway, Mindy Kaling, Sarah Paulson, and Rihanna. And while the critical reception was mixed to positive, it's opening weekend made a whopping 41.5 million. To put that in context, the entire movie was made on a budget of $70 million, meaning it'll easily start turning a profit.

Spoiler alert!

Ocean's 8 ended with the crew of characters pulling off the dream heist, and making millions of dollars from swiping Cartier jewelry from the Met Ball. Everyone managed to escape unharmed, and Anne Hathaway's delightfully abhorrent Daphne joined the crew in the process. There's nothing to say that another job might not come up for a sequel, reuniting the ladies for another unpredictable job. Through their press tour, it seemed like the cast really hit it off, and would be down to reunite for another blockbuster. This would open things up narratively, with Debbie's crew already having preexisting relationships. But the real question is whether or not Gary Ross and company could get Rihanna back on board, and she's got a busy schedule as one of the world's biggest pop stars.

If Ocean's 8 gets a sequel, hopefully including Oprah Winfrey, it would be interesting to see if the film ends up more closely connecting to the Ocean's Eleven franchise. The new movie makes plenty of references and features a few brief cameos, but there wasn't any George Clooney sighting. Matt Damon actually filmed a cameo, but it ultimately didn't make it into Ocean's 8's final cut.

Ocean's 8 is in theaters now. Be sure to check out our 2018 release list to plan your next trip to the movies.

Everybody is singing the praises of Black Panther after seeing it this weekend. In this case, everybody includes Oprah Winfrey, who posted her thoughts on the film and she says it all, as only she can. It's little surprise that she loved the film. She calls it "phenomenal" and compliments the films multiple layers of story. However, it's the way she closes out her tweet that makes her voice just come through the words. Try to read it and not hear Oprah's voice in your head.

Oprah goes so far as to spell out "Wakanda Forever" in just the way she would be saying it if you were watching her talk about Black Panther on her old TV show. The words come singing off of Twitter. That response has been echoed by many over the last few days as a whole lot of people saw Black Panther over its opening weekend. The film appears to have made over $200 million during its opening weekend, and with today being a holiday for many in the U.S. that total is only going to continue to increase.

Oprah's excitement is what's palpable in her Twitter review and it's a feeling that many have had since seeing Black Panther. It's clear based on the film's success that this was a movie that a lot of people were waiting to see. Comic book superhero movies are some of the biggest films being produced today and while Black Panther wasn't the first in the genre to have a black star or a black director, comic book movies simply weren't as popular back when those previous attempts were made. Black Panther had already cemented itself a place as one of the biggest movies of the year.

The sentiment that Black Panther is a layered film is also one that hasn't gone unnoticed by other viewers. While I would argue with the idea that Black Panther is the first Marvel movie that's "about something" it's a description that many have given the film, and it can't be argued that Black Panther absolutely has something to say about the world in which we live. The fact that it's able to say it, while still providing a Disney superhero tentpole movie experience at the same time, is part of what makes the movie so impressive.

If Black Panther follows Wonder Woman, a similar comic book movie that successfully inspired an audience, look for it to rack up the box office success for the next several weeks. There are a lot more people who are going to want to visit Wakanda, and probably more than a few who are going to want to go more than once.

It's a complicated time for the world of Hollywood. Following the myriad allegations made against producer Harvey Weinstein, the floodgates truly opened. A ton of powerful men have been accused of sexual misconduct, resulting in the end of their careers. With the #MeToo and #TimesUp movements, it seems the community is taking the allegations very seriously. One star who recently has come under fire is James Franco, who had been accused of sexually inappropriate behavior by five women. As these allegations are worked through, Vanity Fair ultimately decided to cut the actor from its 2018 Hollywood issue cover. Check it out.

What a great shot, right? Vanity Fair always produces stunning images of its subjects, and this new ensemble photo is no exception. But upon closer image, there seems to be a photoshop fail-- although not related to the removal of James Franco.

The possibly photo fail can be seen on the left side of the image, featuring Reese Witherspoon and Oprah. While the two Wrinkle in Time stars are adorable canoodling on a chair, it appears that Witherspoon has a third leg. This set the internet ablaze, and even got both women involved via social media. Check out a closer look at Reese's third leg below.

If you look closely, it certainly appears that Reese Witherspoon is rocking a third leg. Vanity Fair eventually made a statement about the the photo, claiming the illusion is due to the lining on Witherspoon's dress.

Both Reese Witherspoon and Oprah seem to have gotten a kick out of the mysterious third leg, with Witherspoon "coming out" as a 3 legged actress to the world. This inspired Oprah to support her Wrinkle in Time co-star, eventually joking about another image from the shoot that featured Oprah having a mysterious third hand. No, I'm not kidding. You can see the photo below.

Vanity Fair must be dealing with quite the headache this week. Because while Reese Witherspoon's third leg is up for debate, there is no doubt that Oprah has an extra hand in that photo with Reese and Tom Hanks. Ultimately, the publication did take responsibility for Oprah's third hand, posting on Twitter:

Overall, Oprah and Reese's phantom limbs have probably helped Vanity Fair sell more of its newest issue. And rather than the conversation revolving around James Franco's absence, there is lighter conversation regarding photo shop fails. It's currently unclear how Franco feels about being cut from the shoot.

Oprah Winfrey is one of a kind, but now scammers apparently are imitating the media mogul to get personal information, such as email addresses and banking details, from trusting people who mistake fake social media accounts for Winfrey's real ones. When the talk-show legend became aware of the scams, she decided to reach out to her fans and followers via her authentic social media accounts, and personally remind people to be careful. In the video, Winfrey spoke (and sang) about what to watch for. She explained,

Oprah Winfrey took a serious tone for the bulk of the Instagram video. However, when she got to the "it's a fraud" part, she sang a little bit in that sing-songy way she frequently used when she would introduce guests on The Oprah Winfrey Show. (You know the one. "PEN-elope CRU-U-UZ!")

In addition to being a fantastic talk-show host and actress, Oprah Winfrey is known by many people for her generous spirit and philanthropic efforts, so she is an easy target for scammers tricking people with fake announcements about giveaways for people who sign up and submit information. In fact, OWN, or the Oprah Winfrey Network, has grown into an empire with much more than shows.

Today, OWN's real social media presence does offer features like sweepstakes, so from time to time, there are genuine chances to win stuff. But these do not include giving out financial details. As Oprah Winfrey pointed out, it is critical for everyone to ensure they truly are following her, not a scammer. (Pro tip: If they want your bank information or money, they are not OWN.) See her video here:

Before Oprah Winfrey herself recorded and uploaded the video, the team at OWN posted an Instagram message about the matter:

Some of the social media commenters on the video mentioned their surprise that people could be gullible enough to give their information. However, according to the BBC, there are many ways the scammers trick people. For example, some of them even get people to trust them by pretending to warn followers not to share their information in the comments section, but share it in private messages instead.

OWN has more than 600,000 followers on Instagram, but Oprah Winfrey herself has around 60 million followers on various social media platforms. Therefore, scammers might find it easy to dupe people who perhaps are unfamiliar with social media. It's a good thing Winfrey handled the situation as swiftly as she did.

There are few talk shows that have left such a lasting impact as The Oprah Winfrey Show. Running for an outstanding 25 season and winning 47 Daytime Emmy Awards by the year 2000, Oprah's show was a dependable daytime escape that would educate and entertain. We saw as Oprah played therapist to countless guests and celebrities, but what did the host/producer/mogul gain from the experience, besides her wild success?

Before the release of her HBO film The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, Oprah Winfrey has been doing a fair amount of interviews and publicity. In a recent conversation with People, Oprah revealed how The Oprah Winfrey Show actually functioned as a form of therapy for the host, as well as the various guests. She said,

As always, Oprah Winfrey is a class act. Because while she spoke to her many guests and shared their stories with her audience, she took something away from it too.

It has to make sense. Because while casual audiences best know The Oprah Winfrey Show for its crazy free car shenanigans and bizarre celebrity interviews, many of the stories focused on everyday stories. And its during these stories, many of which focused on overcoming adversity, where Oprah was able to go through her own form of therapy. Because if audience members were able to empathize and learn from her guests, imagine what the lady sitting across from them felt.

Of course, we can't let Oprah off the hook when it comes to bizarre and fantastic celebrity interactions. Oprah has always had a way of opening her guests up, making the comfortable to share their true self to millions. Who can forget Tom Cruise's infamous couch jumping session while sharing his infatuation with then girlfriend Katie Holmes?

If getting through that interview isn't akin to an intense therapy session, I don't know what is. Seriously, why was Tom Cruise so physical with her?

And while it's sad that The Oprah Winfrey Show ended in 2011, the media mogul has only continued to create dynamic projects since. Her latest is starring opposite Rose Byrne in The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, premiering on HBO April 22, 2017.

Oprah Winfrey has been one of the biggest names on the small screen for more than 30 years. The Oprah Winfrey Show came to an end back in 2011, but the famous talk show host hasn't really slowed down since. Now she's heading to Netflix for a presentation that couldn't be more timely. Winfrey will interview director Ava DuVernay in a special at the subscription streaming service that will delve into DuVernay's latest project 13th. The special will mark the first time Oprah Winfrey has worked with Netflix in this sort of capacity.

The interview will run for 30 minutes and will feature Oprah Winfrey hosting a frank and informative discussion with Ava DuVernay about the filmmaking process that led to the production of the Netflix documentary 13th. The special will be called 13TH: A Conversation with Oprah Winfrey & Ava DuVernay and become available to subscribers in the U.S. on January 26. 13TH: A Conversation with Oprah Winfrey & Ava DuVernay will also tackle national and international reactions to 13th, the current conditions surrounding race relations in the U.S., and more. The later Netflix release has meant that folks who would not have been able to catch 13th in a theater have had the chance to watch the documentary for themselves.

Ava DuVernay is currently in the spotlight due to 13th, which debuted on Netflix in October 2016. 13th is a documentary that examines the plight of African Americans throughout American history, beginning at the end of the Civil War and chronicling developments all the way to present day. The project includes everything ranging from archival footage of the Civil Rights era to clips of the Black Lives Matter movement. 13th is named for the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution that outlawed the practice of slavery. The documentary just scored an Academy Award nomination for Best Documentary Feature.

That said, it's somewhat surprising that Oprah Winfrey will host the interview for Netflix. Winfrey has her own television network, and it would have made sense if OWN - that is, the Oprah Winfrey Network - was the platform for any interview from Winfrey. Still, given that 13th was a Netflix release, it's fitting that an interview with Ava DuVernay is released on the streaming service, and Winfrey's contribution may attract more viewers than might have tuned in just for Ava DuVernay.

13TH: A Conversation with Oprah Winfrey & Ava DuVernay will debut on Netflix on Thursday, January 26. We'll let you know if Oprah Winfrey continues to get involved with Netflix in the future, which should be interesting. Plus, check out our 2017 Netflix premiere schedule to see what else the streaming service will have to offer in the coming weeks, and take a look at our full list of the 2017 Academy Award nominations to see what other projects are in the running for Oscars this year.

When you think of daytime talk shows today, the first ones that probably pop into your head are Ellen or Oprah. They may be two of the biggest today, but if it weren't for Sally the two might not have existed. Hosted by Sally Jessy Raphael, the issue driven talk show was the first of its kind to be hosted by a woman with audience participation. The show ran from 1983-2002, but it changed formats in its later years to more bombastic tabloid subject matter- something that Raphael regrets to this day.

Appearing on Oprah: Where Are They Now?, a now 81-year old Sally Jessy Raphael remembers the later years of her show, and how she hated what she was doing. Formerly driven by societal issues, the switched formats in the late 90's in order to compete with the growing popularity of shows like Maury and The Jerry Springer Show. Sally instead focused on relationships and surprise factor, and it wasn't what Raphael had signed up for.

That's a difficult situation for anyone to be in. We all have our own taste, but Sally Jesse Raphael didn't start the show to talk about whose baby was whose. She feels like she should have stood up for herself, but the show was declining in ratings. Even after they flipped the script, not many people were tuning in, and then Raphael was put in an even worse decision about how to handle a foreboding cancellation. Sally was eventually canceled in 2002, but it came as a surprise to Raphael, who had to break the news to her employees.

While the Sally made its mark and helped paved the way for more women to host their own talk shows, it had a pretty sad ending. It always stinks when a formally good show can't finish on top. If you want to see what the later years of Sally were like, here's a clip from 2000 of a now buff high school nerd surprising a girl who used to be mean to him with his hotness. It's as compelling as it sounds.

You can catch the whole episode of Oprah: Where Are They Now? with Sally Jessy Raphael, when it airs on Saturdays at 10 p.m. ET on OWN.

Every year the Oscars bring about a few incredibly uncomfortable and awkward moments. This year’s show was no different, and while there were few moments quite as cringe-worthy as John Travolta grabbing Idina Menzel’s face, there was one moment in particular that caused quite the uproar on social media. You may remember it as one of the biggest snubs of the night— when Common totally left Oprah hanging as she went for the high five. Well, Common finally opened up about what really went down, on ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live.

It turns out that Common didn’t purposefully ignore Oprah’s praise (because who would ever diss the Queen of Media?!), Common simply didn’t think the high five was for him. He told Kimmel that in the heat of the moment, he just saw David Oyelowo and went straight for the actor, thinking Oprah’s high five was meant for John Legend.

What it comes down to though, is that of course Common has to pretend that moment was accidental. This is Oprah we are talking about, and no one can leave Oprah hanging and get off clean. The moment came right after John Legend and Common were announced winners of this year’s Best Original Song Oscar for “Glory” in the film Selma. As the two excitedly went up to the stage, their fellow cast members from the film (including Oprah) were ecstatic. Though Common’s story sounds reasonable, after rewatching the clip a few times, it really does seem that Common and Oprah’s eyes meet for a second, and that his snub was intentional. Take another look:

Almost immediately after this shot though, Common went back and hugged Oprah, to most likely make up for his insanity, but we’re still left wondering whether or not there was an intentional dissing going on that night. We know that the two worked together on Selma, previously spending a substantial amount of time with one another. So were there some mixed feelings from set bleeding into this awards ceremony? It appears Common is at least smart enough to play it cool with the media, so not to upset the conglomerate Queen’s image. But could there be a juicier story underneath all the pleasantries?

Either way, it was a terrific moment for John Legend and Common whose performance of the song, "Glory" left audience members in tears. Their Oscar was well-deserved, and it looks like Common truly does treasure it.

There were a few incredibly awkward moments during the 2015 Oscars, the top probably being the interaction between John Travolta and Idina Menzel (again). But, there were some uncomfortable moments that were so quick, you may have missed them. Of those moments, one in particular snubs arguably the most powerful woman in the world, Oprah. Watch as Common and John Legend head to the stage to accept their award for Best Original Song as Common blatantly ignores Oprah’s high five.

It looked as if Oprah could not wait to congratulate the two, who she had spent plenty of time with filming Oscar-nominated film, Selma. But, Common looked as though he could care less about the Queen of all media’s high five, and as soon as he spotted Selma star, David Oyelowo, Common whizzed past Oprah and went straight for his embrace. The moment came soon after their incredible, tear-jerking performance of the Oscar-winning song, “Glory”, which brought Oyelowo and other crowd members to tears. So, it seemed appropriate that Oyelowo and Common embrace, but to leave Oprah out of the mix, is a big "no no". So of course immediately after the seemingly blatant snub, Twitter went absolutely wild, concerned about the musician’s safety, claiming “he’ll be dead by midnight” and “that’s grounds for a life in exile”.

But not to worry, because almost immediately after Common realized his mistake, probably because everyone’s mouths dropped in unison after Oprah went for the up top, only to turn her and follow him in his denial. So, to make up for not slapping Oprah’s hand, Common was sure to give Oprah a big hug almost immediately after the quick snub, and all could sleep peacefully.

The hug does seem a little forced though, with Oprah’s smile so wide it could be overcompensating. Did the two have problems on set of Selma? Did Common really mean to snub Oprah? And most importantly, did he think no one would notice? Come on Common, you must know better.

We can’t be sure whether or not Common really meant to diss the conglomerate Queen. In his excitement it may have just been a mistake, or maybe he just was more concerned with hugging it out with the star of the film, Oyelowo. All we can do is speculate, and keep an eye out in the news for Common’s safety and well-being.

Photo Credit: © ABC

Two of the most successful women in the entertainment industry have come head to head to spit some rhymes, and talk some smack in a new segment of Epic Rap Battles. The parody Youtube video features two actresses playing the TV personalities, Oprah Winfrey and Ellen DeGeneres battling with verse to see who will come out on top. Watch below:

Ellen DeGeneres, played by Lauren Flans has some great lines. She admits that Oprah had her reign, but now, “oh I’ll knock you off of your throne/ take a shot at everything you OWN.” DeGeneres is coming for her, and her title. And this rap battle ride is hilarious, because even though the lines are pretty ridiculous, the underlying competitiveness of the two TV personalities is bound to exist.

Oprah Winfrey, played by November Christine has some harsh words for her competitor stating, “you played a fish with brain damage, I’m a nominated actress, name’s synonymous with power”. Hey wait a second, Dory in Finding Nemo teaches some important life lessons, like just keep swimming.

DeGeneres’ response is basically that she likes kittens, puppies, and making people feel good, which is why she is so popular. We can’t forget that DeGeneres is a comedian, and her power and popularity come from that basis. But I’d have to say, the ultimate power in the world of TV personalities is probably Oprah. She spits the line, “the Dalai Lama and Obama, memorize my cell number,” which is probably a truth. Though, despite Oprah and her connection to political powers, if the competition is solely based on who reigns daytime TV, it is a close call. DeGeneres is on the rise. Since her internet-breaking hosting job at The Oscars, she’s gone beyond her role as the host of her own show Ellen.

Epic Rap Battles is one of the most subscribed to channels on YouTube and it always knows how to bring to life to comparing between two people we always wish to see go head to heard. It’s take on Ellen vs. Oprah is one of many hysterical battles between fictional or non-fictional characters throughout history. The series has featured many internet and media celebrities, and explores topics such as politics, literature, history, and even science fiction. "The Darth Vader vs. Hitler" installation was actually a certified Gold single in the U.S. and has over 86 million views on YouTube. The lyrics are always clever and insightful. You can tell, even in the Oprah vs. Ellen segment that the writers took time make sure they referenced important issues such as, the crazy Tom Cruise on Oprah. They put a lot of research into creating these epic battles. And always end it on a note that lets the viewers decide who won. So who do you think won this battle, the comedic Ellen, or the mighty Oprah?

Hearing that the trailer for Lindsay Lohan's OWN reality series is out, my mind scanned through different expectations based on other celeb-reality shows. Maybe, in an effort to improve her image, we're about to see a sample of Lindsay presenting herself as though everything's perfect in her life right now. Or maybe it's going to look like the docu-series is aiming to earn the star sympathy from its audience, if only we'd understand her struggles. Maybe she'll be candid and honest about her thoughts, or maybe this will be another reality show where the celebrity is intent on presenting themselves a certain way that the show feels less like a documentary and more like an advertisement or a presentation of the ideal image of this particular star. Looking at the Lindsay trailer, it doesn't seem to fit any of those moulds. But then again, Lindsay Lohan doesn't either, nor does Oprah so we probably should have expected something different from the start.

What stands out most about this first look at OWN's Lindsay is where the two-minute video leads. At first, it's Lohan sounding discontent and frustrated about being followed around and feeling like a prisoner. She's back in New York. Her mother's happy. Her father's adding stress and anger to her life. These are all the things fans of Lohan and those who follow her in the tabloids are likely looking for. It's about that inside look into Lohan's life and her raw reactions to things that appeals to some people.

What drew me in was less about that as it is about halfway through the video when things start going wrong, not in Lindsay's life but with the documentary. She's locked out of her apartment and they can't film. She keeps changing things that were agreed upon. And from the sound of it, her unpredictable behavior causes problems for the show. They might find ways to work around that, but they're also using that as part of the series, which is what I find interesting.

Because how often do reality series show producers and other production people in the show, let alone the trailer? Production intervention on camera seems like one of those rare things when something big happens and it has to be dealt with, but that's usually in shows like Jersey Shore and Big Brother. And this situation looks like it's bigger than one escalated incident. It's hard to know for sure by the trailer, but this series could be -- at least in part, if not as much as -- about the making of the docu-series as it is about its subject.

Of course, the drama level is high. Oprah's intervention sees to that, as she basically tells her to cut the shit (or whatever was bleeped out) and do this or not do it. But looking at the trailer, it does suggest that the series is aiming to give people a rare inside look into the making of a celebrity reality show, and that's something people will tune in for.

I'm with Oprah. I want Lindsay to win. I'll take a good comeback story any day. And in Lohan's case, she's due. She's 27. She has her whole career ahead of her if she wants it and there are plenty of people who are cheering her on. She does seem to want it, at the very least and she's willing to let people film her attempt, for better or worse. But it's the second half of the trailer that has my interest piqued. I'll be curious to see how much behind-the-scenes footage this series shows us, and where this documentary is headed in its efforts to capture the reality of Lindsay Lohan in her current life.

Lindsay will air on Own on Sunday, March 9 at 10/9c.

Well, folks — that’s a wrap of the Jay Leno era of The Tonight Show. Not that you could tell by the bevy of jokes made at the expense of Leno’s first adieu-bidding to the series. But unlike the last time we were at this juncture, Leno actually seemed ready, or at least, he had come to accept it. Because, as he himself said: it’s time.

The episode, naturally, took a turn for the reflective, and Leno spent much of his short opening monologue discussing those 22 years. Mainly the difference and similarities of the two, illustrated with an Anthony Weiner penis joke, some pokes at Justin Bieber, a jab at Obamacare followed by one on the GOP (always tow the middle, he does), and some hokey digitally altered clips featuring politicians. You know, Leno-y stuff.

As his guest Billy Crystal alluded to during the night, Leno is a workhorse comedian. No one, regardless of your opinions on the man, could deny that. As he reiterated several times throughout the night, Leno had no idea for what the audience (and he) were in store. First up was a video with friends giving him some advice for the future: Steve Carell chimed in about not dwelling on the past from the desk of Michael Scott, Olivia Wilde accused Leno of neglecting their love-child-to-be, Kevin Bacon painted a naked portrait of the host, and NBC Sport’s Bob Costas brought the booze. Obama made Leno the ambassador to Antarctica, while Bill Maher made efficient use of his time filming a “welcome back, Jay!” voiceover immediately after. All Matt Damon seemed to care about was finally fucking getting an invite to work on cars over at the Leno garage — of which they’ll have no shortage of work to do after Miley Cyrus dented Leno’s car.

Speaking for most of us, Mark Wahlberg declared he didn’t give a shit what Leno did, as Kevin Hart suggested a career balloon animal creation (Because of his chin, ahyuck! Nailed it, Kevin). Other Garth (not Brooks: just Dana Carvey) did his best Leno while Charlie Sheen told him to fuck NBC. Tyler Perry even showed up to dress the comedian up as White Madea and made him sing “I Dreamed a Dream” from Les Miserables. And if that wasn’t frightening enough, Martha Stewart trumped everyone with her recently horned-up schtick, suggesting a hall pass-approved affair, complete with her signature DIY twist — a bacon bikini. (See what living in Connecticut does to a person?) And to top it off, the video ended with… Larry the Cable Guy suggesting meth before Jimmy Fallon graciously offered Leno time on his iteration of The Tonight Show any time he wanted.

Afterward, Billy Crystal performed “So Long Farewell” from The Sound of Music with his Shut Your Von Trapp Family Singers. This motley crew consisted of Jack Black, Kim Kardashian, NBAer Chris Paul, Sheryl Crow, Jim Parsons, Carol Burnett (!! — who did her iconic Tarzan yell), and Oprah (!!! — who sang “if you were me, you’d buy them all a car,” which was fun).

Leno’s second guest of the evening was Garth Brooks, who came out and sang one of the host’s self-proclaimed favorite songs, “The Dance,” but not before giving a bromancey speech of his own.

“Boy this is the hard part … this is tricky,” Leno stated; he began sobbing almost immediately as his farewells began. It was all very emotional and genuinely heartfelt. Likening the show to his family, Leno was gracious thanking the unions and everyone else involved. He mentioned not just the time they all spent together, but because in his first two years as host of the show, Leno lost both his mother and his father, and soon after his brother. Quoting the most iconic host of the series, Johnny Carson to sign-off, Brooks played out the show with his biggest hit, “Friends in Low Places.”

And with that, the Jay Leno era has come to a close, and it certainly feels legitimate this time. It’s time, but he had an undeniably commercially successful run. So long, Jay.

Technically Oprah already has an Oscar. She didn't pick it up after her nomination for The Color Purple in 1986, but-- maybe as a consolation prize-- she was awarded the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award in 2011, despite being a much bigger part of the TV industry than film world. Even the Academy isn't immune to her blinding celebrity. And that may become even more important this year, as Oprah has thrown herself into the thick of the Oscar conversation with her performance in Lee Daniels' The Butler, the weekend's big box office hit that, despite its non-traditional August release date, now has awards buzz inevitably swirling around it.

No, I'm not really ready to start the Oscar speculation in earnest either, but The Butler has gone and forced our hand, particularly since plenty of the film's praise has revolved around Oprah's performance as Gloria Gaines, the wife to Forest Whitaker's Cecil Gaines, the titular butler who worked in the White House for more than 40 years. In the New York Times rave review A.O. Scott called her a "fine character actor." The Village Voice praised her openness, calling Oprah's performance "the opposite of great-lady acting—it's something much better, more vibrant and alive." Perhaps unsurprisingly, one of the world's most famous women is getting all the attention in her new movie-- and given that The Butler is distributed by the awards-savvy Weinstein Company, and that Lee Daniels directed another TV star to a Best Supporting Actress Oscar only three years ago, the buzz for Oprah is premature but well-deserved. Even in the trailer for The Butler, you can tell the woman, who could have comfortably retired decades ago to an outlandish mountaintop mansion, is really putting her all into the performance.

So should you listen to the people who are shouting that Oprah has her Oscar locked up and the rest of the category should go home? Duh, of course not. It's August! The vast majority of Oprah's competition has yet to be seen by anybody, and there's absolutely no counting on an Oscar campaign until movies have screened for a paying audience-- no matter how good your performance is in a flop, you're going to have a hard time mopping up awards for it. The Butler has an obvious edge in that it's already a hit, but there are plenty of other potential big ones coming down the pike, and many of them with Supporting Actress contenders of their own. Sites like The Film Experience have already started sizing up the competition, and it's looking pretty fierce, starting with Meryl Streep in August: Osage County. Streep has to be considered a force no matter what the role or the movie-- she won her third statue for the largely unloved The Iron Lady, after all-- and the August part is one that earned a Tony for Deanna Dunagan, who originated the role on Broadway.

The Weinstein Company, who is distributing both August: Osage County and The Butler, confirmed last week that both Meryl and Oprah will be competing in the Best Supporting Actress category, which has some speculating that August might be a dud-- why else would you bump down Streep in a role that seemed like an easy Best Actress contender? Either way, the move ought to generate endless headlines, with two of the most famous women in America now competing in the same category, and both as salty-tongued mothers with addiction issues, no less. And that's just one of the foes Oprah will be facing-- there's Cameron Diaz in Ridley Scott's The Counselor, Carey Mulligan in Inside Llewyn Davis, Jennifer Lawrence in American Hustle, Amy Adams in Her, Octavia Spencer in this summer's Fruitvale Station... This early on, when we can cross our fingers that all of these movies will turn out to be good and the performances meaty, there's a lot of competition in sight.

And, as we've seen happen over and over again, a frontrunner can easily become her own worst enemy. In 2007 Cate Blanchett had all the buzz for months for her transformative performance as Bob Dylan in I'm Not There, only to lose steam in the end and get edged out by Tilda Swinton for Michael Clayton Two years ago Viola Davis was a strong Best Actress contender for August release The Help, only to get beaten at the last minute by-- uh-oh-- Meryl Streep. The Best Supporting Actress category has been friendlier than most to long-running frontrunners for the last few years-- Anne Hathaway, Octavia Spencer, Melissa Leo and Mo'Nique all seemed locked-in for wins for months before the ceremony-- but when you're already hugely famous, rich and successful like Oprah, riding "it's her time to win" buzz through February is no small feat.

Later this week the entire CB staff will go a little crazy and start predicting Best Picture winners, but it will still be a few more weeks until we start talking about the Oscar race-- and the chances for the rest of The Butler-- in earnest. In the meantime, Oprah supporters may want to don their disco suits and buckle up for a long, long Oscar season. The queen of all media may have a jump start on the season, but she's got a lot of fighting to do before a second statue is hers.

Every last man, woman and child in the United States might be well aware of how affluent the former talk show host and OWN network head Oprah Winfrey is, but people living in the rest of the world aren’t quite as familiar with the affable television personality. As such, she’s occasionally victimized by racial profiling as related to people mistakenly assuming she’s from a lower socioeconomic class when she visits Europe, a fact that she was brazenly reminded of last month when an employee refused to show her an expensive handbag.

The incident in question happened in Switzerland. Oprah was on hand to attend the wedding of her friend/ new Swiss citizen Tina Turner when she decided to do a little shopping for a handbag. After looking at several handbags with the store clerk, she asked to see a black one priced at $38,000, but she was refused because, as the sales clerk put it, “you will never be able to afford that.”

Oprah recently told the story on Entertainment Tonight, and almost immediately, the Switzerland Tourism Office reached out and apologized. According to The Huffington Post, the office declared that everyone should be treated the same way and that the sales clerk erred in her behavior. The store’s owner Trudie Goetz agreed too. In addition to potentially losing a really profitable sale, she is also obviously upset at how it’s made her business look, but nonetheless, she still argued the situation was a “misunderstanding” rather than an incident of racism.

Here’s what she told Blick…

I’m not really sure why speaking Italian could let someone make judgments about another’s wealth without being a racist, but the Italian people have a long, complicated and often disgusting history with racism. Obviously, there are a very sizeable group of citizens who are abhorred by such bigotry, but there are quite a few who are not, as well. Italian Integration Minister Cecile Kyenge, who was born in the Democratic Republic of Congo, has been compared to an orangutan by other politicians and even been pelted with bananas. Soccer players such as Kevin-Prince Boateng and Mario Balotelli are routinely subjected to racist chants during matches, and it took the former actually walking off the field for FIFA to finally take some action. Maybe this clerk seriously has a problem she needs to work on. Maybe she was just subtly affected by everything she saw growing up. Either way, she needs to get with the program.

The embarrassment and the lost sale are, in my estimation, more than enough punishment for this shop and the clerk. Here’s to hoping others learn a lesson from what happened and keep an open mind with every customer.

Following in the footsteps of Rihanna and Lance Armstrong, Lindsay Lohan will sit down with Oprah Winfrey for an interview, which will take place in August after Lohan is finished with her court-ordered 90-day turn in rehab, which is set to finish up at the end of this month. What's more, she's set to star in her own docu-series, which is slated to air on Winfrey's OWN network later this year.

EW says the sit-down between Lohan and Winfrey is scheduled to take place later this summer, and will air in August. An OWN spokesperson went on to confirm that the 8-part documentary series, which will star Lohan in her post-rehab life as she attempts to rebuild her career and stay healthy, will air at some point in 2014. Oprah's interviews tend to deliver, especially when it involves subjects linked to personal struggles and controversy. The Lance Armstrong interview gave the cyclist an opportunity to open up about some of the mistakes he's made in the past and talk about the backlash over his scandal involving use of performance-enhancing drugs and how it's affected his personal life…

Lohan has her own set of struggles and controversy to be explored. It seems like she's been trying to get out from under the heavily publicized controversy in her life for years, only to have one or more setbacks, the latest of which put her back in rehab. Coming out of rehab and sitting down with Oprah to talk about what's going on in her life may be just what she needs to begin the starting-over process. And perhaps having cameras documenting her movements for the upcoming series will encourage her to keep that new leaf turned over as she attempts to improve her life.

It sounds like August will be a big month for Lohan. News of her planned interview with Oprah comes the same week that the trailer for Lohan's upcoming film The Canyons debuted. And the film just so happens to release into theaters and on demand in August. So we might expect to hear Lohan's name quite a bit around the water cooler come next month. It'll be interesting to see how much she opens up to Oprah when the two women sit down together. Take a look at a clip of Oprah's interview with Rihanna…

Oprah has interviewed Beyoncé in the past, but not since she has hit a few pivotal moments in her life, including becoming a mommy and performing during the Super Bowl halftime show. Now, one of the world’s biggest pop singers will be heading to OWN for an episode of Oprah’s Next Chapter, and as the teaser for the episode shows, Oprah’s interview seems like it will focus on halftime talk.

As noted prior, the promo is focused on the Super Bowl stuff, and the short segment really pushes the fact that this will be the first time the singer has spoken publicly since her live performance during the halftime show. Because of this, the Oprah’s Next Chapter is rolling with the subtitle “Beyoncé: The Exclusive.” According to EW, the last time Beyoncé teamed up to chat with Oprah was in 2008, just after she married Jay-Z. Long story short, the two women should have plenty to chat about. More importantly, however, if the focus is on the Super Bowl, even those who aren’t huge fans of the singer might still be interested in some behind-the-scenes facts and tidbits about prepping for the big game.

Oddly enough, the episode is set for this Saturday, the same day Beyoncé’s documentary, Life is But a Dream, airs on HBO. If you are a huge fan of the singer you’ll be able to catch Oprah’s interview on OWN at 8 p.m. ET and HBO’s documentary at 9 p.m. ET.

Beyoncé will join Oprah’s Next Chapter on Saturday, February 16, at 8 p.m. ET .

Earlier today, cycling legend Lance Armstrong sat down with Oprah Winfrey for his first interview since being stripped of his Tour de France titles. Rumors have swirled for days that he was strongly considering making at least a limited confession about doping to the beloved talk show host, and considering he reportedly left the interview extremely emotional after more than two and a half hours, it seems likely he finally fessed up.

After a battle with cancer, Armstrong rose through the ranks of the cycling world and eventually won seven Tour de France titles. For years, accusations of using performance enhancing drugs followed him wherever he went, but he always denied those claims. In recent years, a stunning number of his fellow cyclists have admitted to doping. Twelve of them implicated Armstrong during their confessions, which turned out to be enough evidence to strip the legend of his titles and ban him from competing in both cycling and triathlon events.

With the weight of the world starting to fall on top of him, Armstrong resigned from his Livestrong charity last year. If he did admit to using performance enhancing drugs just like an overwhelming majority of other cyclists, it may have been the best card he has left to play, but in playing it to mend fences with the public, he could potentially open himself up to lawsuits from sponsors and the various papers he accused of lying when they ran exposes about him in the past.

What do you think? If he did admit to using PEDs, did he make the right call? Let us know your thoughts by voting in the poll below…

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For more questions of the day, head here

Just a few days ago, Jessica Simpson’s fiancé Eric Johnson was declared the best father by the couple’s friends after less than a week of parenting Maxwell. Jay-Z too has a high profile newborn he’s now legally responsible for, but his outlook seems to be a whole lot more self-deprecating and a whole lot less congratulatory.

The musician and partial owner of The Nets recently sat down with television personality Oprah Winfrey for an interview to air on Master Class, and in the publicly available clips, Jay-Z discusses his philosophy on raising children, as well as his fears.

From what I’ve been told, parenting involves a whole lot of improvisation. Since every child is different, lessons learned along the way from family members help some, but ultimately, it’s just about mom and dad trying to figure out what to do in any given moment. I love that Jay-Z already seems to see that, and I love his affability about the whole thing.

Raising Blue Ivy for the next few years should be physically exhausting but not necessarily emotionally taxing. The real mental challenges will come in about thirteen years when the teenager probably decides she wants to be a child actress or a singer. Will they let her? I guess we’ll just have to stay tuned.

Until then, you can check out the full interview tonight on OWN.

Oprah joined longtime friend Gayle King on her show CBS This Morning early today. After being lauded for her achievements by King and co-host Charlie Rose, the program got a whole lot less rosy, with the former talk show host being asked to speak out about her struggles over at OWN, a network which recently had to restructure, firing 30 people as well as cancelling The Rosie Show.

When asked to speak about her “Top 5” mistakes with the network, Oprah’s big focus was feeling she had launched too early, before her daytime talk show contract was up and she could fully place her new network on the forefront. The 58 year-old compared the launch of OWN to getting married before a couple is actually ready.

When the topic switched gears and Oprah was asked whether given another go at a network she would have done something very different, the Oprah's Next Chapter star seemed alright with explaining the network's shortcomings. However, she does not seem to be willing to ever just give up.

The interview with Oprah shows her as someone who is poised, apt, and very well-spoken, even in the face of critical questions. Whether or not you are a fan, it is worth watching and maybe even hoping for a future to the Discovery-owned network that Oprah is now admitting may very well have been a mistake.

Despite Oprah Winfrey pulling in pretty nice ratings during several of her night Oprah’s Next Chapter episodes, news coming from OWN headquarters gets grimmer every day. OWN is already suffering from a lack of original content, often spending multiple hours of the day playing repeat episodes of shows that originally aired on true crime network ID. Last week, the network announced that one of its few and certainly most crucial original programs, The Rosie Show will finish airing at the end of the month.

That is not the end to the trouble on the OWN forefront. Today, OWN let go 30 of the network’s employees, which Deadline is stating is 20% of the channel’s work force. With the network faltering and costs needing to be cut, the restructuring move was likely the logical one, but it also serves to prove what dire straits OWN is in.

Despite this, OWN President Erik Logan is sticking with the optimistic angle.

Perhaps Logan is right and OWN is on its way to getting on its feet and pulling in some realistic ratings in order to make money. More likely it is just another piece of bad news in the middle of a string of bad news. OWN needs to get new programming on the air, and it needs to happen soon. Otherwise, those audiences who really miss the Discovery Health Network may be seeing what would have seemed improbable a little over a year ago: the triumph of science over Oprah.

Less than two weeks away from the launch of OWN, Oprah’s new cable network, there’s still plenty of question marks. The media mogul herself won’t start appearing regularly until her daytime talk show ends its historic run in September. Rosie O’Donnell too will be absent until at least that point, but still, there’s a sense of general optimism about what the network could eventually be. With Discovery giving up its health channel and almost two hundred million dollars in capital to get started, lofty dreams of turning a profit within five years are being quietly discussed. But how will they get there? The answer is star power.

According to The New York Times, Oprah recently offered U2 frontman Bono his own show, and while no plans are yet in place for that probably never going to happen proposal, it does gives us a glimpse into the rationale behind the network. Some channels attract viewers through premises, others do it through showcasing likeable, proven personalities. Almost nothing is known about Rosie O’Donnell’s new talk show, but all her former television endeavors indicate people will watch. Almost nothing is known about what exact role Oprah’s time will turn into, but she’s been the most popular entertainer on daytime television for decades. The same principal applies to Dr. Phil and Suze Orman who will both be around in some capacity.

With or without Bono (probably without), OWN has name recognition its side, and that’s a lot more than can be said for most cable networks.

It’s the end of an era. After starting out locally in Chicago and then going syndicated not long after, and even playing second fiddle to Phil Donahue, Oprah Winfrey has announced her current program, The Oprah Winfrey Show, will end in September 2011.

Oprah has over the years made a babillion dollars as the most influential daytime talk-show host. Her program went from stay at home mom schlock in the 80’s and early 90’s to become a pillar of the talk-show circuit. Actors have made themselves famous (and infamous in some cases…ahem, Tom Cruise) on her show, and Barack Obama launched his Presidential campaign sitting next to Oprah.

The Oprah Winfrey Show is still the top rated daytime talk-show, and there’s no official word on what she’ll be doing next. Although rumors indicate she’ll start a new show with OWN, a network she’s partnering with Discovery Communications Inc on.

Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' By Sapphire is a good movie on its own merit, but it has two aces in the hole that guarantee its success: Tyler Perry and Oprah have teamed up to get it released. Thus far the marketing campaign hasn't focused too much on the presence of the powerful pair, but it's all out in the open with the new trailer at Apple.com.

Including some of the more brutal, as well as the more inspirational, moments from the film, the trailer also includes talking head interviews with Oprah and Tyler Perry, insisting that you go see this movie. And, as we all know, when either of these two gives a command, their minions follow. Even if you're not an Oprah or Tyler devotee, Precious is a movie worth seeing. Just know that you'll have a lot of company in the theater.

Lionsgate is teaming up with Oprah to make Chris Rock America’s new black friend. Rock is set to star in a film based on a GQ Magazine article titled, “Will You Be My Black Friend?” in which a white guy decides he needs more diversity and attempts to befriend African Americans. Presumably, Chris Rock won’t play the white guy, though the whole thing might be funny if they turned it on its head and retitled it “Will You Be My White Friend?” We’ve had plenty of movies about how white people don’t understand African Americans, maybe it’s time to reverse it? No? Ok then, I guess I’ll settle in for a bunch of jokes about the white man’s inability to dance.

The entire GQ article is available online right here. In it, author Devin Friedman places a Craigslist ad, eventually meets a few people, and discovers that he’s just not very good at making friends. If this really is a Chris Rock vehicle, they’ll have to change Friedman’s story considerably by, for instance, writing in a significant African American role. Right now it’s mostly just a white writer wandering around the city, having the occasional drink with random black men, and trying not to feel like he’s totally gay.

Well, we’ve been waiting long enough for 30 Rock to premiere it’s third season and the time has almost come! We’ve got a promo video for the new season, which includes a few snippets featuring some of this seasons celebrity guests.

It seems as though 30 Rock is overflowing with celebrity appearances this season. In addition to the recent news that Salma Hayek is going to be playing a recurring role as Jack’s love interest, this season will also include appearances by Jennifer Aniston, Megan Mullally, Oprah and Steve Martin. Promo below and pictures from the season premiere in the gallery!:

30 Rock premieres on October 30th at 9:30 p.m. on NBC.

So, who is your favorite TV host? There are so many to choose from – what with the morning shows, daytime shows, late-night shows…how could you narrow it down to just one? A new poll has been released, and the results are very telling.

Oprah Winfrey is no longer the queen of the talk show hosts! Ellen came in from the sidelines and has been titled the new champion according to the poll taken by AOL.

The most popular morning host is:

30% Diane Sawyer

26% Matt Lauer

25% Meredith Vieira

10% Robin Roberts

9% Harry Smith

The favorite daytime host is:

46% Ellen DeGeneres

22% Regis Philbin

19% Oprah Winfrey

7% Barbara Walters

5% Martha Stewart

Best late-night host:

41% Jay Leno

34% David Letterman

10% Conan O'Brien

9% Jimmy Kimmel

6% Craig Ferguson

And, the most important, least sexy host of all time:

54% Larry King

25% Whoopi Goldberg

10% Jay Leno

7% Joy Behar

4% Carson Daly

There are more categories, and you can see them all at AOL Television . I would like to add that I am outraged that Stephen Colbert only received 5% of the vote for sexiest. He should have won that category with 99%! I love you Stephen!