Oprah_ A Biography - Kitty Kelley [244]
Despite a setback in her show’s ratings, a dip in her magazine’s circulation, and a couple of chinks in the armor of her public image, Oprah remains the most influential woman of her generation. She has always lived on the ascent, and even as she ages, she continues aiming upward.
She has dominated her era by reaching uncommon and unexpected heights, and in doing so, she has become an icon, especially to women. For she has broken through all the barriers that once held them back, and her life story inspires others because she has never stopped pushing ahead. She has remained driven, and in all likelihood will continue to remain so to the end of her days because she has always embraced the poetry of Robert Browning, who wrote that “a man’s reach should exceed his grasp, or what’s a heaven for?”
Some Oprah Credits, 1984–2009
OPRAH AS ACTOR/PERFORMER/INTERVIEWER/NARRATOR/HOST, TV AND MOVIES, 1984–2009
A.M. Chicago (1984–1985, Chicago WLS-TV, local daytime talk show, premiered 1/2/84), host
Survival: Everything to Live For (according to McCall’s in August 1987, Oprah had in her office an Emmy for this special on teenage suicide)
When the School Bell Rings (1984, Chicago WLS-TV, children’s program), host
The Oprah Winfrey Show (1985–1986, Chicago WLS-TV, local daytime talk show, successor to A.M. Chicago, premiered 9/30/85), host
The Color Purple (1985, theatrical release; available on DVD), Sofia
Saturday Night Live (1986, NBC, comedy, episode originally aired 4/12/86), guest host
Native Son (1986, theatrical release), Mrs. Thomas
Throw Momma from the Train (1987, theatrical release, comedy, available on DVD), herself
Chicago Grapevine (1987, ABC, pilot for sitcom taped in April 1987, rejected in June 1987, never seen publicly), starring role as talk show host
Star-Spangled Celebration (1987, ABC, prime-time special, originally aired 7/4/87), cohost with Robert Urich
Dolly (1987, ABC, first episode of Dolly Parton’s second variety TV show, originally aired 9/27/87), singing
Pee-Wee’s Playhouse Christmas Special (1988, CBS, prime-time special, originally aired 12/21/88; available on DVD), herself
America’s All-Star Tribute to Oprah Winfrey (1990, ABC, prime-time special, originally aired 9/18/90), recipient of America’s Hope Award from Bob Hope
Gabriel’s Fire (1990, ABC, “ ’Tis the Season” episode of James Earl Jones’s dramatic series, originally aired 12/20/90), talk show host
Scared Silent (1992, NBC, CBS, PBS, documentary, originally aired 9/4/92; aired on ABC 9/6/92), host
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1992, NBC, “A Night at the Oprah” episode of Quincy Jones–produced comedy series, originally aired 11/9/92), herself
Lincoln (1992, ABC, documentary, originally aired 12/26 and 12/27/92), voice of Elizabeth Keckley
Learning Not to Hurt (1993, ABC, Afterschool Special, discussion, originally aired 5/27/93), introduction
All-American Girl (1995, ABC, “A Night at the Oprah” episode of Margaret Cho comedy series, originally aired 2/14/95), herself
America’s Top Story (1995, Hearst Broadcasting, town meeting/discussion, originally aired 10/1/95), host
The 68th Annual Academy Awards (ABC, producer Quincy Jones, aired 3/25/96), official greeter on the red carpet
About Us: The Dignity of Children (1997, ABC, prime-time documentary, co–executive producer Jeff Jacobs, Children’s Dignity Project), host
Ellen (1997, ABC, parts 1 and 2 of “The Puppy Episode” of comedy series, originally aired 4/30/97; available on DVD, Ellen Season 4), Ellen’s therapist
Our Friend Martin (1999, Starz!, animated educational film; available on DVD), voice of Coretta Scott King
Home Improvement (1999, ABC, “Home Alone” episode of comedy series, originally aired 1/19/99), herself
The Hughleys (1999, ABC, “Milsap Moves Up” episode of comedy series, originally aired 10/1/99), herself
Bette (2000, CBS, “Two Days at a Time” episode of Bette Midler comedy series, originally