As for being the arbiter of culture, I know lots of arrogant people who would love to be able to dictate what everyone should think and how everyone should acts, but those people aren’t actually very influential at all. The difference between those people and Oprah is that people liked Oprah enough to watch her shows, and they respected her enough to listen to her opinions. Nobody can lead the people if the people aren’t willing to follow.

When it comes to trashing up talk shows, I can tell you that I used to watch ALL of the talk shows back then (I was obsessed with them), and Geraldo was the first show to get screaming people on. It was so shocking that his show made the news, and his ratings shot up. Soon after that, all the other talk shows followed. (It’s a business, and like most businesses, they follow the money, and trash-TV was where the money was. Now the money is in reality-shows.) The reason why Oprah’s show is still around, though, is that she decided that instead of stirring up arguments, she would try to be inspiring and helpful, so she changed the format of her show. I actually remember the first show of the first season that they did this “Change Your Life” format.

James Frey isn’t Oprah’s creation. He’s a guy who wrote a book with a “I can’t believe it” story, said that it was true, got a publisher to publish it (they’re the ones who are supposed to check the facts), and developed some media connections that allowed him to get on the show to promote his book. Lots of writers have been on the show to promote their books. She doesn’t “create” these people. She just gives them a platform to promote their products. That’s what talk shows do.

(And I just have to say as a side note to Patricia. Just because somebody has money doesn’t mean that they have to give it to you. And just because she helps people doesn’t mean that she has to help every single person in the world. Nobody can do that anyhow. That woman has helped thousands of people and because you want a new house and a van you suddenly declare that she’s a fraud. I’m not trying to offend you, but you’re sounding like a spoiled child. If you had spent the last 5 years trying to figure out how to make money, perhaps online, rather than writing Oprah and demanding that she buy things for you, you’d probably have a new house and/ or van by now.)

Excessive feelings of self-importance

Has a grandiose sense of self-importance (e.g., exaggerates achievements and talents, expects to be recognized as superior without commensurate achievements)

Exaggerated personal achievements and abilities

Is preoccupied with fantasies of unlimited success, power, brilliance, beauty, or ideal love, with power, wealth, beauty, personal abilities, or success

Shows arrogant, haughty behaviors or attitudes.

Believes that he or she is “special” and unique and can only be understood by, or should associate with, other special or high-status people (or institutions)

An expectation to be seen as superior without cause

Requires excessive admiration

A demand for favorable treatment without appropriate reasons
an insiststance on being the object of admiration and attention.

Has a sense of entitlement, i.e. unreasonable expectations of especially favorable treatment or automatic compliance with his or her expectations

Is interpersonally exploitative (i.e. takes advantage of others to achieve his or her own ends)

lacks empathy, i.e. is unwilling to recognize or identify with the feelings and needs of others

(Before anyone says Oprah is so compassionate, excuse me, Oprah is compassionate when she wants to be. She pretends to not understand the most obvious things, like addiction (even though she can’t stop eating!!!)

Is often envious of others or believes that others are envious of him or her

From the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th Edition. American Psychiatric Association, 1994.

All of her good deed are self-gratifying and supposed to show how wonderful and generous she is and really have nothing to do with doing good for the sake of doing so.

Oprah is most concerned with continuing to convince the world and herself with how great she is. You have to live with this type of narcissism to understand how it works. That’s why Frey, when he dared to cast any negative light on Oprah by being and addict who lies (um, excuse me, that’s what addicts do), she had to bring him down to his knees. Publically.

do they know where their ads are?

Thank god for that. This is a country where people - women especially - like to prattle on endlessly about their precious feelings, their childhoods, and how everything in the world is about them. Oprah is responsible for mainstreaming narcissism, and unless we reject her we’re going to decay as a culture.

I’m glad there are people like Jeff who aren’t afraid to stand up to the monster of daytime TV.

Second, why do you have such a chip on your shoulder about this woman? Really?

Third and finally, Oprah works because she is extremely open about everything, including her personal flaws and strengths. We could use a lot more openness in the country like that — emotionally honest, thorough, and vulnerable. This is not a country where people — men especially — like to talk about their personal lives, and it is killing us by inches, in heart attacks, violent crime, and subtle neglect.

How do you think you’d come across up on that stage on national television every day at 4? Do you think your support for CNN will lead to superior programming for America than what we get from Harpo Productions?

I hope James Frey can find the inner strength to take care of himself.

Anyone who has any type of addict in their family or life, knows they do not always perceive things as they really are nor do they tell the truth. They are in constant strife to not con themselves and those around them. Any publisher or experienced talk show host should know that simple little truth to addiction. They have really exposed themselves as ignorant and shallow.

I wonder what changed in the underlying message that Oprah had supported. Is the book still not about redeeming oneself from addiction?

And I do hope that Oprah’s little scene will not cost Mr. Frey his sobriety, which means life or death. I don’t really think her “reputation for the truth” is worth that. Really, could Oprah not have issued a statement that was not so vindictive? Apparently she wanted to draw blood. She did. She will be responsible for that as well.

But let’s keep talking about the irrelevant and diversionary echo chamber of the entertainment world complete with self-important hacks motivated by nothing other than selling the products that they themsevlves are.