Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube
    Nostalgia Central
    Banner
    • Home
    • Blog
      • Lists
      • Playlists
    • Television
      • Shows by Decade
        • 1950s Television
        • 1960s Television
        • 1970s Television
        • 1980s Television
        • 1990s Television
      • Shows by Genre
        • Comedy
        • Drama
        • Kids TV
        • Variety
        • News & Sport
        • Advertisements
      • Shows by Country
        • UK TV
        • USA TV
        • Australia & NZ TV
        • Canada TV
        • Europe TV
        • Japan TV
      • Shows A to K
        • Shows A
        • Shows B
        • Shows C
        • Shows D
        • Shows E
        • Shows F
        • Shows G
        • Shows H
        • Shows I
        • Shows J
        • Shows K
      • Shows L to Z
        • Shows L
        • Shows M
        • Shows N
        • Shows O
        • Shows P
        • Shows Q
        • Shows R
        • Shows S
        • Shows T
        • Shows U
        • Shows V
        • Shows W
        • Shows X
        • Shows Y
        • Shows Z
      • Shows 0 to 9
    • Music
      • Music by Decade
        • 1950s Music
        • 1960s Music
        • 1970s Music
        • 1980s Music
        • 1990s Music
      • Music A to K
        • Music A
        • Music B
        • Music C
        • Music D
        • Music E
        • Music F
        • Music G
        • Music H
        • Music I
        • Music J
        • Music K
      • Music L to Z
        • Music L
        • Music M
        • Music N
        • Music O
        • Music P
        • Music Q
        • Music R
        • Music S
        • Music T
        • Music U
        • Music V
        • Music W
        • Music X
        • Music Y
        • Music Z
      • Music 0 to 9
      • Genres
      • Music on Film & TV
      • One-Hit Wonders
      • Online Radio
    • Movies
      • Movies by Decade
        • 1950s Movies
          • Movies 1950
          • Movies 1951
          • Movies 1952
          • Movies 1953
          • Movies 1954
          • Movies 1955
          • Movies 1956
          • Movies 1957
          • Movies 1958
          • Movies 1959
        • 1960s Movies
          • Movies 1960
          • Movies 1961
          • Movies 1962
          • Movies 1963
          • Movies 1964
          • Movies 1965
          • Movies 1966
          • Movies 1967
          • Movies 1968
          • Movies 1969
        • 1970s Movies
          • Movies 1970
          • Movies 1971
          • Movies 1972
          • Movies 1973
          • Movies 1974
          • Movies 1975
          • Movies 1976
          • Movies 1977
          • Movies 1978
          • Movies 1979
        • 1980s Movies
          • Movies 1980
          • Movies 1981
          • Movies 1982
          • Movies 1983
          • Movies 1984
          • Movies 1985
          • Movies 1986
          • Movies 1987
          • Movies 1988
          • Movies 1989
        • 1990s Movies
          • Movies 1990
          • Movies 1991
          • Movies 1992
          • Movies 1993
          • Movies 1994
          • Movies 1995
          • Movies 1996
          • Movies 1997
          • Movies 1998
          • Movies 1999
      • Movies A to K
        • Movies A
        • Movies B
        • Movies C
        • Movies D
        • Movies E
        • Movies F
        • Movies G
        • Movies H
        • Movies I
        • Movies J
        • Movies K
      • Movies L to Z
        • Movies L
        • Movies M
        • Movies N
        • Movies O
        • Movies P
        • Movies Q
        • Movies R
        • Movies S
        • Movies T
        • Movies U
        • Movies V
        • Movies W
        • Movies X
        • Movies Y
        • Movies Z
      • Movies 0 to 9
    • Pop Culture
      • Fads
      • Toys & Games
      • Fashion
      • Decor
      • Food & Drink
      • People
      • Radio
      • Technology
      • Transport
    • Social History
      • 1950s Year by Year
      • 1960s Year by Year
      • 1970s Year by Year
      • 1980s Year by Year
      • 1990s Year by Year
      • Events
    Nostalgia Central
    Home»Television»Shows by Decade»1980s Television
    1980s Television 1990s Television Shows O Variety 4 Mins Read

    Oprah Winfrey Show, The/Oprah

    Share
    Facebook Twitter Pinterest WhatsApp Reddit Email

    1 9 8 6 – 2 0 1 1 (USA)
    4,561 x 60 minute episodes

    The Oprah Winfrey Show premiered locally in Chicago in 1984 and went national in 1986. She challenged Phil Donahue in major markets around the USA – and won ratings victories in many of these markets – but she did not change the format of the audience participation talk show, which remained essentially as Phil Donahue had established it twenty years before.

    What changed was the cultural dynamics of this kind of show and that in turn was a direct reflection of the person who hosted it.

    The ratings battle that ensued in 1986 was between a black woman raised by a religious grandmother and strict father within the fold of a black church in the South against a white, male, liberal, Catholic Midwesterner who had gone to Notre Dame and been permanently influenced by the women’s movement.

    As Jackie Robinson had broken baseball’s colour barrier four decades earlier, Oprah Winfrey broke the colour line for national television talk show hosts in 1986.

    She became one of the great rags-to-riches stories of the 1980s (by the early 90s People Weekly was proclaiming her “the richest woman in show business” with an estimated worth of $200 million), and as Arsenio Hall and Bob Costas ended their runs on television in the early 1990s, it became clear that Oprah Winfrey had staying power.

    She remained one of the few prominent talk show hosts of the 1980s to survive within the cluttered talk show landscape of the mid-1990s.

    Several factors contributed to this success. For one thing, Winfrey had a smart management team and a huge national marketing campaign to catapult her into competition with Donahue. The national syndication deal had been worked out by Winfrey’ representative, attorney-manager Jeffrey Jacobs, and King World’s marketing plan was a classic one.

    Executives at King World felt the media would pounce on “a war with Donahue” so they created one. The first step was to send tapes of Oprah’s shows to “focus groups” in several localities to see how they responded. The results were positive. The next step was to show tapes to selected small network alliance stations under a single owner. These groups would be offered exclusive broadcast rights.

    As the reactions began to come in, King World adjusted its tactics. Rather than making blanket offers, they decided to open separate negotiations in each city and market.

    The gamble paid off. Winfrey’s track record proved her a “hot enough commodity” to win better deals through individual station negotiation.

    To launch Winfrey on the air King World kicked off a major advertising campaign. Media publications trumpeted Oprah’s ratings victories over Donahue in Baltimore and Chicago.

    The “Donahue-buster” strategy was tempered by Winfrey herself, who worked hard not to appear too arrogant or conceited.

    When asked about head-on competition with Donahue she replied that in a majority of markets she did not compete with him directly and that while Donahue would certainly remain “the king,” she just wanted to be “a part of the monarchy.”

    By the time The Oprah Winfrey Show went national in September of 1986, it had been signed by over 180 stations – less than Donahue’s 200-plus but approaching that number.

    oprahCultural issues also featured prominently in Winfrey’s campaign. Winfrey’s role as talk show host was inseparable from her identity as an African American woman.

    Her African American heritage and roots surfaced frequently in press accounts.

    One critic described her in a 1986 Spy magazine article as “capaciously built, black, and extremely noisy.”

    These and other comments on her “black” style were not lost on Winfrey. She confronted the issue of race constantly and was very conscious of her image as an African American role model.

    When a USA Today reporter queried Winfrey bluntly about the issue of race in August of 1986, asking her “as someone who is not pencil-thin, white, nor blonde,” how she was “transcending barriers that have hindered many in television,” Winfrey replied as follows:

    “I’ve been able to do it because my race and gender have never been an issue for me. I’ve been blessed in knowing who I am, and I am a part of a great legacy. I’ve crossed over on the backs of Sojourner Truth, and Harriet Tubman, and Fannie Lou Hamer, and Madam C.J. Walker. Because of them I can now soar. Because of them I can now live the dream”

    The final episode of The Oprah Winfrey Show aired in the USA on Wednesday 25 May 2011. It was preceded by a two-part farewell special recorded at the United Center in Chicago in front of an audience of 13,000.

    The two-part show featured appearances by Aretha Franklin, Tom Cruise, Stevie Wonder, Beyoncé, Tom Hanks, Maria Shriver, Will Smith, and Madonna.

    Related Posts

    • Judy Garland Show, The
      Judy Garland Show, The
      1 9 6 3 - 1 9 6 4 (USA) 26 x 60 minute episodes CBS had high hopes for…
    • RCA Victor Show, The
      RCA Victor Show, The
      1 9 5 1 - 1 9 5 4 (USA) When The RCA Victor Show premiered, its sole star was singer…
    • D.C. Follies
      D.C. Follies
      1 9 8 7 - 1 9 8 9 (USA) 73 x 30 minute episodes This syndicated comedy series from the…
    • Daffy Duck Show, The
      Daffy Duck Show, The
      1 9 7 8 - 1 9 8 2 (USA) Loud, lisping Daffy Duck, the perpetual second banana in the long-running…
    • Twenty-One 
      Twenty-One 
      1 9 5 6 - 1 9 5 8 (USA) This highly popular big-money quiz show based on the card…
    • Sammy Kaye Show, The
      Sammy Kaye Show, The
      1 9 5 0 - 1 9 5 9 (USA) Bandleader Sammy Kaye first brought his swing-and-sway music to television in…
    • Tic Tac Dough
      Tic Tac Dough
      1 9 5 6  - 1 9 5 9 (USA) 1 9 9 0 (USA) The format of this nighttime quiz show…
    • If It’s Saturday, It Must Be Nimmo
      If It’s Saturday, It Must Be Nimmo
      1 9 7 0 (UK) 9 x 30 minute episodes After Simon Dee’s defection to London Weekend Television, it was a…

    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest WhatsApp Reddit Email
    Previous ArticleOpen University
    Next Article People’s Court, The

    Comments are closed.

    Can you help?
    Nostalgia Central has been a labour of love for me since 1998. The site carries no advertising, and I rely on donations to help with the running costs of the site and ensure I can keep Nostalgia Central running for your entertainment and education.

    If you find the site informative or enjoyable, please consider a donation – no matter how small.


    Thank you so much, and please enjoy your trip in the time machine!
    Follow us
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • YouTube
    You May Also Like
    • Tyrant King, The
      1 9 6 8 (UK) 6 x 30 minute episodes This long-forgotten Thames […]
    • Cannonball Run II (1984)
      So successful was The Cannonball Run (1981) with its all-star […]
    • Night Watch (1973)
      Ellen Wheeler (Elizabeth Taylor) is a troubled woman struggling […]
    • Ken Dodd and The Diddymen
      1 9 6 9 – 1 9 7 2 (UK) 28 x 10 minute episodes After […]
    • Icicle Works, The
      The Icicle Works formed in Liverpool in 1980 when bassist Chris […]
    • Night We Dropped a Clanger, The (1959)
      When German V1 rockets start to fall on England, Air Vice […]
    Comments Box SVG iconsUsed for the like, share, comment, and reaction icons

    OUR LATEST FACEBOOK POSTS

    Cant see this doll being reintroduced any time soon 😳

    Can't see this doll being reintroduced any time soon 😳 ... See MoreSee Less

    23 hours ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 3
    • Shares: 1
    • Comments: 1

    Comment on Facebook

    Sadistic and child abuse.

    This is very sad news. Jack Lee was a great unsung hero of the power pop world, and The Nerves were a great band that also featured Peter Case (who went on to bigger things with The Plimsouls) and Paul Collins (who headed up his own successful power pop band, The Beat).

    ... See MoreSee Less

    Link thumbnail

    Jack Lee, Nerves Singer and Writer of Blondie Hit ‘Hanging on the Telephone,’ Dies at 71

    variety.com

    Jack Lee, who co-fronted the influential L.A. band the Nerves in the late 1970s and saw his songs turn into major hits for Blondie and Paul Young, died May 26 in Santa Monica, Calif. at age 71. His…
    1 day ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 4
    • Shares: 9
    • Comments: 1

    Comment on Facebook

    😔

    Vale Cynthia Weil. One of the greatest songwriters of the 20th century. 

https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/songwriter-cynthia-weil-death-music-b2350742.html

    Vale Cynthia Weil. One of the greatest songwriters of the 20th century.

    www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/songwriter-cynthia-weil-death-music-b2350742....
    ... See MoreSee Less

    3 days ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 1
    • Shares: 0
    • Comments: 0

    Comment on Facebook

    Happy 81st to Anita Harris 🫶

    Happy 81st to Anita Harris 🫶Happy 81st Birthday to Anita Harris, born 3rd June 1942 in Somerset, England. She is an all round entertainer, singer/dancer/actress.
    As a child she was a keen ice skater, and just before her 16th birthday she was talent spotted and invited to join a dance troupe and headed for Las Vegas, performing 3 shows a night. She stayed 6 months.

    While she enjoyed dancing, singing was always her first love. Upon returning to England she joined the Cliff Adams Singers and was with them for 3 years. In 1961 she made her first recordings with the John Barry Seven. Possibly two of her best known recordings are 'Just Loving You' and 'We're Going on a Tuppenny Bus Ride'.

    In the 1960's She appeared in a two 'Carry On' films. On TV in the 70's among other things she was on David Nixon's Magic Box for 8 years as his assistant. She continued working on stage and screen with entertainment legends – everyone from Bob Monkhouse and Tommy Cooper to Bruce Forsyth, Morecambe and Wise and Harry Secombe. In 1986 she made her debut in 'legitimate theatre' playing Grizabella in the West End production of Cats.
    Today she continues to perform on stage and in cabaret with her band. You can hear her recordings on
    serenade-radio.com the Best in Easy Listening.
    ... See MoreSee Less

    5 days ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 11
    • Shares: 0
    • Comments: 0

    Comment on Facebook

    ... See MoreSee Less

    7 days ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 4
    • Shares: 1
    • Comments: 2

    Comment on Facebook

    I remember using whatever one was cherry-flavoured.

    It was Dr Mopp for me.

    www.raleigh.co.uk/gb/en/look-whos-back/ ... See MoreSee Less

    Link thumbnail

    Look whos back | Raleigh UK

    www.raleigh.co.uk

    They will be available to buy online and at Raleigh Bikes Nottingham. The online sale will have a virtual queuing system in place and at Raleigh Bikes Nottingham there will be a queueing system outsid...
    7 days ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 5
    • Shares: 0
    • Comments: 0

    Comment on Facebook

    FIREBALL XL-5 begins this Saturday, 3rd June at 2:35pm on #TalkingPicturesTV So here's five fascinating facts about the Gerry Anderson's 'Supermarionation' programme!
    1 - The series was inspired by the 'space race' between the USSR and the USA. 2 - 39 episodes were made in black and white. 3 - The series premiered on ATV London in October 1962. 4 - The voice of Steve Zodiac was provided by actor Paul Maxwell. 5 - The famous theme song was sung by Don Spencer.
    ... See MoreSee Less

    1 week ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 8
    • Shares: 3
    • Comments: 0

    Comment on Facebook

    www.theguardian.com/music/2023/may/31/bruce-springsteen-review-murrayfield-stadium-edinburgh

    That's why they call him "The Boss".
    ... See MoreSee Less

    Link thumbnail

    Bruce Springsteen review – after half a century, still having the time of his life

    www.theguardian.com

    Springsteen and the E Street Band feel like a bar band that can’t believe their luck to be playing a stadium – and the enthusiasm is infectious
    1 week ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 0
    • Shares: 0
    • Comments: 0

    Comment on Facebook

    Sad news. We wish her well 🤗

    ... See MoreSee Less

    Link thumbnail

    Dame Esther Rantzen says her lung cancer is in stage four

    www.bbc.co.uk

    The TV presenter and Childline founder says she is on a new form of medication for the disease.
    2 weeks ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 3
    • Shares: 0
    • Comments: 3

    Comment on Facebook

    Oh no 😢 in my prayers Esther xxx

    Didn’t she want to put the unvaccinated into camps during lockdown…

    That’s not cool 😞

    Another great voice has left us 😪

    ... See MoreSee Less

    Link thumbnail

    Tina Turner: Music legend dies at 83

    www.bbc.co.uk

    Her unmistakable voice on hits like The Best and What's Love Got to Do With It made her a superstar.
    2 weeks ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 7
    • Shares: 1
    • Comments: 2

    Comment on Facebook

    I found out on tiktok before I saw it on any news channels..

    Load more
    Please note


    Nostalgia Central covers the period 1950 to 1999 and contains some words and references which reflect the attitudes of those times and which may be considered culturally sensitive, offensive or inappropriate today.
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • YouTube
    Search Nostalgia Central
    Tag Cloud
    Action Figures Amicus Arcade games Australia Beach movies Beatles Blaxploitation Board games British Invasion Britpop Canada Cold War Crime Disco Disney Doo-Wop Elvis Presley Girl groups Glam Goth Hammer Heavy Metal Irwin Allen Kraütrock Labels Merseybeat Mod revival Motown New Romantic New Wave NWOBHM Oi! One-hit wonders Politics Power Pop Prog rock Pub rock Punk Radio Scotland Ska Soul music Sport Surf music Video games
    Copyright © 1998, 2023 Nostalgia Central. Run by volunteers. Funded by donations.
    • About Nostalgia Central
    • Contact
    • FAQ

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.