oprah, our friendship has taken 2 steps back

so i got to see oprah's latest creation, "oprah's big give", and i have to say it's a little silly.  she has taken the act of generosity and made it into a tv show.  its as if she had been watching all the reality tv that's out there and said to herself one day, "self, what if i took my billions of dollars and started a reality show that really made a difference." 

i got news for you oprah, we don't watch reality tv cause we want to see it make a difference - it's entertainment!  besides people being generous loses it edge when it's made into a competition and then "rated" by judges...judges that are looking for "tears, emotion and response" from those who recieve the "big give".

not to mention the show lacks creativity.  i mean she has the typical celebrity judges plus on english dude - haven't we seen that one before!  plus the strange way they sit before the judges as a group, all clapping for one another and then blamo, your enevelope is empty - you didn't make people cry, so you gotta go home!!

but i'm not the only one with a critical eye for oprah's new show - read about it here.

Comments

[Nick Plassman]

Well, I do agree that this show is a little awkward even though I enjoyed it, though I also disagree with you:

"i got news for you oprah, we don't watch reality tv cause we want to see it make a difference - it's entertainment!"

Have you ever seen Extreme Home Makeover? I don't think I watch that show for any other reason than seeing the difference that is made in the family. That show not only brings that as its premise, but has inspired countless people across the country to do similar things in their own communities.

So, Oprah, you do need to consider the judging process, including the judges themselves (no reason these people are the judges - Why not a Kirsten Strand type person that is making a huge difference?) and the Judging paramaters, tears, celebrity connections, difference in need...

[Jenn]

I got a kick out of the review on MSNBC (link below) - particularly the comparison to the short-lived "Three Wishes" with Amy Grant. I'm big on presentation, but to basically give demerits because the Marines weren't invited a Big Presentation was a bit much. A better title might be "Oprah's Sponsors Big Give."
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23447154

[metcalf]

nick - you're right, i thought about extreme home makeover too. but sometimes i get a little ishy about that show as well. at least there's no judging about people's emotional response to the work that gets done - but even that show's a little wierd, because it centers so much on the biggest houses ever - way impractical. and i think communicates that square footage of a house makes you valuable.

jenn - i agree with the tribune article and your title is perfect!