Viewers React to Oprah's Departure Announcement
posted 11/20/09
4:52 pm
Toward the end of her show Friday, Oprah took a moment to let her fans know an era is coming to an end.
"After much prayer and months of careful thought, I have decided that next season, season 25, will be the last season of 'the Oprah Winfrey Show,'" she told her audience.
With those words, her legions of fans learned their days will change. Guest actor Ray Romano referred to its affect on his own mother.
"You having me on this show but also making the announcement, you just made this probably the happiest and saddest show of her whole life. Really? Really?" said Romano.
Elizabeth Shortino has watched Oprah for as long as she can remember. When she was told the news she said, "That's horrible. I love Oprah."
Rumors of retirement from her talk show have circulated before, but Oprah always returned to regular time slot. She offered a tearful thank you to the viewers who made Oprah a name known around the world.
She said, "These years with you, our viewers, have enriched my life beyond all measure, and you all have graciously invited me into your living rooms your kitchens and into your lives."
"I just thought it was something from the media," said viewer Blessing Gomero. "I didn't think it was real that Oprah was no longer going to do her show."
Blessing Gomero grew up in Nigeria but Oprah was her window to America.
"Oprah's show is really entertaining and the topics are very diverse. So I'm going to miss everything about it," said Gomero.
The pain of farewell is not imminent, in the fall of 2011, almost a year and a half away.
"So I hope you will take this 18-month ride with me right through to the final show," said Oprah to her viewers.
But Oprah's not going away. She's launching the Oprah Winfrey Cable Network in 2011, but Friday she said she is retiring because it feels like the right time.
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