When Oprah talks people listen. They have listened for a quarter of a century. Oprah can make books bestsellers, can create careers for the experts she features and pretty much has the Midas marketing touch. The New York Times recently described people clamoring for the few unbooked spots on her show this season, her final “Farewell Season". I am an Oprah fan; my DVR is crowded with the shows I record daily. Any viewer can sense the ante has been upped this year. Audience members are going to Australia and driving home Volkswagens. Even celebrities seem to be stopping by for one last chance to talk to O and promote their work. Yet in all of this excitement, something we expect from Oprah has been disregarded. It seems Oprah has already said farewell to health.
Over the years, we’re watched Oprah run a marathon, venture into veganism and get into a whole lot oh hot water when she questioned the safety of our beef. Viewers have related to Oprah because despite the chef and the trainer when it came to weight and food, Oprah was one of us. Oprah can go camping on her show but who really thinks she is doing that when the cameras aren’t rolling? And while I loved my first Jetta (and was sad when I crashed it), I don’t think O is driving one. Weight and food is different, Oprah’s weight fluctuates and so we really feel she means what she’s saying when she talks about it.
Last week Oprah’s favorite things aired. Unfortunately this is product placement at its best. For companies and audience members this was the final and "ultimate" favorite things and the gifts were major. There were diamonds and I pads, cashmere and cruises and there was food…if you would call it that. Oprah, with millions or billions watching, eagerly praised pails of popcorn, she commended croissants and mentioned to moms that this certain mac and cheese was the perfect family dinner on a busy night. While I am all for the special splurge, I felt I was watching an opportunity pass. Oprah could have thrown in her favorite fruit delivery, post workout snack, she could have said something to the effect of “we all know you can’t eat mac and cheese every day” nothing.
Everyone is entitled to a mistake; even Oprah isn’t perfect. I kept my DVR taping and continued to loyally watch O’s shows. Yesterday, Oprah hosted Nicole Kidman and her country music husband Keith Urban. It wasn’t the best show. It was a little bit of a mish mosh as Oprah was really talking up her upcoming Australia visit. Oprah chatted with Keith about rehab, to Nicole about motherhood (let’s not forget “Nic” has 2 teenage children, she was a mother before Sunday Rose), she gave away one last ticket on the Australia trip and then it happened.
Oprah was talking about the great food in Sydney and she selected the apex of Aussie cuisine none other than... McDonalds. Yes, in an embarrassing nod to one of her Sydney sponsors she presented Australia’s Mc Donalds as different from the United States versions. They then cued waiters to bring her audience McDonalds wraps and smoothies (I wrote about these smoothies in case you’re curious). Plus, there’s more! Every person on the Australia trip got a gift card. God forbid Americans leave their fast food habits at home; they can now eat McDonalds for free down under. Oprah took a bite of her wrap and it was all I could do not to cry on my comforter.
The season isn’t over. I’m holding out hope that Michael Pollan will come back or maybe Dr Weil. Oprah always seems to have a soft spot for kids perhaps Jamie Oliver will be on pushing parents to cook more. Hey, I’m not too shabby. I can put on a pretty dress and tell Oprah about my favorite food and fitness finds too. I just hope Oprah doesn’t forget about the other “O” in this country obesity and that she hasn’t said farewell to health.
Did you watch either of these shows? Do you O has missed the boat or am I overreacting? Who would you like to see Oprah have on to redirect this junk food train?
Did you watch either of these shows? Do you O has missed the boat or am I overreacting? Who would you like to see Oprah have on to redirect this junk food train?
Agreed! I admit to being an Oprah-acolyte. My relationship with her has been one of the longest and most stable in my life. Part of the reason I love her so is that her weight/food issues are so familiar to me. But she totally missed the boat with the McDonald's thing on the Keith Urban show. I was grossed out when she handed out those wraps, and the smoothie shout-out reminded me of you.
ReplyDeleteI'll admit that I send those W-S croissants to people as holiday gifts, but that's a once-a-year indulgence. There were too many food items in the Favorite Things episodes, and none healthy. Sure, highlight the croissants, but then also highlight some of the glorious pears from Harry and David, perhaps.
I watched the episode and I was really "put off" when the McDonald's piece was discussed. In my opinion, from a healthy food choice POV, Oprah and her folks weren't being very mindful.
ReplyDeleteAs an optimist I want to think that maybe, somehow, just maybe, the folks at, "The Ronald McDonald House" will benefit from the $ that people choose to spend at McDonald's.
C. Petroski
I lived in Australia for 4 years and am disgusted that McDonalds is what she came up with. When I lived down under in 1998 they were so ahead of us in eating organic, farm fresh, sustainable food. I could write a book about the wonderful foods I discovered in Australia. I had a mango tree outside my apartment and enjoyed fresh smooties and became a mango addict. Also, my elderly neighbor enjoyed fishing and would bring me fresh barramunda every weekend. Aussie also enjoy a great outdoor life style (and are extremely safe sun conscious). All 16 of my American classmates lost weight when we lived there. Unfortunately, my Australian friends tell me that they are headed in the same direction as us..the are the #2 fattest country, probably thanks to our influence. Also, when I lived there we ate Fish and Chips, but the fish was great and so fresh and considered a real treat. Shame on Oprah for highlighting Australia's McDonald when there is so much more to my adopted country.
ReplyDeleteGreat comments. Marie- lol that Oprah is your longest relationship to date (mine too!). Catherine, love seeing the bright side though I wish I could give to Ronald McDonald house and help our obese/diabetic country. Melanie, write to Oprah, tell her about the Aussie food.
ReplyDeleteI quit watch her 2yrs or more ago ... I just couldn't take it anymore. The show that got me was went she said "What's a Cosco? People shop in bulk?" Give me a break she wasn't always rich and at one time she cooked her own meals, did her laundry and cleaned house. UGH
ReplyDeleteBeing a person that struggles with making the right food choices by the minutes, I would think that Oprah would want to promote something healthy on her show. Not that she needs the money, but why in the world would she be plugging MCD's unless there was a payout? My kids have never eaten there, and hopefully will keep that up as they become more independent. If you watch "Supersize Me" it's enough to make you sick.
ReplyDeleteI didn't see the Australia episode, but did see the two Favorite Things shows and I hate to say that I disagree a bit with you. I think that we should all be allowed to indulge to have "favorite things" that are less than stellar in the health department. Obviously, we do not want our diets to consist of these nutritionally void items, but from time to time, I think we should scarf mac and cheese and kick off the lid to the popcorn... Perhaps Oprah should have said something along these lines to qualify her choices (like "once in a blue moon, a croissant tastes delicious...") but I kind of got that message without her saying it explicitly. All of this is coming from a pregnant soul who is about to cry about her weight gain (and email you!) so take it for what it's worth :)
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