Oprah
Tell-all interviews usually reek of sex. Mostly adulterous, always complicated, sometimes violent and just like an old-school western – with the “goodie” and “baddie” laid out plain for all to see.
Tragedy, celebrity, victory, great wealth or misfortunes get a look in too. Ditto multiple childbirth, homosexual offspring and gender transformation surgery.
They’re trashy, melodramatic, addictive and moving. They can be tragic. But the best tell-alls give us something else as well.
Continue reading "Landmark interviews that changed the game" »
So US tourist numbers are down since Oprah’s “Down Under” fire sale of our national dignity and the much-wished-for Oprah cash has failed to materialise.
The idea of letting a foreign talk show host turn our country into giant television studios smelt dodgy from the start, but after yesterday’s revelations, it stinks.
The news yesterday that US visitor numbers have dropped by 0.8 per cent in the last year just leaves you wondering how this ever got so out of hand.
Continue reading "Why the bloody hell was Oprah here anyway?" »
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andy says:
@Tubesteak - Oh dear, tubey. Where have you been going? No wine bars? *facepalm* I am no wine drinker but Vini, Love Tilly Devine, Bentley Bar, The Winery… those are just some I can quickly think of that are about 5 minutes walk from each other. The small “melbourne style”… Read more »
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RyaN says:
Just in case you were a bit slow on the Ali G part, I am ridiculing you on the pathetic over sensitivity of being black and feeling like you are being treated differently, having traveled the world its a given that people will treat you differently from wherever you come… Read more »
“She deserves to be here,” sobbed Dani, with her big puppy dog eyes and glossy black hair.
What a tragedy. Cleo, one of the most popular chefs in the Masterchef kitchen, had ignored the rules to prepare both her toffee dish and her chocolate ganache at the same time. Her elimination was inevitable. Her dream was over.
And we all sniffled too, as the ever-stoic Cleo departed the Masterchef kitchen and returned home to her miniature poodles. Ad break. News headlines. Oprah.
Continue reading "Save your empathy for real people with real problems" »
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BoyleMariana says:
That is known that cash can make people free. But how to act if someone does not have money? The one way is to receive the loans or collateral loan. Read more »
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Rod Blaine says:
> “shoved out of sight to Malaysia, where they might be whipped and beaten” This article falls into the same loop that 99% of pro-asylum-seeker arguments fall into, ie, of trying to make two conflicting arguments simultaneously: (a) “Australians are racist and xenophobic because we pride ourselves on our tolerance… Read more »
Welcome to this week’s episode of I Call Bullshit. Today we’re going to look at Oprah. Oprah Winfrey is the sort of mega-star who often leaves people breathless. With wide-eyed adoration, gasping sycophancy, or cynical shock that she is indeed such a mega star.
She is worth gazillions, and her passing endorsement of any old product is worth millions, even billions. Her gift is that people dwell on her every word. But is she full of pearls of wisdom, or is she full of the proverbial? Let’s look at some of her more famous quotes.
I know for sure that what we dwell on is who we become.
Utter tosh. I am not becoming a crispy-topped piece of melt-in-your-mouth pork belly.
Continue reading "ICB: Oprah Winfrey. Woman of wise words or woo-woo?" »
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fox says:
Funny you should mention that, Oprah was called out for doing exactly that, ie pretending SHE was giving out free cars, when it turned out later that it was the car company doing so, and that each recipient still had to fork out thousands of dollars before they could get… Read more »
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St. Michael says:
@ Kassandra: not every person who peddles dangerous woo has the reputation that Oprah has for objectivity, which is what makes her peddling that much more effective and that much more dangerous. Nor does every person who peddles dangerous woo have the sort of apparent hold over her followers commensurate… Read more »
Did someone say “Oprah”? No? Are you sure? I could’ve sworn I heard someone say “Oprah”.
Over the past few weeks the Talk Show Queen’s name has been noticeably absent from the nation’s media – which probably has something to do with the fact we were quite preoccupied with devastating floods, rampaging cyclones and horrific fires.
Those Oprah-filled days seem so far away now – almost dream-like.
Continue reading "When Oprah runs the world, we’ll all get free Audis!" »
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VINCENTJOANNE35 says:
The loans are very useful for people, which would like to start their organization. As a fact, this is comfortable to receive a secured loan. Read more »
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chris says:
Who or what is a “Stedman”? Read more »
This week, we have seen two incredible women on television who have both made us feel proud to be Australian.
One is Anna Bligh, with her outpouring of emotion, reminding Queenslanders and the rest of the nation that people from the sunshine state are “the people they breed tough, north of the border.” The other is Oprah.Yes, Oprah.
In Sydney, we are struggling to harness a sense of pride.
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Wilma J Craig says:
Come off it,Kristy! Anna Bligh, if she was genuine & not just pulling an early election stunt to make her & her government look good, appeared to be a decent, humane & caring politician (A Novelty). Oprah? She came here at great expense to Australian TaxPayers. She is, let’s face… Read more »
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OchreBunyip says:
If an American talk-show host is needed to salvage Sydney’s pride then the city is in worse shape than I thought. Read more »
We’re approaching the day where after a month of rampant, random consumerism, and with the humility that only a major hangover brings, people make their New Year’s resolutions. Bad idea.
All you end up with is nicotine withdrawal for a few days, a gym membership you have to pay $5000 to get out of, and a fridge full of rotting “superfoods”.
So what I propose for this year is a more modest approach to becoming a better person: rather than worrying about reaching for a whole lot of unattainable virtues, let’s all just try not being such arseholes.
Continue reading "Don’t be a wanker: an honest guide to living better" »
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Jay says:
1) Whingers who run to the council to complain about neighbours without even trying a face to face with the neighbour 2)Self congratulory morons who gloat on internet sites how they dobbed in the neighbour behind his/her back (hey big man…) 3)Same morons who complain in the next breath about… Read more »
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Oprah Winfrey (depending on which figures you believe) has anywhere between 25 and 45 million people tuning in every week to watch her uplifting combination of positive thinking and self-acceptance.
This “Oprah Movement” love Oprah and they hang on her every word – if Oprah says Australia is a nice place then somewhere between 25 and 45 million people are going to believe it.
That is why Julia is so keen to be on the show and give Oprah a warm Prime Ministerial hug.
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simon says:
It’s funny that Brett expresses concern about American influence on Australia, but uses the American spelling of ‘summarise’ in the fifth paragraph… Read more »
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cRook says:
My mother bought The Secret. She thought it would help her get out of financial difficulty. Unfortunately, thinking positive thoughts did not stop her shopping, and she is now bankrupt. From another side, my ex told me that my only problem was that I was negative and all I had… Read more »
Hi. Sorry I’m late. Just back from the McCafe. Been hanging out there since really early this morning because, as Oprah’s American audience learned yesterday in a McDonald’s-sponsored segment, that’s what we Aussies do. All the time.
Lucky she reminded me about these “hip hangouts” really. There I was, about to buy a rack of spring lamb for dinner, and a beautiful fresh tray of Bowen mangoes for the fruit bowl, when bing! I remembered that in fact, what I actually craved, on a deeply-ingrained cultural level, was in fact that most Australian of treats, the American Choc Brownie Slice ™.
Or I don’t know, maybe some Cookies and Cream Cheesecake washed down with a caramel latte frappe, a beverage which demonstrates beyond question our love of a classic, untainted, good quality cup of real coffee.
Continue reading "G’day from the McCafe…. Have a nice day!" »
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Kathine Grant says:
You know this could have been an interesting comment if only you had left out the personal and spiteful bits. Read more »
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Mike says:
I dunno Antony. The Caramel Latte Frappes are pretty bloody amazing! Read more »
Dearest Oprah, can we start by saying: ohmygod ohmygod ohmyGOD.
We can’t thank you enough for getting us out of the little marketing pickle we have found ourselves in ever since the Lara Bingle Where-the-Bloody-Hell-Are-You business (yes, what were we thinking?). For your enjoyment we have enclosed some photos from inside our marketing department from the moment we heard the news that you have decided to shoot your first ever overseas show in Sydney. As you can see, there was quite the excitement.
A few more pictures follow. We will of course have a full itinerary ready by the time you arrive but now that we’re locked in there are a few preliminary things you might want to think about that we’ve listed below.
Continue reading "A thank-you note to Oprah from Tourism Australia" »
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Uh Huh says:
Do nothing. When the exchange rate favours them instead of us, they’ll come. Meanwhile, we save money. Read more »
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Sean Williams says:
Come on Aussies, admit it, you’re all secretly bursting with pride over this - even those who claim to be against it. Never underestimate the power of the collective Australian orgasm whenever the world (especially America) pays it the slightest bit attention (even if sometimes they’re confusing it with Austria).… Read more »
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