Life After Oprah (By: Jordan Stothers)

A quarter of a century: that’s how long the legendary Oprah has had her hit talk show, Oprah. That’s longer than any of us students at the Ridge have even been alive. Twenty-five long, prosperous years full of Dr. Oz health facts, celebrity guests, Christmas giveaways and infamous couch jumpings on the popular Oprah show. Who cares about May 21st? It’s the 25th that’s the real doomsday date, when the final show of Oprah will be aired. For many, Oprah has been a source of inspiration. For us students and our younger siblings, she’s always been there. We’ve grown up in a world where Oprah has been the most powerful celebrity, thanks to her show. You want to win a presidential election? Just get Oprah to back you up, like Barack Obama did. Oprah can do anything. She’s like a superhero in heels and with a camera crew. You’re looking to redo your living room, and just don’t know where to start? Aunt Oprah will give her favourite interior decorator, Nate, and have him swing by with a whole new design. I can’t even remember a time when Oprah wasn’t around, picking books for her influential book club or dominating the list of most influential celebrity, for several years. She has shaped the television world and the real world alike. Everyone wants to be her, or find out that they’re her long lost sister or brother. Whoever says otherwise is a liar. Of course, this doesn’t mean the world has seen the last of Oprah Winfrey. She plans on devoting 100% of her time to her own network, fittingly titled OWN. However, this network doesn’t come free, and if anyone wants to get some quality time with Oprah, they’ll have to make a call to their network provider and chalk up some hard earned cash. Until then, there will be a gapping hole in her time slot, and in many hearts. When the ancient Egypt Pharaoh Ramses died, he had reigned for over ninety years. Egyptians didn’t know what to do with themselves. They thought it was the end of the world. Now it’s history all over again. The public won’t know what to do with themselves from 3-4, every weekday afternoon.