Oprah Celebrates 40 Years of The Oprah Winfrey Show

This episode of the Oprah podcast is. presented by our partner Geico. >> I'm Oprah Winfrey and welcome to the. very FIRST NATIONAL OPRAH WINFREY SHOW. >> And I have to say my life changed in. ways I couldn't even imagine. Here's a. look at how it all started. >> Hi there. My name is Oprah Winfrey.

Oprah, spelled O P R A H. And if you. noticed, it's Harpo spelled backwards. I. bet on myself. This was almost unheard. of at the time. >> Hi there and welcome to the Oprah. podcast. This is a a a momentous moment. of um true gratitude for me. First of. all, I live with gratitude in my spirit. all the time. But this marks a different. kind because it was 40 years ago,

September 8th, 1986 to be exact, that. the very first Oprah Winfrey show uh. aired on national television. And at the. time I was 32 years old, which is. unbelievable to me now that I got to. live another 40 years. I'd been working. in television since I was 19. I started. in radio when I was 16 and moved to. television first as a weekend anchor in. Nashville, Tennessee and then as a.

regular news anchor in Baltimore before. I finally co-hosted my first talk show. Started that in 1978. It's called People. Are Talking with Richard Sher. People are talking with a couple of. friends of yours, Richard Sher and Oprah. Winfrey, and a lot of heart. Weekday. mornings at 9 on channel 13. That's what. friends are for.

Richard and I were co-hosts together on. that show. And then I left Baltimore, moved to Chicago, which was the big. leagues. It was the number three, still. is number three market in the country. after Los Angeles. was in New York, Los. Angeles, and Chicago. And if you worked. in television, you wanted to be in one. of the top three markets. And the. country. was a different kind of country then.

And I have to say, I was so excited. about hosting AM Chicago. And everybody. had told me, you know, what a racist. city Chicago was or what a hard time I. was going to have. And it was not true. for me. I was embraced by the city and. the people of the city and most. importantly embraced by my boss Dennis. Swanson. My boss Dennis Swanson who. believed and trusted that in spite of. whatever racial.

uh feelings people might have that I. would be able to be successful. on that show, hosting that show myself. in the morning in Chicago. >> And good morning everybody. I'M OPRAH. WINFREY, THE NEW host of AM Chicago, AND. I AM THRILLED to be here. >> WELCOME TO CHICAGO, OPRAH. >> Good morning. Hi, everybody. I'm Oprah. Winfrey and of course, this is AM. Chicago. Our topic this morning will. probably shock most of you in and out of.

the medical field. According to two. statistics, one out of 10 doctors are. addicted to drugs or to alcohol. And. without further ado, let's meet Tad and. his women. >> Good morning everybody. I'm Oprah. Winfrey and this morning on AM Chicago, we're getting right down to it. Can a. woman be accepted as vice president? Okay, so this is a man who put the curb. in Morgan Fairchild and Linda Gray and. all those wonderful people. Tell me all. the other people you do. >> Harrison Ford, Steven Spielberg. >> Steven, you Steven Spielberg.

>> I love him. >> Do you? >> I love him. >> Want to meet him? Next time you talk to. him, I hear he's doing this wonderful. movie and mention my name. >> There's a great role for you. >> Okay. Okay. Oprah Winfrey. Okay. Where. do you turn to when you are just a child. and your mommy and daddy are drunk all. the time? Good morning. I'm Oprah. Winfrey and this is AM Chicago. Over 22. million adults, 22 million in this. country are children of alcoholics. My. first guests say that she grew up with. an alcoholic mother who still has a. drinking problem. Here is a shocking.

statistic. At least 60% of married men. 60% of married men and 40% of married. women report that they have had. extrammarital affairs. Good morning. everybody. I'm Oprah Winfrey. I want to. tell you that 11 years ago I was 19. years old and was offered a job in. broadcasting. I went to the CBS. affiliate in Nashville and they said, "I. know you've never done television. before, but would you do an audition for. us?" I said, "My god, I don't know what. to do." I thought, "I guess I'll just. pretend to be Barbara Walters." And so.

here I am today, I think, because I. pretended to be Barbara Walters for that. first year of my broadcasting career in. television. And look where it got me. Ladies and gentlemen, I am so thrilled. to introduce my guest this morning, the. Barbara Walters. Delighted. JUST. BEAUTIFUL.

SO, what did you do when you were doing. me? >> Well, I talked a lot about myself. >> Uh, I don't. >> I know you don't, but before the. audition, they said, "Tell us about. yourself." But this is what I did. I. thought I had just seen you that morning. on on the Today Show and I said, "Well, I guess I'll sit." Barbara always sits. up straight and she turns and she does. this. And I did those those kind of. movements. I had no idea where to look. into the camera. We're continuing our. talk with Barbara Walters and we only. have a minute left in this show because.

I love it so much. I hope you'll agree. to stay on and talk to us and we'll. continue through tomorrow. >> I'd love that. >> That's wonderful. I have to ask you. though, were there times during. interviews in with some very very famous. person where you'd have a question right. there on the tip of your tongue and you. forget it? Has that ever happened? >> More and more now. >> Isn't that horrible? >> But it's Aren't we lucky? I mean to do. what we do and and to meet the to meet. the kind of people to be able to ask the. questions that you really would love to. ask except if you asked it in private.

life people would say how dare you. >> how dare you but you can do it on do you. always go for that question? >> I don't think it's not the it's what we. were talking about before. It's not the. question that's going to it's not going. for the jugular. It's trying to have. somebody open up. It's what you're. trying to it's what you're trying to do. with me. >> What won't you ask? >> I think it's different on the specials. I I won't ask questions that I feel. sometimes I know what they don't want to. talk about. Paul Newman talking about. his his son who died. Someone talking. perhaps about a a recent divorce. I if.

if I know that it really is painful, I. won't. But for example, Jane Fonda on. this interview talks about her father. and the tears come and that's not. something where you're going. That's. something where it it just opens up and. she begins to talk about their. relationship and then it's then it's. right and then it and then it works. And then it works. Oh, I can't even tell. you how nervous I was because Barbara. Walters had been an idol of mine for. years. And for me to now be sitting.

there talking to Barbara Walters on my. own little AM Chicago show in Chicago. was pretty remarkable. I wouldn't have. been sitting next to Barbara Walters at. all if it were not for the man I. mentioned earlier, Mr. Dennis Swanson. Take a look. Today's show means a lot to. me and many of my guests. Throughout the. hour, we're going to be doing something. that all of us need to do much more. often. And I'm going to kick it off with. a surprise visit to a man I owe a great.

deal to. In September of 1983, 11 years ago, I came to Chicago, as a. matter of fact, from Baltimore on Labor. Day to audition to be the host of a. local TV show called at the time AM. Chicago. It was one of the biggest days. of my life. There was one man who was in. charge of the decision to hire me or not. to hire me. It was this man that you're. looking at right now. His name is Dennis.

Swanson. He's now the president of ABC. Sports. And he has no idea that we have. a camera on him right now at his office. in New York. Nor does he know that I'm. talking about him right now. And furthermore, he doesn't have a clue. as what's about to happen. I first met Dennis on that faithful. audition day 11 years ago. And this is. what I look like on that audition tape.

I had a leg curl for uh. for Dennis as I just went on about. They. told me to talk about myself. They said, "Tell us something about yourself.". That's why I'm talking about myself. Take a look. >> Hi there. My name is Oprah Winfrey. Oprah, spelled O P R A H. And if you. noticed, it's Harpo spelled backwards. My folks did not particularly like Harpo. marks. We did not even have a television. set in our home for a number of years. Originally, I was named from the Bible. by Aunt Ida, who named me from Ruth the.

first chapter and the 14th verse, Orpa. But no one knew how to spell in my home, and that's why it ended up being Oprah. I was born in Kazyco, Mississippi. I was. raised by my grandmother for the first. six to seven years of my life on a farm. in Kaziesco. It's been a long way. getting to Chicago. Long road here. Most. of my teen years I grew up in Nashville, Tennessee, which is very interesting. I. had a very strict father who believed. that I shouldn't date until I was 16. And uh I was 36 22 36 at age 14 to kill.

And after being in Baltimore for seven. years, I'm ready to come to Chicago. Bye. Wow. So you see that black and. white outfit that was a an Klein 2. Those of you old enough will remember. Anne Klein the designer and that was an. Ann Klein 2 which was the second line. You know it was cheaper than Anne Klein. I. was so happy about that Ann Klein 2. outfit. I wore it for the audition. I.

wore it for every special occasion. You. just saw me wearing it with Barbara. Walters. I wore that thing until I. couldn't wear it anymore. It was like. thread bare. my Ann Klein 2 black and. white I call it was like my priest. colorar outfit and I have to say for my. audition I didn't have one single thing. prepared. I flew into Chicago and had never been. to Chicago and remember flying into. Chicago thinking wow.

this is a great city. and. I really really really do want this job. And I stayed up all night the night. before with an editor. Uh I did my hair. I had a Jerry curl at the time. Those of. you who know know what that is. Those of. you who don't, it was a Jerry curl. And. years later, I decided to pop in on. Dennis Swanson and say my two favorite. words. Thank you. Our listeners tell us.

that the podcast is resonating with you. and is serving as a bright spot in your. day. that means a lot to me. So, here's. the thing. I would really appreciate it. if you like and subscribe to the Oprah. podcast on YouTube or wherever you. podcast. It's it's just a quick tap of. the subscribe button and that way you. won't miss an episode in your queue. You. don't have to pay anything. I know. subscribe usually means you're paying. something, but this time it means you.

just are notified when there's something. new. There are many more to come that. we're excited about. So, thank you for. watching and listening. Those of you who. watch the Oprah podcast or listen to us, you know, every story we share, every. guest we welcome is chosen with purpose. And when people share their stories, we're reminded that we're not alone in. this journey called life. As the. official insurance partner of the. podcast, the folks at GEICO understand. that the way we move through life and. who we move through it with matters. And.

I know that life starts to move even. faster as a new school year begins. Fall. routines get underway, the calendar. fills up. Whether you're waiting in the. school pickup line, loading up the car. for a weekend getaway, taking a quiet. drive home after a hard day, or cheering. on your son or daughter from the. sidelines, these moments remind us the. road is not always a straight line. Geico is there with insurance designed. to help keep you covered along the way. Because life happens and with the right.

support, we all just keep driving. forward. And that dear listener is. everything. Hey Dennis. Dennis. Dennis Swanson. >> Yes. Oprah. >> How are you? Can you see me on the. monitor there, Dennis? >> I can I can see you on the monitor, Oprah. >> Okay, Dennis, we're we're on television. We're live on TV right now. >> That's what scares me.

I got off the television a long time. ago. Oprah, >> how you doing? Dinner. >> Yeah, I'm doing real good. Not as well. as you, but real good. >> WELL, DENNIS, it's thank you day today on the. Oprah Winfrey show. We have made it. National Thank You Day. And I wanted to. kick the day off because it was 11 years. ago, about this time 11 years ago that I.

came to Chicago to audition for you for. the AM Chicago show. And I, you know, over the years, anytime anybody asks me. how this all got started, I always. behind your back, Dennis, give you the. credit. And. >> you're very kind. And let me finish, Dennis. I never I. never have uh said it to you to your. face how much courage I think that took. at the time 10 years ago because.

uh Harold Washington had just recently. been made the mayor and this was a very. racially volatile city. And I remember. when I came here and I thought there's. no way you're gonna hire a black woman. There's no way you were going to let me. do it without a co-host. And I sat in. that meeting and I said to you, you. know, I'm overweight. And you said, "So. what? So am I.". And I said, "You know, we're going to go. up against Donna Hugh." And you said, "Don't worry about it. I'm not hiring. Donna Hugh. Just be yourself." And I.

tell you, that gave me the freedom to be. myself on the air. And you made such a. difference in my life. And that's what. I'm trying to do on this show every day. is to be able to to in some way make a. difference in other people's lives. And. I wanted to say loud enough for the. whole world to hear. Dennis, I thank. you. >> I remember it like it was yesterday. Um. you're you're so kind to to to say that.

I appreciate that. I do remember Labor. Day weekend 1983. uh when you came to uh Chicago and I. remember the audition and u if it hadn't. been me it would have been somebody. else. you're as talented. Uh, as I sat. there and watched that audition, I. thought, "Oh my goodness, this is a home. run, a grand slam home run." And when we. met afterwards and and and we talked and. we talked about uh you you being.

overweight and black. Uh I remember I. >> I remember I said I said and I'm black, you know, and that ain't going to. change. And you said, "Yeah, I know. I'm. looking at you.". >> Folks, I want you to know if you can. lose weight, so can I. Hey, you look. good. You look good. How much have you. lost? >> I'm just back. I'm just I've lost about. 30 lbs. I'm just back from a couple of. weeks in Fiji and I'm well rested and a. little bit of a tan and uh I I'm just so. happy for you. I remember the one piece. of advice I gave you at the time.

>> Yeah, I do. >> I don't know if you if you recall this, but I told you make sure your head. always fit on your shoulders when when. all the awards and money and accolades. came to you. And I give you credit. because you've been able to do that over. these past. >> Thank you, Dennis. Thank you, Dennis. Swanson. So, thanks, Deno. >> Thank you, Oprah. >> Wow. I was, you know, as the years have. gone forward. I have even a deeper.

appreciation to him because. things were pretty volatile racewise and. gender-wise in the country at that time. And that was a really bold decision on. his part to put me in that seat. Don't. you think, Keith? I mean, I I at the. time I just, you know, I was coming to. apply for the job. Keith's a cameraman, um, who lives in Chicago and has lived. in Chicago. So, at the time I came and. applied for the job. I was just happy to.

be applying for the job. I had no idea. of all of the political undercurrent um. that was that was going on. And that was. that was a bold decision. I don't know. if anybody would make that kind of. decision today. Dennis Swanson is now. retired from television. But his words. to me, just be yourself. Just be yourself. Because at the time, Donna Hugh, Phil. Donahghue was the reigning king. Everybody said you shouldn't go to.

Chicago because then you'll be up. against him. And if Don if Dennis. Swanson had said to me, we want you to. come here and we want you to beat Phil. Donahghue, I wouldn't have even known. how to begin to do that. So him saying. to me, just be yourself was the most. powerful and still to this moment. cherished words I'd ever heard. His. belief in me gave me the foundation that. would become the Oprah Winfrey show. And.

I I have to say I didn't take one minute. of it for granted. I live in just yeah. deep gratitude for the privilege and. opportunity that he gave me. That was a. privilege of a lifetime beyond anything. I could have dreamed of for myself. But. I have to say when I had the opportunity. to take the show national. and own it, I bet on myself. This was almost unheard. of at the time to be able to take the.

leap and bet on yourself. I had an. attorney, Jeffrey Jacobs, who said, "Listen, you should um think about. owning yourself and take the risk." And. I did, and it turned out pretty well. So. my own show with a nationwide audience. that eventually was broadcast in over. 145. countries on a daily basis. Over 145. countries were watching daily. But I.

never imagined uh the kind of reach that. we eventually achieved back then. Uh, I. remember not sleeping the night before. the first national show and I wrote in. my journal um, which I've been keeping a. journal for years and I wrote in my. journal that night. I keep wondering how. my life will change, if it will change. and what all this means.

Why have I been so blessed? Maybe going national was to help me. realize that I have important work or. that this work is important. I just want to acknowledge to the. universe right now to God in all his. glory my praise, my thanksgiving for. this experience. Okay, that's what I wrote in my journal. verbatim. And I have to say my life changed in.

ways I couldn't even imagine. Here's a. look at how it all started. Hello everybody. Thanks.

Thank you. I'm Oprah Winfrey and welcome. to the very FIRST NATIONAL OPRAH WINFREY. SHOW. You know, there has been so much hoopla. about this premiere show that it's. enough to give a girl hives. I've got. them right now under my armpits. I've. been busy these past few weeks traveling. to as many of your cities as possible to. introduce myself. And in every new town, people would ask, "Oh, who are the.

guests for the first show? Is it Mother Teresa? Is it the Pope? Is it Greta Garbo?" I. say, "Who knows where Greta Garbo is?". Well, the pressure has been. unbelievable. But after deliberating for. some time with my staff and spending a. fortune, a fortune bribing Don Johnson, Don Peron by the case, and Don, would. you please send me back my rhinestone uh. sunglasses, if you don't mind? We. decided to do what we do best, and that.

is a show about and with everyday. people. I've been doing talk shows now. for years and one thing I've learned is. that no matter how far down you go and I. tell you I have been down on my knees. with the best of you. No matter how low. you feel, this show this show always allows people. hopefully to understand the power they. have to change their own lives. If. there's one thread running through each. show we do, it is the message that you.

you are not alone. And if you feel you. are alone, today's show may change all. of that. Now, I don't have a lot of. problems in my life. I have to tell you, things are going pretty good for me. right now. But two things have bugged me. for years. The first, my thighs. The. second. the second, my love life. And it was not. a happy day when I found out about the. Yale University study saying that women. not married by the age of 40, I'm 32, have a greater chance of being killed by. a terrorist.

Can you believe it? Killed by a. terrorist than walking down the aisle to. say I do. I tell I wore a black armband. for a week of mourning about that one. So today, how to find a husband, how to. find a wife, and if you already have a. mate, how to keep the one you have from. all of us single people who want them. Later in the show, you're going to meet. a woman who promises a marriage partner. within 30 days. I don't believe it. And. another who is fast becoming the Dr.

Ruth of the Singles World. My first. guest, though, has one of the most. controversial techniques to meeting a. partner you will ever hear. Some of you. will no doubt be shocked. She charges. $95. a piece. That's for each one of them of. her two books, How to Marry the Man of. Your Choice and How to Marry a Superior. Woman, and promises if you haven't met. and married that perfect man or woman. within three years, she will give your. money back if you can find her. MARGARET. KENT.

I THINK THE BEST PICKUP LINE I've ever. heard is, "Are you really a blonde?". >> I saw your eyes and I wanted to get to. know the person inside him. >> Haven't I met you in Warsaw? >> Um, is your husband married? >> I've actually heard the what's your sign. deal lately? I mean, the people still. use that. That's disgusting. >> Hi there, dimples. Want to buy me a. drink? >> Opening lines. What is a good one? What. is a good thing to I mean the problem is. you're in the elevator, you see a.

great-looking guy or girl if you're a. guy and you're getting off on the. seventh floor and you only have a few. seconds. What do you say? >> Well, you might say, "Are you as. intelligent as you look?" Because what. you have to do is you have to be. memorable. >> Come on, we're talking about you got a. few minutes in the elevator. >> IF I SAW YOU IN the elevator and said, "Are you as intelligent as you look?". What would you. >> You wouldn't get away with that. I'd. just start laughing at that one. I. really would. >> I think it's uh about being totally real.

because uh that's jive. >> Forgive the slame. That's jive. Women. and men, they want a real person. >> Thank you. >> That's true. >> Thank you. Whatever happened to. feelings? Whatever happened to that? I. want to know what you didn't know that. you now know. >> I know more about women. What they want. >> Tell me about me. >> Run, baby. What is it exactly I want? >> Yeah. >> You want a man that has a high. self-esteem. >> True. True. That's right. True. Is that.

true? >> True. Right. Okay. What else? What else. do we want? >> You want a man who knows he's IN. CONTROL. >> RIGHT. WHAT ELSE? WHAT ELSE? >> Those two are the basic things that I. needed. There were other things that the. book described, but those two things. helped me the most. >> You think men can be too nice. Is this. not true? Is this not true? Someone just. said to me yesterday that um she had a. guy who liked everything about her and. it made her sick. Made her sick. Can you relate to that?

>> Men give too many compliments. I think. if they give you too many, it's no fun. You want the thrill of the chase. >> Hello. You're on the air. >> Yes. >> Yeah. What do you want to say? >> Well, I I went out with Brenda. Brenda. Foreman. I don't look LIKE. >> YOU WENT OUT WITH OH, SO you saw you and. and what happened? >> Well, we had met in Chicago. I'm from. Detroit. She was from Minneapolis.

>> And I'm not sure she was following the. whole book, but we went along just fine. We probably talked for four hours in a. bar, which we're not supposed to do via. the book, and had a wonderful time. So, were you. >> What attracted me to Brenda was probably. her smile, which she has a great one in. her eyes. and we we hit it off very well. >> You did. >> Okay, let's hear what Brenda says about. that. >> Oh, man. Okay, so my microphone cover.

was crooked. Nobody said anything. And. that was the least of our worries that. day. In those days, we we could not book. a celebrity to save ourselves cuz nobody. wanted to come to Chicago. Chicago wasn't on the way to where. anybody was going. So either celebrities. were in New York or celebrities were in. LA. And that actually turned out to be. the best thing that could have happened. because it taught me and all of the.

producers at the time that the real. impact was. creating conversations, real. conversations, transformative. conversations with regular folks, everyday people. That was going to be. the staple for the show cuz we just. couldn't get celebrities to come. And. it's what I'm still doing here all these. years later, trying to have. transformative conversations, meaningful. conversations. But I was beginning to. see.

uh that television could be so much more. than just a show. That it was could be. useful and not just as a spectacle and. not just as entertainment. that you. could actually connect to people who. were there in the audience and who were. at home. You could build genuine human. connection.

25 years. and I'm still saying thank you America. Thank you so much. There are no words to. match this moment. Every word I've ever spoken from the. stage of the Oprah show for 4,5. now 61 days of my life is what this. moment is all about. Yesterday you heard.

the legendary Artha Franklin sing what. has really been a constant in the theme. song of my life, Amazing Grace. and how. truly amazing it is this journey that. you and I have shared together. I mean. really people. when I arrived in Chicago from Baltimore. where I co-hosted my first talk show. with Richard Sher who's here today. Richard,

I was uh. I was I was just happy to get the job. And as you can see from uh my first day. on AM Chicago at WLS, I had no. publicist, no publicist advising me, no stylist, there was no hair and makeup team, just. a Jerry curl and a bad fur coat. When I came here, I was about to turn 30.

years old. I didn't have a vision for uh. or a lot of great expectations. Steedman. talks about vision all the time, but I. didn't have one, honey. When I came. here, I just wanted to do a good job and. cause no harm. I was so happy to get the. job. I forgot to ask Dennis Swanson, who. hired me, "Do y'all have an audience? Will there be an audience?" because in. Baltimore uh we had an audience. It was. just about 24 people. So I came here. expecting that I'd have at least the.

same. That first day was a shock to me. There was no audience. There I am in uh my best uh an Kleinu. velour outfit. Don't. >> you put the. Yes. My first guests were a few Chicago. football players. >> New Year's Day 1984. There we are trying. to make chili with no stove. no heat. and know you. I needed people. I needed. to have you to gauge how things were.

going during a show. If you were. responding, if you were laughing, if you. were tracking with me. So, after that. first show, we put some folding chairs. uh in the audience. We brought in the. staff. Look at there. Pitiful. secretaries, anybody we could find in. the building. and filled in the rest. with people off the street that we. bribed with donuts and coffee. And we'd. say, "Come in. You want to get warm?".

Well, from day one, Chicago, you took me. in into your living rooms and into your. kitchens and your dens. And you spread. the word to your friends. I heard you. saying, "Have y'all seen that black girl. on TV named Ofrey?". The first week we went national, I. remember I got a letter from a woman. named Carrie in Ann Arbor, Michigan. And. Carrie said, "Oprah, watching you be. yourself makes me want to be more of. myself.". That was and still remains one of the.

nicest things I ever heard. What Carrie. felt is what I wanted for every single. one of you. I wanted to encourage you to. be more of yourself, just as you all. encouraged me and you cheered me on and. occasionally complained about my outfit, my big hair. Whoa. And earrings the size of napkins.

I now see you had every reason to. But. at the time, you couldn't tell me. nothing. I thought I was styling pretty. cute. But soon after I started the show, something shifted for me. It really did. I started the show as a job and was very. happy to get the job. But it was not. long before I understood that there was. something else going on here, more than. just job satisfaction. Something in me. connected with each of you in a way that.

allowed me to see myself in you and you. in me. I listened and grew and I know. you grew along with me. Sometimes I was. a teacher and more often you taught me. It is no coincidence that I always. wanted to be a teacher and I ended up in. the world's biggest classroom and this. my friends will be our last class from. this stage. You all have been a safe harbor for me.

for 25 years. It's strange, I know, but. you have been. And what I hope is that. you all will be that safe harbor for. somebody else, their safe place to fall. Do for them what you all are telling me. the show has done for you. Connect, embrace, liberate, love somebody, just. one person. And then spread that to two.

and as many as you can. You'll see the. difference it makes. My fourth grade. teacher, Mrs. Duncan, was my first true. liberator. She made me feel that I. mattered. She let me lead devotion every. day. That's when we were allowed to pray. in school. She let me lay out the graham. crackers for the class. She validated. me. Mrs. Duncan called a few days ago. and asked to be here for the last hour. and I'm honored to have her here today. Mrs. Duncan, stand up. Please Duncan.

I just wanted to say to you that when. you first came on the show, I said, "Mrs. Duncan, you have no idea what. you've done for me." I now think you. might have an idea. Well, thank you. But I am truly amazed. that I, who started out in rural. Mississippi in 1954 when the vision for. a black girl was limited to being either.

a maid or a teacher in a segregated. school, could end up here. It is no. coincidence that a lonely little girl. who felt not a lot of love even though. my parents and grandparents did the best. they could. It is no coincidence that I grew up to. feel the genuine kindness, affection, trust, and validation from.

millions of you all over the world. From. you whose names I will never know, I. learned what love is. You and this show. have been the great love of my life. I. won't say goodbye. I'll just say until. we meet again. To God be the glory.

To God be the glory. And here we are 15. years on meeting again. It's a different kind of classroom on a. whole new platform. Yet I do believe. that what I've been called to do on the. planet Earth. My intention, my hope for. my life and how I use my life remain the. same today as it was all those years. And that is to use whatever platform I. have to help myself and to help everyone.

who sees me um to see that you're not. alone and have the power to change your. own life. That's how I started out. saying that before I even knew what. intention was, that I was going to use. the show to let people know that they. were not alone. And I just believe that. that carries through for everything that. I've ever tried to do. And remember. those rhinestone glasses I sent to Don. Johnson hoping he would be the first.

guest on the very first show. Well, that. story ends with a full circle moment. You can see that as we end this episode. Go well everybody. Thanks for watching. >> I'm Oprah Winfrey and welcome to the. very FIRST NATIONAL OPRAH WINFREY SHOW. It was the moment our little Chicago. talk show went national and my producers. were determined to make this first show. really big. >> There has been so much hoopla about this. premiere show that it's enough to give a.

girl hives. >> Oh, the hives were real, honey. >> Oprah Winfrey. >> Because when I hit the road to promote. the show, there was one question. everybody asked. Who will be your first. guest? I tell you, the pressure was on. for us to get a really big celebrity. Miami Vice was the hit show in 1986. So, we decided to pull out all the stops to. try and get Don Johnson. After. deliberating for some time with my staff. and spending a fortune, a fortune. bribing Don Johnson, Don Peron by the case. And Don, would.

you please send me back my rhinestone. uh sunglasses if you don't mind? We. decided to do what we do best, and that. is a show about and with everyday. people. So, in the end, Don Johnson. turned us down. And you know what? Doing. a show about everyday people was the. right call and it's still what we do 25. years later. >> AND THANK YOU, AMERICA. >> AT the time, I GOTTA TELL YOU, AT the. time those rhinestone sunglasses were. all the rage and they cost a fortune. That's why I wanted mine back.

No, they didn't. No, DIDN'T. NO, THEY DIDN'T. >> HI, BABY. >> HI, BABY. NO, THEY DIDN'T SURPRISE ME. >> HI, BABY. >> LISTEN. HI, BABY. >> HI, BABY. >> UH, I know it's taken me about 24 years.

to get get these back to you, but. >> thank you. >> Wonderful. Don, how are you? >> I'm good. Now, for clarity, >> for clarity, >> for clarity, uh I was shooting about 18. 20 hours a day at the time. It's not. that I didn't want to come. They. wouldn't let me come. >> I understand. Listen, and. >> but I understand things have been going. okay for you. >> Things are okay. >> You're the greatest. Thank you. Thank you.

Thank you. Thank you, Don Johnson. Johnson, thank you. Thank you, Don. Johnson. And thank you to our friends at. Geico for presenting today's episode. Our listeners tell us that the podcast. is resonating with you and is serving as. a bright spot in your day. That means a. lot to me. So here's the thing. I would. really appreciate it if you like and. subscribe to the Oprah podcast on. YouTube or wherever you podcast. It's.

it's just a quick tap of the subscribe. button and that way you won't miss an. episode in your queue. You don't have to. pay anything. I know subscribe usually. means you're paying something, but this. time it means you just are notified when. there's something new. There are many. more to come that we're excited about. So, thank you for watching and. listening.