Oprah’s Spectacular Swan Song

2-Hour show promises everything but humility

From Robert Feder, chicago.timeout.com:

As many as 21,000 fans could be on hand at the United Center May 17 when Oprah Winfrey tapes her two-hour penultimate finale, billed as featuring “some of the biggest names in music, movies and television in a one-time-only gathering to celebrate the 25-year legacy of The Oprah Winfrey Show.”

And if Thursday’s surprise announcement is to be believed, neither Winfrey nor the thousands who fill the arena will know in advance who any of the guests will be.

“As most of our viewers know, being surprised is not one of Oprah’s favorite things. In the spirit of our farewell season, she is making a rare exception and we intend to make the most of that opportunity. It will be something to see,” executive producer Sheri Salata said in a statement.

Appropriately titled Surprise Oprah! A Farewell Spectacular, the special will air over two days — May 23 and 24....

The last television giant of her magnitude to leave the stage may have been Johnny Carson, who retired in 1992 after 30 years as host of The Tonight Show. His final episode concluded with him sitting alone on a stool and delivering a few humble words of thanks and farewell: “I can only tell you that it has been an honor and a privilege to come into your homes all these years and entertain you,” he said before bidding his viewers “a very heartfelt good night.”

And when Walter Cronkite stepped down as anchorman of The CBS Evening News in 1981, he took exactly 65 seconds to say goodbye at the end of an otherwise routine newscast. “Those who have made anything of this departure, I’m afraid, have made too much,” he said.

Any chance for a little of that humility as Oprah takes her leave?

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