If there isn’t an award for “Docu-Series” yet, I predict that there will be within a couple of years. Oprah, probably not even realizing it, has set the bar so high with bringing this kind of show to television. And while everyone is talking about how this can keep going…I’m going to sit back and enjoy this week’s show because that’s what I get to do…each Sunday night. I go through the weekend enjoying as much as I can…and look forward to OWN programming…and sitting down to TWEET and connect. Then…I move into the long night of blogging…so, let’s get started. This week, Oprah’s playing with kids and laughing with Chris Rock. It should be fun.
Viewers LOVE talented kids…and so does Oprah. “I never had kids but I love kids,” Oprah says, “…and I feel like a part of me is still like a kid with experiencing life with a sense of wonder and new discovery.” Caroline Ziv and Amy Coleman are producing the segment and everyone knows that kids are unpredictable. PLUS, a blushing Caroline Ziv tells us that “Lenny Kravitz is the hottest man alive” as we find out that Lenny is a big surprise for on of the kids on the show. Will and Jada’s daughter, Willow Smith – a talented kid in her own right – will be out there as a co-host for the hour…bringing it all together.
As the last shows come together, Jack Mori steals the last spot for Oprah to spend the hour with Chris Rock. He’s been on the show LOTS (right up there with Celine Dion) and we can’t wait. “Chris Rock is one of my favorite guests because he’s so insightful and a genius to be around,” Oprah tells us.
Prepping for the “Talented Kids” show, Oprah and Willow do a walk through for the next day. And OOPS! Oprah says, “LENNY KRAVITZ” during the rehearsal and everyone starts saying, “Tim Bennett. Tim Bennett. Tim Bennett.” See people, even Oprah can have an off day…
For the Chris Rock show, Jack and Sheri are talking to Oprah about pulling the 5 funniest moments with Chris. Nelson Mandela’s divorce? OJ Simpson’s message to Chris? Or…a black woman with a credit card? Oh…that’s the one for Oprah. “I was on television in Chicago when that actually happened to me,” Oprah shares. Sheri asks her, “You were actually one of the women in Chris Rock’s joke?’ “That’s why I think it’s so funny to me,” Oprah says. “I get to the counter and they took the credit card and cut it up in front of me and told me to put my stuff back…and people were in the line…that person has all the power if they are going to humiliate you…” Oprah then tells us, “I’ve never forgotten this and I’ve never shopped there since.”
So, with Chris on Broadway and with a tight flight schedule, Sheri tells us, “He will be there.” “Well, you said that about Jennifer Hudson too,” Oprah reminds Sheri. Jennifer Hudson with her Oprah Show FIASCO- the new bar to measure by. But…Chris DOES get there and he says, “I will do whatever it takes to give us some good TV. I may have to kiss Oprah.” Chris starts great too…for his 25th visit to the Oprah Show. “The only man who’s been on Oprah more than me is Stedman.” So FUNNY. And Jack Mori and Joe Terry are just working it. Sheri is relaxed…it’s SMOOTH. “The thing about Chris is that you can always count on him to deliver,” Oprah says. And Chris’ farewell to Oprah is touching and lovely. “I just want to thank you Oprah for just being you…a patron of the arts and you backing many of us, myself included and I thank you because without you, there’s no me, there’s no a lot of us,” Chris Rock says. “A lot of us would have been famous but there’s something about you that made us human…that made us human…”
As Oprah’s working, she’s also planning a college tour for her girls from Africa. “They are rolling out the red carpet where ever they go”… Girls living in orphanages…or tin shacks the size of a table…Oprah is changing their lives. “And today…they are at the White House.” Oprah…changing all of us…touching so many lives…making the world better. Remarkable. She makes ME want to be a better person…and I know many people feel the same.
Kicking off the Talented Kids show, Lenny Kravitz aka Tim Bennett is rehearsing…and Caroline is hoping that all the stars align and it all comes together. “Must remember to breathe” should be on that clipboard of notes to refer to. I mean, Lenny Kravitz is HOT. It’s all coming together. “Willow is a superstar,” Oprah says. “10….a pure pure pure lovely age.” Let’s go…keep the talented kids rolling, Willow did great at her co-hosting! The big ‘stress’ of the show was Maya, Oprah’s 5 year old YouTube find…singing for the first time on camera that was not her mom’s flipcam. But Maya pulls it off.
Finally, the big surprise of the night is Graham’s surprise. Oprah leads him into the Lenny surprise…and Graham starts talking about Louis Armstrong. “He’s dead…he’s not here…” Oprah says. OH…but Oprah pulls it off and gets the moment. It was fantastical. “See…surprises are not easy people,” Sheri reminds us. “Check the box…it was our last talented kid’s show and I think Oprah was happy.”
Oprah leaves us with…”There is nothing finer than a moment where somebody gets to be the best of themselves and they get to rise to the occasion to be the best of themselves. And particularly it was extra sweet this year because it was the last time it will happen.”