The second half of Oprah Builds a Network concluded last Sunday with a collective wish…more behind the scenes, please!  This docu-style special didn’t really capture the essence of some of the important aspects of starting a network, yet it did give us an inside look at special moments for Oprah and the O Team as they embarked on their newest journey. Viewers love this stuff and hopefully OWN will give us more! Just call it OWN: Behind the Scenes and then Oprah doesn’t have to carry it all. Get ready, Sheri and Erik!

The show shouldn’t have surprised us.  Instead of giving us the corporate inner workings, Oprah showed us her heart and some of her most intimate thoughts, as well as thoughts from her trusted comrade, Sheri Salata and even her bestie, Gayle King.   One of the most authentic moments occurred as Oprah sat pensively in her makeup chair while her best friend, Gayle spilled over about the horrible attacks from the media.  She reminded Oprah and Sheri that no network had ever started out on top and that it took time to build one…especially one that was all heart. Yet the nastiness of reporting seemed to be getting to all of them.  The ugliness had taken root and the media’s expectations were ridiculous.

“The very same people who are bowing at your feet and telling you how great you are, when the winds of change come, those same people will be at your throat…and the winds of change always come,” Oprah shared.  She realized that this only brought her closer to her true self and that no one accomplishes anything of value without a challenge.  Moving forward she still cautioned, “Be wary of people at your feet.” 

We remember the vicious spikes reporters were throwing.  It seemed that our site was one of the only outlets that didn’t go for their throats.  We understood. Of course, everyone wished it had come together smoother or with more support, but no one had ever built this kind of live changing television.  In order to do it in a thoughtful way, it can’t be rushed.  In time, it will all be as it was intended.  Oprah and the O team have a tremendous journey ahead of them and it will be groundbreaking.  In the meantime, others will stand ready to pounce and attack.  Sadly that is what sells in the media. Maybe one day, that, too, will be different.

As Oprah spoke of the value in the valleys, she failed to mention the greatest gift that the valley offered.  When you come down from the top of a mountain (because that is what she did; it wasn’t a stumble), look around to see who is there lifting you and giving you the support you need to stay focused and move forward.  In those moments, life becomes clearer…and the real gift is revealed.

Now, let me come down from the soap box (my apologies) and get back to the show.  Despite the media muggings, Oprah planted her feet and began her creative process. Of course, people were let go, others were brought in, but that is business. When a shoe doesn’t fit you can’t continue to put them on every day. You have to make adjustments.

Covering topics from her interview with the Kardashians, her and her foodie friend, Gayle’s trip to Sweetie Pie’s to meet the Montgomerys for the first time, Gayle’s shift to CBS This Morning and of course Oprah’s interview on her morning show.   Reminding us again why we love her so much, Oprah spoke of how she was honest in her interview and didn’t even consider trying to spin the questions.  I watched the interview and remember it well…and knew just where the media would pounce.  It was hard to watch Oprah look so guarded and nervous.  She wasn’t used to such negative backlash.  My heart went out to her, but I knew that the average person got it.  Oprah bit off a lot and was handling it with grace and care.  Admitting that making the changes was like “turning a ship around in a small harbor,” you could still see the joy that OWN was bringing to her.  She was able to bring her heart’s desire to television creating a classroom for the world…and those attending the classes were grateful! 

Overall, viewers didn’t walk away with the dirt on what went down with The Rosie Show or  other dramatic news that made weekly fodder, but they were tucked in close as Oprah walked the halls of Barnard College, drove the streets of Lovetown USA and crouched down on the set of Jimmy Kimmel Live…the moments that made it all worth while for Oprah.  A break from the heaviness of life.  Moments to remind us what the journey is for…and to give it a little perspective.