Tonight we are still in Australia and having a great time!  As we move into Day 6 of our Ultimate Australian adventure, Oprah is being prepped for the finale show at the Opera House. Big names showing up like Bono, Hugh Jackman, Nicole Kidman, Olivia Newton John….and wow… Tara Denise, Production Designer, has really outdone herself.  This set if fabulous. And the magnitude of planning that went into this trip…while the production continued to move forward in Chicago.  Now, this is a hard working team!

So, for the finale, Hugh Jackman wants to make a special entry…and that’s completely understandable…I mean, he IS HUGH Jackman!  So, he’s zip lining on to the stage…across the opera house audience…from 14 stories up!  Yikes!  Too dangerous?  Probably…but someone signed off on it as solid and safe.  Hugh wants to deliver a moment…but you can tell Oprah and Gayle both are not feeling the zip line thing.  And those around must be star struck because no one is saying no.   

Now…lets set a record while we are here.  Our favorite red head, Jill van Lockeren, is working on getting everyone to the top of the Sydney Harbor Bridge to set a record of the most people on the Sydney Harbor bridge at one time.  Oh, an we have to take some pictures too!  So, everyone suits up in their blue and gray matching track suit ensemble. Oprah, Gayle and 314 other people get on the bridge and get to the top.  All the while, Lindsey is extreme producing as she is hooked onto the bridge.  You see everyone’s at the summit and the chopper has to refuel.  Oh, the planning.  Oh, the patience.  I think it’s time to meditate.  Here’s what I think…Once in a lifetime people…waiting was just part of the memory.  “You cannot blame yourself for things you have no control over,” Oprah says to Lindsey.  It’s all a memory…just go with it.

Can anyone say Regatta?  It was Sheri’s idea…for the record…and it was an awesome idea. Brad Opperman is filling in Russell Crow on the regatta around the bay and Producer, Lesli Grisanti, is on another boat that’s shooting Oprah’s boat…for the segment.  The money shot is all on her….a make or break moment.  This moment was wonderful…with “Oprah’s Farewell Season” on the sails coming up at the same time.  I feel a tear….  All the while, Lesli is feeling the stress as she elbows all of the other boats out of her shot.  Proud of her.  She got it!  Spectacular, Lesli!

Wrapping up Australia, we move on to the finale.  This is what Oprah says of Hugh. “There have been a few movie stars that I can count on eally one hand who have stood out as being so vibrantly, authentically, exactly the essence of who you think they are. That is who Hugh Jackman is. You literally feel more alive when you are in his presence….Life just walked into the room.”  So for rehearsal day, Hugh zips just fine…as Andrea and others look on with ‘mom-worry.’ Joe Terry tells him to have fun…and Hugh says,” I want to go faster.”  No Wolverine.  Don’t do it!

It is clear that it takes a village here…and we see Sheri Salata, Joe Terry, Andrea Wishom, Jill Van Lockeren, Bridgette the Star Whisperer, Heather Aldridge, Tara Denise….who else? Almost 200 employees.  Everyone!!!  “This may be the most spectacular production that all of us have done together as a team,” Sheri tells us.  “There’s something magical happening here.” 

Now…for the excitement!  Hugh…DON’T do it! Here he goes. TOO FAST! TOO FAST! Oprah’s holding her breath. HOLY SMOKES!  Way too fast.  “Why didn’t we have him just walk on the stage?” Sheri says.  “I don’t care about this show if he’s not okay. And nobody else does either. Especially Oprah.”  Just kiss it Oprah…make it feel better.  Everybody’s crying…and everyone wants to give Hugh a hug.  I think I love him even more…is that possible?

Oprah ends with saying, “So Australia has opened me up to so much. It felt like we were in place with the love of the people of that country. That will live with me forever.”

And what did she have to say about her team?  “I have never been prouder in my life of myself and my team and I am grateful to every one of you for the sacrifice, for the heart, for the skills, for the dedication. I are the best people.  You are the best. That is why the sun shown every day, that is why on queue the koalas started humping, that is why I know that the best is yet to come in each of our lives and I thank you for that.”