Now that Oprah Winfrey has made it official that she’s ending her talk show in September 2011, the focus now turns to those 215 stations that aired the Queen of Daytime and how they’ll attempt to retain the 7 million-plus viewers who tune into Winfrey every day. Speculation is already rampant that Winfrey could groom a successor on her show (she’s already responsible for the launches of Dr. Oz and Dr. Phil) but it seems more likely that she’ll make a quick getaway from CBS Television, which syndicated her show, and the ABC- and Hearst-owned stations that aired her and leave the companies to fend for themselves. Winfrey has OWN, her new cable network to focus on, after all.
So who – or what – takes her place? Syndication companies like Disney/ABC Domestic Distribution could suddenly unveil who they believe represents the 21st century version of Oprah Winfrey (Sarah Palin? Kate Gosselin?) but industry experts question whether such a search has taken place – or is even possible. Says one key studio executive, “Everybody has been waiting for Oprah to leave but the idea that this new surprise host or new show will come in and be successful? That’s just specious. Everybody believed that Oprah wasn’t going away so the idea that this new show was sitting around, year after year, but wasn’t brought forth just belies common sense.” There’s also been talk that Disney could move The View off of broadcast and into syndication, where it could fill the void once Winfrey leaves (unfortunately, an ABC daytime spokeswoman declined to comment about that).
The more likely scenario is that the ABC-owned and operated stations will launch local newscasts rather than attempt to replace Winfrey’s costly talk show (though her show still dominates, her ratings have dropped over the years so Winfrey probably would have had to do her show for a lower license fee, had she decided to stick around beyond 2011). ”She’s at the end of traditional broadcast TV,” says Katz Television Group’s Bill Carroll, citing increased threats from cable stations and DVRs. “Her dominance will unlikely ever happen again.”
Then, there’s Ellen DeGeneres. Her deal with the NBC stations just so happens to expire at the same time of Winfrey’s, so her home studio, Warner Bros. TV Distribution, could incite a bidding war in those major ABC markets. It even appears that Winfrey sees DeGeneres as potential heir apparent; the 55-year-old uber-host called Degeneres yesterday to reveal her plans about leaving daytime and both hosts served as guests on each other’s shows (DeGeneres even appeared alongside Winfrey on a recent cover of O Magazine). Could DeGeneres assume the mantle as the Queen of Daytime? Opines the studio executive, “I think Oprah has a sense of history and a sense of the moment. When she looks back five years from now, she’ll probably ask ‘Who do I want to have on top? … who do I want to be associated with?’ In her own way, she may be passing the mantle without overtly doing it to Ellen. She may feel Ellen represents (the next generation) of what Oprah does.”
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Who cares?
Watched her only once, when Barbra was on. No one’s irreplaceable.
What about Johnny Carson? Has anyone come close?
Really, Chicago doesn’t care.
Just because your trailer park was more interested in wrestling, doesn’t mean Chicago doesn’t care.
I was on the nominating committee for daytime talk shows, entertainment category. Ellen turned in an episode featuring Paris Hilton and Zac Efron. It was possibly one of the most boring episodes I’d ever seen. I was surprised that this was the episode that she felt was the one that could win her an Emmy. It makes me wonder how uninteresting her show must be if she tohought that was the best one she did last year. Anyway, this is all good news for me. I work for one of the above named shows and Oprah pulling out of the field opens the door for us. Thanks Oprah!
Well, you are only one person on the nominating committee so just because you thought the episode was boring doesn’t mean everyone else felt the same way. Ellen’s show has won numerous awards the past 5 years. Based on the fact that you admit to having no knowledge of her show, except for the one episode you watched, it seems odd that they would even ask you to be on a nominating committee. They must have been desperate because it doesn’t sound like you are qualified at all!
I could care less if I ever saw this woman again, I stopped watching her years ago.
You must care. You just said you do. If you don’t care at all, you “couldn’t care less”. A major pet peeve of mine.
No matter what you feel about Oprah, or her show, there is no denying she is a TV legend, and will never be replaced!
Oprah would be REPALCEABLE anytime
She might be REPALCEABLE, but is she replaceable?
Ellen is better.
Tyra is 10 times better than Oprah any day of the week any way. Tyra is the next Oprah, hands down.
I do think Tyra is a great hostess and has an amazing personality that helps the audience and her guests relate to her. I Really think that she should replace Oprah!
Oh no, not Tyra. With that funny California accent, enunciating every word and letter of the alpha…oh no no…Wendy Williams gets my vote.
Ummmm, 2011???? Right….
I don’t care.
Figure we’ll see someone launch an issues related show next fall. Bonnie Hunt and Ellen are fun, but I could see someone like Soledad O’Brien, Mika Brezinski or Lisa Ling take a crack at a show.
Uncle Tom’s child should have left long ago!!!!!
Shame on you! You sound completely racist! Oprah is talented in her own right, and, as most people know, it’s stupid to judge people on race!!!!!!
I like the Kate Gosselin choice. TOTALLY relevant!
Kate Gosselin or Sarah Palin. I just threw up in my mouth a little. Seriously, Oprah started as a local Chicago show and went national. Outside of Chicago, no-one knew who she was when she started. If TPTB are smart (which they aren’t), they should start a new national talk show with a newcomer. I’m sure there’s a great, charismatic talk show host in Phoenix, Detroit, Philly, or somewhere that America is ready to embrace. Please, not a pseudo-celeb like Kate Gosselin. Just….no.
I totally agree, Kate Gosselin would be a horrible choice for starters, she is annoying as all hell plus to be honest is a
b!tch. Instead of getting a talk show perhaps she could consider raising all 10 million of her kids.
Dare I say dump the traditional talk show format for awhile? Maybe more game shows or TLC type of daytime programming or a relaunch of soaps? Its time for a shake up. Oprah took Donahue’s spot and now Ellen will take Oprah’s? Boring. Now is the time for daytime to be turned on it’s ear! Get busy people!