OPRAH’S BIG ANNOUNCEMENT

“I came from nothing, no power, no money, not even my thoughts were my own. I had no free will. no voice. Now, I have the freedom, power, and will to speak to millions every day — having come from nowhere.”                                              [OPRAH]

Harpo Productions Inc. spokesman Don Halcombe, said yesterday “Oprah will announce live on “The Oprah Winfrey Show” that she has decided to end what is arguably one of the most popular, influential and enduring programs in television history.” Oprah will make an official announcement and give more details live on today’s live broadcast.

The show has been the highest-rated talk show for 23 consecutive seasons, according tothe Oprah.com site. It is seen by an estimated 42 million viewers a week in the United States and is broadcast to 145 countries.

The show had its origins in 1984, when Oprah moved to Chicago to host WLS-TV’s morning talk show, “AM Chicago,” which became the No. 1 local talk show. The show surpassed ratings for “Donahue” one month after it began, the site said. Within a year, it had expanded to an hour-long format and been renamed “The Oprah Winfrey Show.” It entered national syndication in 1986.

In August 2004, Oprah signed an extension for the show to keep it on the air through 2011. Oprah Winfrey’s talkshow is scheduled to finish in 2011, but her legacy will live on forever.