Oprah Gail Winfrey Oprah Gail Winfrey (born January 29, 1954) is the American multiple-Emmy Award winning host of The Oprah Winfrey Show, the highest-rated talk show in television history .[1] She is also an influential book critic, an Academy Award-nominated actress, and a magazine publisher. She has been ranked the richest African American of the 20th century,[2] the most philanthropic African American of all time,[3] and the world's only black billionaire for three straight years.[4][5][6][7] She is also, according to some assessments, the most influential woman in the world.[8][9] The Oprah Winfrey Show Oprah Gail Winfrey The Oprah Winfrey Show Born to a poor black family, Oprah began working in radio and television in college and became instantly popular when she was given her own daytime television show. Her talk show is popular with women around the world, renowned for its appealing and intimate style which separates it from typical daytime television.[10] Although she has been criticized for using her influence to push controversial or paranormal claims such as The Secret and taking certain political stances, for the most part her work is widely appreciated. Oprah's Book Club, which she promotes and discusses on her show, often highlights critically acclaimed, intellectually serious books; other segments promote self-improvement and philanthropy. She often brings conflicted people together, similar to the set-up of the The Jerry Springer Show, but instead of encouraging a fight, she tries to get them to resolve their differences. The Oprah Winfrey Show http://www.startyourownjob.tv http://www.stevenlending.com http://www.myspace.com/stevensvideotv The Oprah Winfrey Show Oprah Gail Winfrey In 1983, Winfrey relocated to Chicago to host WLS-TV's low-rated half-hour morning talk-show, AM Chicago. The first episode aired on January 2, 1984. Within months after Winfrey took over, the show went from last place in the ratings to overtaking Donahue as the highest rated talk show in Chicago. It was renamed The Oprah Winfrey Show, expanded to a full hour, and broadcast nationally beginning September 8, 1986.[17] On her 20th anniversary show, Oprah revealed that movie critic Roger Ebert was the one who persuaded her to sign a syndication deal with King World. Ebert predicted that she would generate 40 times as much revenue as his television show, At the Movies. The Oprah Winfrey Show Oprah Gail Winfrey *************************************** http://www.myspace.com/stevensvideotv *************************************** Steven Barchetti http://www.stevenlending.com *************************************** The Oprah Winfrey Show