Oh! Oh! Oprah! Please Kill Me Now
So my already “wonderful” Christmas holiday was capped off by a call from the Oprah Winfrey Show and no, I am not kidding. About six months ago, Oprah did a show on how divorce affects young children. My older sister, being an Oprah devotee, saw the show and then emailed a few thoughts on her experiences/feelings dealing with our parents’ divorce. She never gave it another thought until producer Gwen gave her a ring and asked us to be on the show on adult children dealing with divorce.
Hmmmm. Do I want to air my dirty laundry to the entire planet just so everyone who didn’t already know what a basketcase I was can now be sure of that fact? Uh no. How would this work? Let me set the stage: Free trip to Chicago (courtesty of Southwest Airlines: the richest woman in the world is going to fly me on a low cost carrier… go Oprah!), stay in some hotel in downtown Chicago during January (the absolute BEST month to visit the Windy City), and have one of the most powerful women in the world shake her head while Dr. Phil tells me to get my shit together (so the world knows I’m crazy and I hate myself in the process — no baggage there). Hell to the No!
My sister’s heart was in the right place; it wasn’t her intention to book us as guests on the show and turn us into circus act. She was expressing her feelings and Whamo! We all got the wind knocked out of us. We won’t be doing the show as we all felt weird about it. I will admit the though crossed my mind, “Maybe Oprah could help me get a job. She DOES open doors.” Hello! Let’s talk about public humiliation first. I don’t watch Oprah but 50 billion people do and you know what? I like my life out of the public spotlight. I don’t crave the sighs, the head bobs, and the sad eyes from the world around me. Sure, I want to help people and make a difference but I don’t think me becoming a People magazine focus (which is, of course, what happens to all of Oprah’s more eloquent guests) on depression will achieve that goal. If I’m going to be on a talk show, let me be on Letterman!
But meeting Oprah, how cool would that be? Then again, you have a point, public soul baring may just add to your bumps and bruises. Of course, you could get some constructive advice on healing from Dr. Phil and have an amazing adventure along the way, who knows? Oh, and by the way, “Hi”. I stopped by your blog while tag surfing!
Could be worse … Jerry Springer could have wanted you on his show!
You’re right, Book Babie, meeting Oprah could’ve been quite the experience but I don’t think my family needs yet another reminder of the past… especially if it’s broadcast to the world and then preserved on DVD for time and all eternity. I still am wondering if she could help me get a job, though… Thanks for stopping by and come back often!
Travel Rat: We did thank our lucky stars that it wasn’t Jerry Springer because the folks on his show truly are a mess. I’ll admit, however, that I was tempted to see the Jerry Spring play a few years ago when I was in the West End… apparently it’s a huge hit across the pond.
You’d just be making a spectacle of yourself. Plus, where the hell were you going to find all of the unmatched vinyl luggage that you’d need to bring with you in the limo. Of course, don’t tell them that ya’ll can throw chairs at each other and “cat fight” because then they’ll just put you on Springer.
I think the downside is greater than the upside and the right move is to stay put and not become part of the “get help via tv society.” It seems to me it would start out feeling way cool and end up being “Oh my God, what have we just done?”
Well, it’s all how you spin it. Maybe you could speak of your disfunction in the past tense…you’re all better.
Go on, be charming, well spoken, it’s not like you are going for there to get therapy only to talk about cause and effect. I think I would have done just to meet Oprah…tell her about the non-profit you are setting up to help adult children deal with divorce…she will donate and give you your own show on the Oprah channel and there you have your new career.
We’re the kind of family that keeps our dysfunctionality within the walls of our home. This would be the worst reality TV program EVER: welcome to my nightmare… the water is still warm. Thanks for the encouragement Grace but ah… no! I think the situation would point fingers and cause more hurt feelings.
not be a downer or anything, but whenever I have watched those shows on whatever the topic may be, I never get the feeling that things are resolved. But what do I know.
I think you made the best decision for yourself and you would know what is best for yourself.
But it is neat that Oprah replied, not many get that.
Best wishes to you in the future.
It IS pretty cool we got called, so let’s just focus on that rather than the disaster that could’ve been. SHUDDER!
I just completed grad school myself (I looked into your blog). Good luck — you’ll be grateful and thrilled when you’re done! Stop by any time.
Love your blog! I think I would have made the same choice you made, if the opportunity arose. Not interested in airing out my dirty laundry on tv, however, if it was for David Letterman or Conan O’Brien, maybe an abridged version would be in order, but only if one of the bands I promote could be featured on the show too. I’m a whore for publicity when it comes to my friends bands….:)
I’ve met Oprah twice (once she was on jury duty and once on her show). It’s definitely NOT cool enough to compensate you for the humiliation you think you would feel. HOWEVER, I don’t think they would make you look like dysfunctional freaks. I think it could be kind of interesting…
And while Jan is the least appealing month to visit Chicago, it’s STILL seeing a great city, and I could recommend some FANTASTIC restaurants. Just think of the gastronomic possibilities
Man I’m so jealous Oprah wanted you on her show! (Although given the circumstances I totally understand your decision.) It’s been my quest to get a free makeover from Oprah my angle is the returned Peace Corps Volunteer who gave up three years of her life saving babies in Africa. Don’t you think she’d go for it?