Oprah Celebrates 40 Years of The Oprah Winfrey Show

0:00This episode of the Oprah Podcast is presented by our partner, Geico.

0:12I'm Oprah Winfrey, and welcome to the very first National Oprah Winfrey Show!

0:20And I have to say, my life changed in ways I couldn't even imagine. Here's a look at how it all started. Hi there. My name is Oprah Winfrey. Oprah, spelled O-P-R-A-H, and if you noticed, it's Harpo spelled backwards. I bet on myself. This was almost unheard of at the time. Hi there, and welcome to the Oprah podcast. This is a momentous moment of true gratitude for me. First of all, I live with gratitude in my spirit all the time, But this marks a different kind because it was 40 years ago, September 8th, 1986, to be exact, that the very first Oprah Winfrey show aired on national television. And at the time, I was 32 years old, which is unbelievable to me now that I got to live another 40 years.

1:18I'd been working in television since I was 19. I started in radio when I was 16. and moved to television, first as a weekend anchor in Nashville, Tennessee, and then as a regular news anchor in Baltimore before I finally co-hosted my first talk show. Started that in 1978. It's called People Are Talking with Richard Scherr.

1:47People Are Talking with a couple of friends of yours, Richard Scherr and Oprah Winfrey, and a lot of heart. weekday mornings at 9 on Channel 13. That's what friends are for. Richard and I were co-hosts together on that show. And then I left Baltimore, moved to Chicago, which was the big leagues. It was the number three, still is, number three market in the country after Los Angeles. It was New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago. And if you worked in television, you wanted to be in one of the top three markets. and the country was a different kind of country then. And I have to say, I was so excited about hosting AM Chicago and everybody had told me, you know, what a racist city Chicago was and what a hard time I was going to have.

2:42And it was not true for me. I was embraced by the city and the people of the city and most importantly, embraced by my boss, Dennis Swanson. my boss Dennis Swanson who believed and trusted that in spite of whatever racial feelings people might have that I would be able to be successful on that show hosting that show myself in the morning in Chicago. Good morning everybody I'm Oprah Winfrey a new host of AM Chicago and I am thrilled to be here. Welcome to Chicago, Oprah. Good morning. Hi everybody, I'm Oprah Winfrey and of course this is AM Chicago. Our topic this morning will probably shock most of you in and out of the medical field.

3:31According to two statistics, one out of 10 doctors are addicted to drugs or to alcohol. And without further ado, let's meet Tad and his women. Good morning, everybody. I'm Oprah Winfrey. And this morning on AM Chicago, we're getting right down to it. Can a woman be accepted as vice president? Okay, so this is the man who put the curve in Morgan Fairchild and Linda Gray and all those wonderful people. Tell me all the other people you do. Harrison Ford, Steven Spielberg. Steven! Steven Spielberg. I love him. You do you? I love him. You want to meet him? Next time you talk to him, I hear he's doing this wonderful movie and mention my name.

4:08It was a great role for you. Okay, okay. Oprah Winfrey. Okay. Where do you turn to when you are just a child and your mommy and daddy are drunk all the time? Good morning. I'm Oprah Winfrey and this is AM Chicago. Over 22 million adults, 22 million in this country are children of alcoholics. My first guests say that she grew up with an alcoholic mother who still has a drinking problem. Here is a shocking statistic. At least 60 % of married men, 60 % of married men and 40 % of married women report that they have had extramarital affairs. Good morning, everybody. I'm Oprah Winfrey. I want to tell you that 11 years ago, I was 19 years old and was offered a job in broadcasting.

4:49I went to the CBS affiliate in Nashville and they said, I know you've never done television before, but would you do an audition for us? I said, my God, I don't know what to do. I thought, I guess I'll just pretend to be Barbara Walters. And so here I am today, I think, because I pretended to be Barbara Walters for that first year of my broadcasting career in television. And look where it got me. Ladies and gentlemen, I am so thrilled to introduce my guest this morning, the Barbara Walters. We're in Chicago.

5:20Delighted. Delighted. Just delighted.

5:26Isn't she beautiful?

5:33So what did you do when you were doing me? Well, I talked a lot about myself. Oh, I don't do it. I know you don't, but before the audition, they said, tell us about yourself. But this is what I did. I thought, I had just seen you that morning on the Today Show. And I said, well, I guess I'll sit. Barbara always sits up straight, and she turns, and she does this. And I did those kind of movements. I had no idea where to look into the camera. We're continuing our talk with Barbara Walters, and we only have a minute left in this show. So because I love it so much, I hope you'll agree to stay on and talk to us.

6:03We'll continue tomorrow. I'd love that. That's wonderful. I have to ask you, though, were there times during interviews with some very, very famous person where you'd have a question right there on the tip of your tongue and you'd forget it? Oh, yeah. Has that ever happened? More and more now. Isn't that horrible? But it's, oh, aren't we lucky? I mean, to do what we do and to meet the kind of people, to be able to ask the questions that you really would love to ask, except if you asked it in private life, people would say, how dare you? How dare you? But you can do it on... Do you always go for that question?

6:35I don't think... It's not the... It's what we were talking about before. It's not the question that's going to... It's not going for the jugular. It's trying to have somebody open up. It's what you're trying to... It's what you're trying to do with me. What won't you ask? I think it's different. On the specials, I won't ask questions that I feel... Sometimes I know what they don't want to talk about. Paul Newman talking about his son who died. Someone talking perhaps about a recent divorce. If I know that it really is painful, I won't. But, for example, Jane Fonda on this interview talks about her father and the tears come.

7:08And that's not something where you're going. That's something where it just opens up and she begins to talk about their relationship. And then it's right, and then it works. And then it works. Oh, I can't even tell you how nervous I was because Barbara Walters had been an idol of mine for years. And for me to now be sitting there talking to Barbara Walters on my own little AM Chicago show in Chicago was pretty remarkable. I wouldn't have been sitting next to Barbara Walters at all if it were not for the man I mentioned earlier, Mr. Dennis Swanson. Take a look. Today's show means a lot to me and many of my guests.

7:51Throughout the hour, we're going to be doing something that all of us need to do much more often. And I'm going to kick it off with a surprise visit to a man I owe a great deal to. In September of 1983, 11 years ago, I came to Chicago. As a matter of fact, from Baltimore on Labor Day to audition to be the host of a local TV show called at the time AM Chicago. It was one of the biggest days of my life. There was one man who was in charge of the decision to hire me or not to hire me. It was this man that you're looking at right now. His name is Dennis Swanson. He's now the president of ABC Sports.

8:33And he has no idea that we have a camera on him right now at his office in New York. Nor does he know that I'm talking about him right now. and furthermore he doesn't have a clue as what's about to happen I first met Dennis on that fateful audition day 11 years ago and this is what I look like on that audition table I had a legere curl for uh for Dennis as I just went on about they told me to talk about myself they said tell us something about yourself that's why I'm talking about myself. Take a look. Hi there. My name is Oprah Winfrey. Oprah spelled O-P-R-A-H, and if you noticed, it's Harpo spelled backwards.

9:21My folks did not particularly like Harpo Marx. We did not even have a television set in our home for a number of years. Originally, I was named from the Bible by Aunt Ida, who named me from Ruth, the first chapter and the 14th verse, Orpah, but no one knew how to spell in my home, and that's why it ended up being Oprah. I was born in Kosciuszko, Mississippi. I was raised by my grandmother for the first six to seven years of my life on a farm in Kosciuszko. It's been a long way getting to Chicago, a long road here. Most of my teen years, I grew up in Nashville, Tennessee, which is very interesting.

9:54I had a very strict father who believed that I shouldn't date until I was 16, and I was 36, 22, 36 at age 14. To kill, to die, to die, to die. And after being in Baltimore for seven years, I'm ready to come to Chicago. Bye. Wow. So you see that black and white outfit that was an Anne Klein II. Those of you old enough will remember Anne Klein, the designer. That was an Anne Klein II, which was the second line, you know. It was cheaper than Anne Klein. I was so happy about that Anne Klein II outfit. I wore it for the audition. I wore it for every special occasion. You just saw me wearing it with Barbara Walters.

10:34I wore that thing until I couldn't wear it anymore. It was like threadbare. My incline tube, black and white, I call it, was like my priest collar outfit. And I have to say, for my audition, I didn't have one single thing prepared. I flew into Chicago and had never been to Chicago and remember flying into Chicago thinking, thinking, wow, this is a great city. And I really, really, really do want this job. And I stayed up all night the night before with an editor. I did my hair. I had a jerry curl at the time. Those of you who know, know what that is. Those of you who don't, it was a jerry curl.

11:22And years later, I decided to pop in on Dennis Swanson and say my two favorite words. Thank you. Our listeners tell us that the podcast is resonating with you and is serving as a bright spot in your day. That means a lot to me. So here's the thing. I would really appreciate it if you like and subscribe to the Oprah podcast on YouTube or wherever you podcast. It's just a quick tap of the subscribe button. And that way you won't miss an episode in your queue. You don't have to pay anything. I know subscribe usually means you're paying something, but this time it means you just are notified when there's something new.

12:03There are many more to come that we're excited about. So thank you for watching and listening. Those of you who watch the Oprah podcast or listen to us, you know, every story we share, every guest we welcome is chosen with purpose. And when people share their stories, we're reminded that we're not alone in this journey called life. As the official insurance partner of the podcast, the folks at GEICO understand that the way we move through life and who we move through it with matters. And I know that life starts to move even faster as a new school year begins. Fall routines get underway, the calendar fills up, whether you're waiting in the school pickup line, loading up the car for a weekend getaway, taking a quiet drive home after a hard day, or cheering on your son or daughter from the sidelines.

12:47These moments remind us the road is not always a straight line. Geico is there with insurance designed to help keep you covered along the way. Because life happens, and with the right support, we all just keep driving forward. And that, dear listener, is everything.

13:08Hey, Dennis? Dennis? Dennis Swanson? Yes, Oprah. How are you? Can you see me on the monitor there, Dennis? I can see you on the monitor, Oprah. Okay, Dennis, we're on television. We're live on TV right now. That's what scares me. I got on television a long time ago, Oprah. How you doing, Denaru? I'm doing real good. Not as well as you, but real good.

13:45well

13:48Dennis it's thank you day today on the Oprah Winfrey show we have made it national thank you day and I wanted to kick the day off because it was 11 years ago about this time 11 years ago that I came to Chicago to audition for you for the AM Chicago show and I you know over the years, anytime anybody asks me how this all got started, I always behind your back, Dennis, give you the credit. And you're very kind. And let me finish, Dennis. I never I never have said it to you to your face how much courage I think that took at the time 10 years ago, because Harold Washington had just recently been made the mayor.

14:33And this was a very racially volatile city. And I remember when I came here and I thought, there's no way you're going to hire a black woman. There's no way you were going to let me do it without a co-host. And I sat in that meeting and I said, do you know I'm overweight? And you said, so what? So am I. And I said, you know, we're going to go up against Donahue. And you said, don't worry about it. I'm not hiring Donahue. Just be yourself. And I tell you, that gave me the freedom to be myself on the air. and you made such a difference in my life and that's what I'm trying to do on this show every day is to be able to in some way make a difference in other people's lives.

15:13And I wanted to say, loud enough for the whole world to hear, Dennis, I thank you.

15:24Also, I remember it like it was yesterday. You're so kind to say that. I appreciate that. I do remember Labor Day weekend, 1983. when you came to Chicago, and I remember the audition. And if it hadn't been me, it would have been somebody else. You're as talented. As I sat there and watched that audition, I thought, oh, my goodness, this is a home run, a grand slam home run. And when we met afterwards and we talked, and we talked about you being overweight and black, I remember. I know. I remember I said, I said, and I'm black, you know, and that ain't going to change. And you said, yeah, I know.

16:06I'm looking at you. Well, if you could lose weight, so could I. Hey, you look good. You look good. How much have you lost? I'm just, I've lost about 30 pounds. I'm just back from a couple of weeks in Fiji and I'm well rested, a little bit of a tan. And I'm just so happy for you. I remember the one piece of advice I gave you at the time. Yeah, I do too. I don't know if you recall this, but I told you, make sure your head always fit on your shoulders when all the awards and money and accolades came to you. And I give you credit because you've been able to do that over these past. Thank you, Dennis.

16:46Thank you, Dennis Swanson. So thanks, Dennis Rowe. Thank you, Oprah. Wow. Wow. I was, you know, as the years have gone forward, I have even a deeper appreciation to him because things were pretty volatile race wise and gender wise in the country at that time. And that was a really bold decision on his part to put me in that seat. Don't you think, Keith? I mean, at the time, I just, you know, I was coming to apply for the job. Keith's a cameraman who lives in Chicago and has lived in Chicago. So at the time I came and applied for the job, I was just happy to be applying for the job. I had no idea of all of the political undercurrent that was going on.

17:39And that was a bold decision. I don't know if anybody would make that kind of decision today. Dennis Swanson is now retired from television, but his words to me, just be yourself. Just be yourself. Because at the time, Donahue, Phil Donahue was the reigning king. Everybody said, you shouldn't go to Chicago because then you'll be up against him. and if Dennis Swanson had said to me, we want you to come here and we want you to beat Phil Donahue, I wouldn't have even known how to begin to do that. So him saying to me, just be yourself was the most powerful and still to this moment cherished words I'd ever heard.

18:26His belief in me gave me the foundation that would become The Oprah Winfrey Show And I have to say, I didn't take one minute of it for granted. I live in just, yeah, deep gratitude for the privilege and opportunity that he gave me. That was a privilege of a lifetime, beyond anything I could have dreamed of for myself. But I have to say, when I had the opportunity to take the show national and own it, I bet on myself. This was almost unheard of at the time, to be able to take the leap and bet on yourself. I had an attorney, Jeffrey Jacobs, who said, listen, you should think about owning yourself and take the risk.

19:11And I did. And it turned out pretty well. So my own show with a nationwide audience that eventually was broadcast in over 145 countries. on a daily basis. Over 145 countries were watching daily. But I never imagined the kind of reach that we eventually achieved back then. I remember not sleeping the night before the first national show, and I wrote in my journal, which I've been keeping a journal for years, and I wrote in my journal that night, I keep wondering how my life will change. if it will change, and what all this means. Why have I been so blessed? Maybe going national was to help me realize that I have important work or that this work is important.

20:13I just want to acknowledge the universe right now, to God in all his glory, my praise, my thanksgiving for this experience. Okay, that's what I wrote in my journal. verbatim and I have to say my life changed in ways I couldn't even imagine here's a look at how it all started

20:59Thanks. Thank you. I'm Oprah Winfrey, and welcome to the very first National Oprah Winfrey Show!

21:12You know, there has been so much hoopla about this premiere show that it's enough to give a girl hives. I've got them right now under my armpits. I've been busy these past few weeks traveling to as many of your cities as possible to introduce myself. And in every new town, people would ask, Oprah, who are the guests for the first show? Is it Mother Teresa? Is it the Pope? Is it Greta Garbo? I say, who knows where Greta Garbo is? Well, the pressure has been unbelievable. But after deliberating for some time with my staff and spending a fortune, a fortune, bribing Don Johnson, Don Perignon by The Case and Don would you please send me back my rhinestone sunglasses if you don't mind.

21:57We decided to do what we do best and that is a show about and with everyday people I've been doing talk shows now for years and one thing I've learned is that no matter how far down you go and I tell you I have been down on my knees with the best of you, no matter how low you feel

22:17this show So, this show always allows people, hopefully, to understand the power they have to change their own lives. If there's one thread running through each show we do, it is the message that you, you are not alone. And if you feel you are alone, today's show may change all of that. Now, I don't have a lot of problems in my life, I have to tell you. Things are going pretty good for me right now. But two things have bugged me for years. The first, my thighs. The second, the second, my love life. And it was not a happy day when I found out about the Yale University study saying that women not married by the age of 40, I'm 32, have a greater chance of being killed by a terrorist.

23:01Can you believe it? Killed by a terrorist than walking down the aisle to say, I do. I wore a black armband for a week of mourning about that one. So today, how to find a husband, how to find a wife. And if you already have a mate, how to keep the one you have from all of us single people who want them. Later in the show, you're going to meet a woman who promises a marriage partner within 30 days. I don't believe it. And another who is fast becoming the Dr. Ruth of the singles world. My first guest, though, has one of the most controversial techniques to meeting a partner you will ever hear. Some of you will no doubt be shocked.