Oprah Announces “The Oprah Winfrey Show” Ending in 2011

Talk show queen Oprah announced today that her signature show “The Oprah Winfrey Show” will be ending on September 9, 2011.

Rumors that the television pioneer would abandon her show after 25 years have circulated for weeks. The timing comes as Winfrey works on launching her own digital cable channel, OWN (Oprah Winfrey Network).

Her company HARPO (that’s Oprah spelled backwards, folks) released a statement yesterday first announcing the end date to fellow media companies. Winfrey used today’s broadcast to confirm the report and explain the reasoning behind her decision.

According to her Web site, she said, in part: “Here is the real reason: I love this show. This show has been my life. And I love it enough to know when it’s time to say good-bye. Twenty-five years feels right in my bones and it feels right in my spirit. It’s the perfect number—the exact right time. So I hope that you will take this 18-month ride with me right through to the final show.”

Per a separate release: “After production wraps on ‘The Oprah Winfrey Show,’ Winfrey plans to appear and participate in new programming for OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network, a 24-hour cable network that reflects her vision, values and interests. The launch date for OWN, a joint venture with Discovery Communications, is now set for January 2011.”

Twitterville responded to the news with a range of emotions: sadness, nostalgia, cynicism and hope.

Razr_X RT @DFelice: What are the odds that Oprah Winfrey will give away something expensive to every audience member at her last show?

quecheekazai Will Oprah Winfrey become like Howard Stern? Out of site on satellite and cable only equals out of mind to the general public.

perfectify #Oprah Winfrey is leaving her show? after 25 years she has accomplished so much and will be missed!

thickQuizit Oprah Winfrey jum… I like her but I never really watched her show. I really don’t care if the show ends as long as she keeps donating $$

MoolahBaybee Oprah Winfrey will end her show on Sept 9 2011 tht day u will see all grandmas cry

ldgrynberg The Oprah Winfrey Show to end Sept 2011. THERE IS A GOD AND HE IS STARTING TO LOOK OUT FOR MEN AGAIN!

southsidegirl Oprah is CNN Breaking News? RT @cnnbrk: Oprah Winfrey confirms she will end her syndicated show in 2011. http://bit.ly/3EkfGK

2Real2BeFake #Shoutout to Oprah Winfrey for her future retirement. Even after she retires the $$$$ will be flowing in. Sheesh. MUST BE NICE!!!!!!!

bgallagher310 Is this not a sign of the apocalypse? RT @WSJ: Oprah Winfrey to End Show in 2011 http://bit.ly/42NfqS

mwise1 after 25 years, Oprah Winfrey is saying goodbye. Whether you love her or hate her she is an icon. http://bit.ly/4eii2r

lalitlohia Oprah Winfrey to end talk show in Sept 2011: Has she taken Movie 2012 too seriously & so planning to focus on her bucket list thereafter.

Duygutje If she leaving can I take over the “Oprah Winfrey” show? I think I can be a better host!

appleskins Oprah Winfrey’s show will end in 2011? That actually surprises me.. who will now give away copious amounts of goodies?

wereee so who willit be tyra or wendy to take the crown for oprah ? i think neither . neither has as much class as her and her show was THE BEST !

Jazzernova Oprah is starting her own network?? That’s baller.

CourtNeMiCheLLe so ill mos def be on oprah last show.. she bound to give away a free house a couple cars and a yorkie! IM IN THERE!

raulcordova I really love it when people don’t leave important stuff for the last minute. Oprah’s tears are rolling now two long years in advance!

ldgrynberg The Oprah Winfrey Show to end Sept 2011. THERE IS A GOD AND HE IS STARTING TO LOOK OUT FOR MEN AGAIN!

Dre_3K Oprah Winfrey retiring is going to cause book sales to fall and She can’t retire yet….. I haven’t been a guest on your show yet.

chadneidt I heard Oprah Winfrey ended her show because she just ran out of touching subjects that make people cry. Oh, and cars to give away.

Tystarr “OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network, a 24-hour cable network that reflects her vision, values and interests.” Scary and funny that this is real

tabithalavoie I knew Oprah couldn’t completely step away RT @Mediabistro: Oprah Winfrey bets on her future with cable: http://bit.ly/allXU (via @nytimes)

renesugar @markknoller She is just moving to her own network called the ‘Oprah Winfrey Network’ in January 2011 – like Howard Stern maximizing revenue

TheMagedMan So nice of Oprah & her ego to give us 2 years notice that she’s ending her show. Now I can grieve properly. http://bit.ly/2tt4zQ #oprah

Just earlier this year, Winfrey held a massive block party in Chicago to kick off her new season and then officially debuted with a two-part interview with Whitney Houston. In May, Winfrey announced a spin-off show featuring Dr. Mehmet Oz (and rumors say she’ll soon do the same with interior designer Nate Berkus) and revealed plans to make a talk show for Jenny McCarthy as well. Also in May, CNBC broadcast “The Oprah Effect,” a look at how “The Oprah Winfrey Show” can lead to a profit increase for companies that are featured on the program.

Winfrey has yet to explicitly say what she will do on OWN.

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