Newsweek reiterates my point about Oprah

Published 9:52 am Tuesday, June 16, 2009

I’ve been asking it for years: “Why do women like Oprah when she is nothing like them?”

I sometimes even add, “I don’t like Rush Limbaugh much either, but at least he has a little bit more in common with his male audience than Oprah does with her female audience.”

Then I pick my Newsweek out of my mail last week and enjoyed reading a skewering of Oprah Winfrey titled, “Crazy Talk: Oprah, Wacky Cures & You.”

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The story was about how “The Oprah Winfrey Show” has been a platform for less-than-credible medicine without counterbalancing the information with medical science. And when it does, hard science is held at a disadvantage, such as sitting in the audience or merely a statement at the end of the show.

The story quoted doctors who frequently have to re-educate patients who watch “Oprah.” It shared some of the questionable medicine — from Suzanne Somers’ “bioidentical” hormones and Jenny McCarthy’s vaccinations-cause-autism theories to letting bunk advice be aired that actually makes thyroid cancer worse and touts of one-hour lunch-time facelifts with no risks even though there were — and even told the story of a woman with breast cancer who was going to forgo chemotherapy in favor of The Secret, some sort of inner-attitude cure-all that Oprah once said was the guiding philosophy of her life. She recanted when having to talk the woman out of her plans, surprised anyone would get the wrong idea.

Of course, the story did mention the show offers good advice from Dr. Mahment Oz and trainer Bob Greene and also mentioned how they are conveniently quiet while questionable mediciine is being explored because they know who butters their bread.

I’ll get to my point. There were a few paragraphs in there that read like music to my ears. Like Oprah or not, read this:

“Oprah, of course, is notoriously bad at sticking with the advice Oz and Greene dispense, especially when it comes to her weight. She laments her inability to keep off the pounds. In January she embarked on yet another attempt to trim down, which means all of Oprah’s viewers are now — actually or vicariously — on a diet too. She will lose the weight, and there will be much remarking upon it. But then, in a year, or two, or three, experience teaches us that the fat will likely come back. And she will lament. And then she will do it all over again, with a whole new set of experts armed with the latest breakthrough theories on how to live our next best life and all-new, must-have books and gadgets and ointments to ease the way.

“At some point, it would seem, people will stop looking to Oprah for this kind of guidance. This will never happen. Oprah’s audience admires her as much for her failings as her successes. In real life, she has almost nothing in common with most of her viewers. She is an unapproachable billionaire with a private jet and homes around the country who hangs out with movie stars. She is not married and has no children. But television Oprah is a different person. She somehow manages to make herself believable as a down-to-earth everywoman. She is your girlfriend who struggles to control her weight and balance her work and personal life, just like you. When she recently related the story of how humiliated she felt when she arrived for a photo shoot to find that she couldn’t fit into the clothes she was supposed to wear, she knew she had every member of the audience in her hand. Oprah’s show is all about second and third and fourth chances to fix your life, and the promise that the next new thing to come along will be the one that finally works.”

It makes me wonder who was the wackier person when Tom Cruise was jumping up and down on Oprah’s couch. OK, you are right. Tom Cruise is wackier than Oprah.

Still, she is merely as entertainer, one who has fooled people into thinking she isn’t trying to entertain them. People speak the name “Oprah Winfrey” as if it carries a weight of credibility — “I saw it on ‘Oprah’”— but it should be esteemed by listeners on the level of “Jerry Springer,” “Maury Povich,” “Montel Williams” “Tyra Banks” and “Martha Stewart.” Oprah’s is the mud just like all the others.

Many people in Albert Lea have committed themselves to making small changes in their lifestyles so they can lead healthier lives. All this is a result of the AARP/Blue Zones Vitality Project.

May I request one small addition to the changes people are making: Don’t watch daytime TV talk shows. Especially don’t watch “The Oprah Winfrey Show.”

If you ask me for an alternative, I’d suggest watching either the Minnesota Twins or “SpongeBob SquarePants.” They both are healthier for your perspective.

At least, that would be according to The Secret.

Good night, and good luck.

Tribune Managing Editor Tim Engstrom’s column appears every Tuesday.