OPRAH’S “SURPRISE SPECTACULAR” IS ONE FOR THE RECORD BOOKS

THIS IS A SPOILER ALERT!!! If you are one of the few people living in caves who haven’t heard about Oprah’s “Surprise Spectacular Show” then read no further!

Chuck and I were lucky to be invited to what can only be called “The Greatest Show on Earth!” If a bomb, God forbid, would’ve hit the United Center Tuesday night, there would be no more stars left in the world. Every major celeb on the planet was there to pay homage to the most famous woman in the world – Oprah Winfrey.  

 
When we first arrived, we couldn’t believe our eyes at the lines snaking out blocks and blocks in every direction from the United Center. But, surprisingly, everyone was in great spirits, joking and making new friends as the lines inched along towards Mecca, the doors that would allow you access to the most talked about event in town, Oprah’s second- and third-to-last shows of her 25-year span of “The Oprah Winfrey Show.” On May 25th, her final show will be taped in her studio for the last time. Too sad for words…some people in the audience had never missed a show and had literally grown into adulthood with her. It must be especially sad for these people. There was even a proposal on stage between a cute firefighter and his girlfriend, Jenna. 
 
Oprah’s “prompters” were working the crowd almost from the moment you entered the building. All dressed in black with boundless enthusiasm, they gave shout-outs to people they saw in the crowd. “Hey, Mayor Daley, did you get the night off?” ‘Da Mayor was seated with Maggie and Nora Daley Conroy and another friend or family member (I couldn’t tell who) and never took his arm off of the back of Maggie’s chair. Carson Kressley was in the audience as well as Chef Art Smith (who made brunch for friends and family at his Table 52 the following day), who was wearing a chic straw hat, white shirt and thin black tie. He’s lost 118 lbs. to date and looks fantastic! The United Center was electric in anticipation of what was to come and there was much dancing onstage and off as the crowd along the stage started doing the Hustle simultaneously to one of the songs. The prompters told us to follow the instructions streaming along the walls at the appropriate time. This show would ALL be a complete surprise to Oprah who was tucked safely away in a sound-proof room. Previously before the show, along with our ticket info, we were given the opportunity to buy a book or books for Oprah’s “First Book” program. This would be a big surprise for her as well and when the time came, we were all instructed to hold our books up which were placed under our chairs, to her tearful delight. This time the gift was for Oprah with love from the 25,000+ audience and it was a very special moment for everyone.
 
And then the lights dimmed, the countdown for TV began, the music was cued and out came Oprah. She was dressed in the most elegant purple gown with exquisite beading along the waist and neckline with her hair in an elegant slicked back high-styled ponytail. Her diamond chandelier earrings had the largest center diamond stone I may have ever seen. At first glance, it looked like a cluster of diamonds and then you realized the entire center part was one massive stone…only in Oprah’s world! Wow! And then, shortly after O appeared, Tom Hanks walked onstage to wild applause and said, “Today you are surrounded by nothing but love. More than 40 million people have tuned in every week and pulling off this show must’ve seemed like a “‘Mission Impossible.’” Guess who came on next? Tom Cruise!!!! Tom said, “You have been called Glenda the Good Witch and you have always had the power…” With this, Jackie Evancho (“America’s Got Talent”) appeared at the end of the loooooong runway-type stage singing “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.” She continued along the runway to the main stage where she was met by Josh Groban who continued the “Wizard of Oz” medley…and then Patti LaBelle entered the mix and the stadium erupted. After this moving
song, Tom Hanks introduced a “hard-working mother of four” – MADONNA! Madge introduced the first audience participation segment that included both sides of the stadium holding up white cards. A projection of women across the world was shown on the cards which served as a giant video screen and told the story of hope Oprah has spread throughout the world. Madge said that Oprah is the only living woman in the world that she is inspired by. Dakota Fanning then introduced Oprah’s “Youngest Ultimate Viewers.” All of the little kids formed a circle around O and she shook their little hands…so touching. Oprah had a man following her around whose sole function was simply to supply her with Kleenex when she reached out her hand and she needed a LOT of it on this night! Next onstage, was the stunningly gorgeous Beyonce who performed in a little short black tux with red high, high heels. Her dance troupe of 12 beautiful women performed her latest single “Run the World (Girls)” twice because there was some technical problem but BOTH times, it was very high energy and had the crowd on their feet cheering and clapping. Tom Hanks remarked, “I don’t know what Beyonce was recruiting for, but I’m signing up!” Oprah said, “And did you see those quads?!” Beyonce sure DID look awesome! Next, John Legend appeared onscreen from New Orleans at a school that was rebuilt by Target. In honor of Oprah’s 25 years, Target has pledged to rebuild 25 libraries across the country. While we waited for a commercial break, busy bee workers raised a huge structure to the top of the ceiling for the next segment which opened with Diane Sawyer. She told Oprah that she knew she was inspired by the huge oak trees (on her Santa Barbara estate) and that 25,000 oak trees will be planted across the nation to inspire others. Oprah said to the audience, “Everybody gets a tree!” Halle Berry, Queen Latifah and Katie Holmes took to the stage and honored extraordinary viewers including a mother to 29 foster children who was in the audience. They all looked so glamorous and then Rascal Flatts performed to a montage showing the many people whose lives Oprah has touched including an Afghan woman who was inspired to be her country’s first talk show host as well as soldiers serving in Iraq.

There was a short break and then the taping for the second show began. It opened with Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith who said, “It’s great to be in the house that Michael Jordan built!” And with that, the familiar opening Bulls’ introduction was heard and the lights flashed like the days of old in the stadium and that familiar announcer’s voice was heard, “And now, at guard, 6’6” from North Carolina…” and the crowd just lost it. Michael Jordan got the biggest, most thunderous roar for the night and even Oprah kept mentioning him throughout the rest of the show with awe and surprise. And, as if this all weren’t enough, Jamie Foxx arose from the audience as a surprise, singing “Isn’t She Lovely.” He walked slowly to the stage, greeted O and then the stage opened up to reveal Stevie Wonder finishing the song with Foxx. It was an OH-MY-GOODNESS moment for sure! Wonder sang a new song he had begun for his mother but finished in honor of Oprah. More tissue please! Then we all needed some comic relief and it appeared in the form of none other than Jerry Seinfeld! He is so darn funny! His opening line was, “What is this all about here? How much can one person take?” He had the audience in stitches and continued on with a shtick about how his wife and women in general notice “tones” in men’s voices…as in “I don’t like your tone!” He was so funny, as always! A clever song and dance number starring Rosie O’Donnell came next with Oprah's discoveries appearing onstage: Dr. Phil, Dr. Oz and Nate Berkus. Simon Cowell also made an appearance (a forgettable one and seemingly the weakest link in the show in my opinion…). Next, Oprah’s best friend, Gayle King, and Maria Shriver (who looked so very thin) came out and talked about their love for Oprah. (I can’t imagine how much courage it must’ve taken for Maria to appear after the nasty revelations about the "Sperminator"). On the stage screen the number of students who have gone to school because of Oprah flashed in big, blue letters: 64,688! The audience had all been given glow rings and the instructions said to turn them on now. The march of the Morehouse College Men – 415 strong – began to snake through the crowd up onto the stage all holding lights of their own. The stadium was one giant, glittering candle as these hard-working, successful and courageous men filed onto the stage and around Oprah. She was doing the “ugly cry” now and so was the rest of the crowd. Kristin Chenoweth sang them onto the stage. It was a very touching moment and, at the end of the segment, they all wanted to give Oprah a hug as the show went to commercial break. Oprah said, “Y’all trying to break me down and you’ve done it.” Maya Angelou was up next and read a very moving original poem she had written about Oprah and how her name was so empowering. She was accompanied on the piano by Alicia Keys! OMG! After this moving moment, another break for commercial and Oprah says to the crowd, “Holdin’ up with the shoes y’all!” It was so cute…she had killer heels on and stood for most of the evening! O’s longtime beau, Stedman Graham, spoke next and said, “I love you for making a difference in my life.” She seemed very surprised that Stedman appeared…apparently the limelight is not his thing. And finally the Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin sang her version of “Amazing Grace” to the Queen of Hearts, Oprah. Thoughtfully, tissue boxes had been placed next to everyone’s seat in the stadium and we were using them now for sure! Will, Jada and Oprah all held hands and then the final star appeared to the screams of the crowd: USHER!! Oprah said, “It feels like the rapture.” I couldn’t have agreed more…
 
Love,
Candace
Candace@CandidCandace.com