<![CDATA[Oprah's Favorite Things 2007: The Audience Freaks Out! - Jezebel Comments]]> <![CDATA[Oprah's Favorite Things 2007: The Audience Freaks Out! - Jezebel Comments]]> <![CDATA[Oprah's Favorite Things 2007: The Audience Freaks Out!]]> Trackback

]]> <![CDATA[Oprah's Favorite Things 2007: The Audience Freaks Out!]]> What you don't realize is that as an added gift. Oprah surprised the guest after the show by stating that she is paying the taxes.

sassy30

]]> <![CDATA[Oprah's Favorite Things 2007: The Audience Freaks Out!]]> @fabforever1: from oprah's website:
"A little FYI about prize tax, since a few people have asked about it. Favorite Things are gifts from the sponsors, so therefore the grand total of the gifts is not what gets it taxed - it's the price of the gift(s) from each sponsor. It only is taxable if the item exceeds $600 (it used to be $500). So, the only items that would be taxable this season is the 90th anniversary dvd set, fridge and camcorder. So the sponsors and Harpo that are covering the tax for Macon is just covering a tax on those items, but it is still very generous and nice for them to do!"

so they didn't have to pay any taxes. a few years ago, when oprah gave out those cars, people later found out they had to pay like $7k taxes on it and it caused a controversy. when oprah found out, she picked up the tab. she's like the best human being ever.

Slut Machine

]]> <![CDATA[Oprah's Favorite Things 2007: The Audience Freaks Out!]]> I think there's an issue of perspective, too. A 20-something single in a 1-bedroom rental in NYC has other things on her mind than a refrigerator. It would just be a dead weight for her. But for a family that's "just getting by," it might be a real help.

Some of you guys sound like real snobs who are looking to be dissatisfied and displeased with everything, but I think that's more than a little disingenuous. Maybe a fancy fridge doesn't tickle your materialistic instinct, and maybe you wouldn't show your happiness by jumping up and down as part of a TV show audience, but it's real hard to believe that in the right setting, you wouldn't be just as happy to get a pretty trinket that you wouldn't go out and buy for yourself that you don't really *need* but will definitely *enjoy*. Hard to believe that anyone who's taken a sincere vow of poverty is whiling away the day on Gawker, KWIM?

I'm not home at Oprah-airing hours but whenever I catch a rerun I remember that I like her. She's become ungodly rich, to the degree that has made her a little out of touch with the routines of normal human beings, but overall she still has something very down-to-earth she can tap into to connect to ordinary people and to how their ordinary challenges can seem overwhelming. In my book, she's good people.

clickable

]]> <![CDATA[Oprah's Favorite Things 2007: The Audience Freaks Out!]]> @slut machine: I guess the only problem is that they are not free, you pay 44% tax on them! :0)

fabforever1

]]> <![CDATA[Oprah's Favorite Things 2007: The Audience Freaks Out!]]> @slut machine: There was a $900 dvd box set of every Oscar nominated movie?! I'd cry just over that!!

Louweeze

]]> <![CDATA[Oprah's Favorite Things 2007: The Audience Freaks Out!]]> Oprah should do a show on Buy Nothing Day [adbusters.org], and have the Reverend Billy [www.revbilly.com] as a guest.

onesix18

]]> <![CDATA[Oprah's Favorite Things 2007: The Audience Freaks Out!]]> people who are saying they wouldn't want free gifts are nuts. and as for the people overreacting? when i was in the audience of the tyra show, and they brought around mini bags of cheetos, it made my fucking day. i think i'd pee my pants if i received even a quarter of the gifts from this episode. a kitchen aid mixer! a fridge/tv! a fucking $900 dvd box set of every oscar nominated movie! WANT!

Slut Machine

]]> <![CDATA[Oprah's Favorite Things 2007: The Audience Freaks Out!]]> @dinergirl: Lavender shirt girl is about 8 months pregnant from what I can tell. For a "diner" girl, you've not got a good eye for true "fatties".

PorpoiseSpit

]]> <![CDATA[Oprah's Favorite Things 2007: The Audience Freaks Out!]]> Turn off the sound and it looks like you're watching a Pentecostal church service! Shit! That's comedy.

ForeverBlueGirl

]]> <![CDATA[Oprah's Favorite Things 2007: The Audience Freaks Out!]]> Trackback

]]> <![CDATA[Oprah's Favorite Things 2007: The Audience Freaks Out!]]> I really like Oprah. I don't watch the show since I don't have a TV and I probably wouldn't anyway, but I'm a fan.

Luxbot

]]> <![CDATA[Oprah's Favorite Things 2007: The Audience Freaks Out!]]> @dinergirl: For real, dude? Not cool.

TruculentandUnreliable

]]> <![CDATA[Oprah's Favorite Things 2007: The Audience Freaks Out!]]> @flynnchick: Those are some hideous cover-up-my-big-thyroid-ass pants. But those QVC chicks sure can rock them.

Bug a Martini

]]> <![CDATA[Oprah's Favorite Things 2007: The Audience Freaks Out!]]> Oh, and pause it at 1:35. Is that Paula Deen behind lavender shirt fatty and denim jacket fatty?

dinergirl

]]> <![CDATA[Oprah's Favorite Things 2007: The Audience Freaks Out!]]> Why didn't she give out some Alli or SlimFast -- did you LOOK at those fatties in Macon? Or some insulin, for fuck's sake... the last thing they need is a refrigerator.

dinergirl

]]> <![CDATA[Oprah's Favorite Things 2007: The Audience Freaks Out!]]> I'd hazard a guess that a lot of the negative bitchy comments here stem from jealousy....who doesn't like getting gifts? The whole point of the show is to show a glimpse of Oprah's life, and to treat each audience member like a celebrity for the day.

I'm just happy for all those people, sure I'd like some awesome free shit, and hell yeah, it's materialistic consumerism but everyone deserves to feel like a prince/princess at some point, REGARDLESS of whether or not they're teachers or 9/11 workers or white suburban housewives.

bourgeoisie

]]> <![CDATA[Oprah's Favorite Things 2007: The Audience Freaks Out!]]> @TruculentandUnreliable: Lets just say I have the inside track on knowing EXACTLY how she operates....

Speedie

]]> <![CDATA[Oprah's Favorite Things 2007: The Audience Freaks Out!]]> @Speedie: Don't you talk about Martha that way! Bitch will cut you.

TruculentandUnreliable

]]> <![CDATA[Oprah's Favorite Things 2007: The Audience Freaks Out!]]> My sister was on the Oprah's Favorite things in 2005 for the Katrina volunteers. I don't think she had to pay taxes on the swag. Plus she ended up selling most of it on ebay and used the money to pay for her college tution.

Also she had a close up on that epispode and she looks like she is crapping in her pants.

Contessa18

]]> <![CDATA[Oprah's Favorite Things 2007: The Audience Freaks Out!]]> uh...call me crazy but I still want my fridge to be a fridge, and my TV to be a TV. Whats the point of having one item that does both?

Also, Oprah sits on the right hand of the devil while Martha keeps the left side nice and warm.....

Speedie

]]> <![CDATA[Oprah's Favorite Things 2007: The Audience Freaks Out!]]> I thought it was funny when she gave away the deluxe scrabble board and a blonde woman in the audience turned to the lady next to her and said, "I'm going to give that to Faye!" At least I think it was Faye or Fred, my lip reading skills only go so far!

Dops

]]> <![CDATA[Oprah's Favorite Things 2007: The Audience Freaks Out!]]> I'm literally in tears right now from laughing so hard at that SNL skit!

MakeMeSmile

]]> <![CDATA[Oprah's Favorite Things 2007: The Audience Freaks Out!]]> this shit always makes me really nervous. i mean, i want to like oprah and i think some of the things she talks about are important - for example, she once had a wonderful show on transgendered children that was very respectful and nice - but this rampant, gleeful, shit-in-their-pants materialism aggravates me. stuff is not happiness. OPRAH. STOP IT.

vonnegurl

]]> <![CDATA[Oprah's Favorite Things 2007: The Audience Freaks Out!]]> I'm watching it at work and I don't have speakers. I think it may be even funnier without the sound.

TruculentandUnreliable

]]> <![CDATA[Oprah's Favorite Things 2007: The Audience Freaks Out!]]> @lolly71: Totally agree. The only good thing about buying an Oprah book is that they are usually marked down. For a good time, watch someone reading an O book at an airport or something sometime. It's usually a monumental struggle. You know they want to throw that crap down and go get something with Fabio on the cover.

brookidy

]]> <![CDATA[Oprah's Favorite Things 2007: The Audience Freaks Out!]]> @heartslikestars: I LOLed.

TruculentandUnreliable

]]> <![CDATA[Oprah's Favorite Things 2007: The Audience Freaks Out!]]> oh goddamn you have to see these oprah pants...[www.oprah.com]

flynnchick

]]> <![CDATA[Oprah's Favorite Things 2007: The Audience Freaks Out!]]> @fabforever, I agree with you on not liking the concept of the show. Back when this idea was fresh, it was kind of like lifting the lid on Oprah's private world, seeing what she bought for herself.

Now it's merely a plug-fest, with audience members expected to put themselves into a tizzy over the freebies, and flacks backstage giving themselves high-fives for the exposure. Nope, not for me.

brendastarlet

]]> <![CDATA[Oprah's Favorite Things 2007: The Audience Freaks Out!]]> @missyprimrose: Now, I might cry over that too! hahahahahahaha! I don't know, maybe I am crazy, but I watched this show once and something just wasn't right. It also seems like the pick just the right people (maybe really poor) so they will freak out even more on TV and bring bigger ratings. It is like the exploit these people somehow. Maybe I am just seeing things! hahahahaha! Who knows, I just don't like the concept of this show - it is about endorsing these brands so they sell more and more for Christmas - and that bugs me! And I didn't even think about the tax issue, so they leave the studio with 'FREE' things and about 5K+ in taxes! Great Gift!

fabforever1

]]> <![CDATA[Oprah's Favorite Things 2007: The Audience Freaks Out!]]> Why do I feel like I live in Rome ca. 425 all of a sudden?

droplet

]]> <![CDATA[Oprah's Favorite Things 2007: The Audience Freaks Out!]]> I always remember being mortified for these people that they seemingly lack the sense and composure to not go BSC in public. Even as a little girl watching Family Feud or one of those other old school gameshows, I'd always be horrified at the people flipping out over the chance to win one of those cheesy-looking prizes.

Hooplehead

]]> <![CDATA[Oprah's Favorite Things 2007: The Audience Freaks Out!]]> Whoever the Williams-Sonoma rep slept with, it was worth it for them this year.

brendastarlet

]]> <![CDATA[Oprah's Favorite Things 2007: The Audience Freaks Out!]]> Greedy bitches.

katroks327

]]> <![CDATA[Oprah's Favorite Things 2007: The Audience Freaks Out!]]> For real. I mean I'd love all that free stuff but I wouldn't be weeping. They remind me of the ladies at my mom's Pentecostle church - someone on one end of the room spoke in tongues while on the other end someone interpreted it. Yikes.

I can only see myself getting that worked up if George Clooney wanted to spend the night with me.
@fabforever1:


missyprimrose

]]> <![CDATA[Oprah's Favorite Things 2007: The Audience Freaks Out!]]> @fabforever1: It is indeed the Holy Grail of corporate PR to get your crap on Oprah's Favorites. American capitalist kickbacks, now that's what our boys have fought for over the years.

Lizawithazee

]]> <![CDATA[Oprah's Favorite Things 2007: The Audience Freaks Out!]]> @ae38: Getting a gift from an employer is a different situation than getting a gift from a random person. Random person = over $12,000. Employer gifts = part of 'compensation', hence tax witholding on holiday bonuses (the bastards!)

kroliosis

]]> <![CDATA[Oprah's Favorite Things 2007: The Audience Freaks Out!]]> OH! And the woman who mouths... "my favorite things"... ya know... the whole clip is just gold.

AnastasiaBeaverhousen

]]> <![CDATA[Oprah's Favorite Things 2007: The Audience Freaks Out!]]> LOVE the woman in the cast!... the guy in the 1970s suit... and the woman at the end who got so excited she needed to hold her chest...

AnastasiaBeaverhousen

]]> <![CDATA[Oprah's Favorite Things 2007: The Audience Freaks Out!]]> Watching this is terrifying and slightly puke-inducing. I can't believe people are flipping their SHIT over this thing. It's a thing! An enormously expensive thing! A thing no one needs!

bifteck-frites

]]> <![CDATA[Oprah's Favorite Things 2007: The Audience Freaks Out!]]> @Looker: Do you have kids? My mother has two under twelve and spends like 50% of her time in there cooking, cleaning, doing dishes, blah, blah, blah, I'd want a TV in there too.

stacyinbean

]]> <![CDATA[Oprah's Favorite Things 2007: The Audience Freaks Out!]]> I hate Oprah.

LovinsandSqueezins

]]> <![CDATA[Oprah's Favorite Things 2007: The Audience Freaks Out!]]> So is this where the phrase O Face comes from?

OnionRings

]]> <![CDATA[Oprah's Favorite Things 2007: The Audience Freaks Out!]]> @JessicaLovejoy: The mere mention of Katt Williams was enough to make me laugh out loud. I'd love to see him do an impression of these women...staring at their new fridges.

MissYuk

]]> <![CDATA[Oprah's Favorite Things 2007: The Audience Freaks Out!]]> @sixseeds: I'm the other way around. I picked up a book that I've always wanted to read the same month Oprah put it on her list. The whole time I was reading it, people kept asking me about damn Oprah. I seriously had no idea she even had a list. So annoying. Now I will NOT buy the copy that has that damn sticker on it.

lolly71

]]> <![CDATA[Oprah's Favorite Things 2007: The Audience Freaks Out!]]> I used to work with kids at Central High School in Little Rock, AR. They were SO PUMPED when they found out she was coming to the school for the 50th anniversary of the integration crisis. At the last school she had visited, she had given all the seniors cars, so they just knew Oprah was going to give them cars too. But she gave them nothing. I'm pretty sure she's now the most hated woman at Central High.

funnyface

]]> <![CDATA[Oprah's Favorite Things 2007: The Audience Freaks Out!]]> Um, did anyone notice that Oprah mentioned that LG would come and recycle the audience members' old fridge or donate it to a family in need? I think that was her way of saying, you can't sell this fridge cuz it'll be the only one you have. Which kinda makes sense - I can see the Macon Craigslist ads now...

bluebirdred

]]> <![CDATA[Oprah's Favorite Things 2007: The Audience Freaks Out!]]> Is it okay to be quite moved by their reactions seeing as I'm not actually reacting to the free shit but the people's reactions to the free shit? (and by shit I mean "stuff I would love to have, oh please Oprah put me in the audience for next year's one") They could be reacting like that to used gym socks and I'd be moved by it.

I love Oprah. Even if she does promote materialism and consumerism, and even if underneath it all she is in it for fame, glory, money, whatever... the fact is that thousands of other people who have attained her level of power/ wealth/ influence have used it purely for selfish gain (and often in quite an evil manner, if we look specifically at oil magnates as an example), whereas she uses it for selfish gain AND to try and help women, black people, poor people, literacy... this is why I love Oprah.

Louweeze

]]> <![CDATA[Oprah's Favorite Things 2007: The Audience Freaks Out!]]> I always ask, "Who the f*ck is Oprah to tell me what I should read?!!"

flynnchick

]]> <![CDATA[Oprah's Favorite Things 2007: The Audience Freaks Out!]]> @sixseeds: Probably just as well; they wouldn't be into Faulkner anyway. Some of her book club choices baffle me. Who's her intended audience?

sequined

]]> <![CDATA[Oprah's Favorite Things 2007: The Audience Freaks Out!]]> Oprah, Dr. Phil, etc., are nothing more than shills for the status quo. Fuck 'em all.

maneki_neko

]]> <![CDATA[Oprah's Favorite Things 2007: The Audience Freaks Out!]]> @HeatherNumber1: I used to think that about Oprah's book club, until it endorsed/put out a special edition set of Faulkner's novels. The kicker? When told the Oprah's book club had only endorsed/produced the set, they would ask for "the Oprah version" of the individual books. All that made them different was a sticker on the cover, but when told there was no Oprah edition of the single book, most left empty-handed. They wouldn't read the book without the Oprah sticker. That was when the cult-like nature of her following began to alarm me. I'm with Gloria -- if the audience reacts this way to used gym socks, we know we're in trouble.

sixseeds

]]> <![CDATA[Oprah's Favorite Things 2007: The Audience Freaks Out!]]> the two women in the beginning are my favorites... #1 "I'm so confused, what's going on, why is everyone yelling??" #2 *Mouths very clearly* "My Favorite Things!!" #1 "OMG PONIES!! YAAAY!"

competencykills

]]> <![CDATA[Oprah's Favorite Things 2007: The Audience Freaks Out!]]> @ceejeemcbeegee: 1) I love Oprah greatly, let's get that straight. 2) You are only obligated to declare gifts over, and I may be off slightly here, $1500-$2500 which is why there are limits to the amount companies will spend on corporate gifts to a client

ae38

]]> <![CDATA[Oprah's Favorite Things 2007: The Audience Freaks Out!]]> That fridge would be HELLA useful in my house! My MIL spends a lot of her free time sitting at the kitchen table, doing puzzles and whatnot, because there's more windows than in her room, the chairs are just right for her size/swollen legs, and its right near the coffee pot. For her to be able to watch some TV while comfortable in her little spot would be awesome for her.

Then again, she's half-deaf, would turn it up REAL LOUD, and annoy everyone in this tiny, somewhat open, utterly thin-walled house.

As for the rest of the convo... it was nice to see a lot of diversity in that crowd, and I agree with what a lot of you are saying - that's some swag that those folks might not ever have access to. Sure, its materialism at its finest, but it feels NICE to be spoiled sometimes!

Maeg

]]> <![CDATA[Oprah's Favorite Things 2007: The Audience Freaks Out!]]> The thing that really got me about this episode is that this is the first time in a while she hasn't done the favorite things episode for people who've done something good for the world. The past two audiences were teachers and 9/11 rescue workers if I remember correctly. Now she's giving out free stuff just for being privileged enough to have time and resources to watch her show every day? Losing touch with reality much?

Too bad the writer's strike happened too late for this... She should have had an audience filled with laid off crew members, drivers, and craft service workers.

shiningstar

]]> <![CDATA[Oprah's Favorite Things 2007: The Audience Freaks Out!]]> @lesbiansayswhat: Dang, and here I was just going to say how much I want to go to her show, since she's local and all. But those tickets are nigh impossible to snag.

Is it okay if I'm a white middle-middle class housewife?

jurijuri

]]> <![CDATA[Oprah's Favorite Things 2007: The Audience Freaks Out!]]> Even with all the tax crap..it's hard to imagine these people being ungrateful about it..they could just refuse it. Anyway, I'm glad she changed venues..I just can't stand seeing all those white middle-upper class housewives screaming up and down about their new material excess. Chances are the residents of Georgia are on a lower tax bracket than Chicago residents.

And Oprah in the end is just out there giving shit to people who want more. Snags come about but basically the woman gives more than most millionaires in general. I'd be ecstatic too. Taxes shaxes..I'm selling that shit, covering my bases and having extra to pay off student loans.

lesbiansayswhat

]]> <![CDATA[Oprah's Favorite Things 2007: The Audience Freaks Out!]]> gra: @ceejeemcbeegee:

I only know what is reported & evidently folks who've won gifts on the show have complained about "costs" they had to pay. I often wonder what happened to the woman working at Starbucks who Oprah surprised:Shegave the woman a beautiful home so that she & her sister's 4 kids could live in it. I recall thinking I hope this woman can afford to live in this house w/ a Starbucks income. I know that Extreme Makeover Home covers all their bases, but Oprah gets major criticism for not following through on these issues. I think Oprah is consumed by her ego & worships celebrity & wealth more than anything else. Bravo to her for starting a girls school, but again, she bristles at criticism thrown her way by the girls'parents (How dare they!)& the child molestion charges. For all of O's wealth & power, I consider her a lightweight, spiritually speaking. Love her all you want( most folks do); I used to like her too, but things change.

shunguy007

]]> <![CDATA[Oprah's Favorite Things 2007: The Audience Freaks Out!]]> Now this is something that I would probably burn when I got home with it...

[images.oprah.com]

Now that's something that's pretty damn ugly!

DiscussBeauty

]]> <![CDATA[Oprah's Favorite Things 2007: The Audience Freaks Out!]]> A golden toilet with built-in Bose sound system? Thanks Oprah!

bananappeal

]]> <![CDATA[Oprah's Favorite Things 2007: The Audience Freaks Out!]]> @goodcheapfun: I'd say that there's a bit of irony there. If we were to look at the REAL list of her "favorite things", the gift tax would be ASTRONOMICAL! For someone who would bitch about a Hermes bag that costs more than a base model 2007 Impala, I seriously doubt a refrigerator such as the one that she was whoring out on her "Favorite Things" segment would be anything that she would have in her kitchen. I'm pretty sure that that all the refrigerators that she's got in each of her mansions are well over $12,000, and I'm pretty sure that they each have a Bose system attached along with it, she can surf the net on it, and get satellite cable.

DiscussBeauty

]]> <![CDATA[Oprah's Favorite Things 2007: The Audience Freaks Out!]]> This is why Ebay exists.
And what the HELL is this outfit??
[www2.oprah.com]
I would throw it, the Ugg boots and the Josh Grobin CD back at her!

MissFiFi

]]> <![CDATA[Oprah's Favorite Things 2007: The Audience Freaks Out!]]> Let's review how TV works, girls--like the Price is Right and other shows that turn ordinary American folk into panting idiots by giving away product that isn't paid for by anyone; this would include O-girl. This is what used be called "promotional consideration", and now is called "placement". And what used to be called a talk show is now just some bullshit vehicle for consumerism on a level that is supposed to lull us into thinking that The American Dream is all about having lots of good merch. Vomit. This influence is reason enough to hate Oprah.

thatgirlinnewyork

]]> <![CDATA[Oprah's Favorite Things 2007: The Audience Freaks Out!]]> @heartslikestars: i'm still laughing. oh, sides are hurting. imagine!

"YOU get a beard!"
"YOU get a beard!"

rednrowdy

]]> <![CDATA[Oprah's Favorite Things 2007: The Audience Freaks Out!]]> Amy Poehler's head popping off her neck is my favorite part of the SNL skit. That and Tina Fey gnawing on the smoked turkey carcass.

Which was very similar to today's show.

MACAROOOOOOOONS!

OnionRings

]]> <![CDATA[Oprah's Favorite Things 2007: The Audience Freaks Out!]]> I am totes jealous about the fridge.
it comes with pre-programmed recipes and video ( hence the built in tv) on how to make the recipes.
Oprah. Rocks.

SpicyTamale πβɸ

]]> <![CDATA[Oprah's Favorite Things 2007: The Audience Freaks Out!]]> @Gloria: I remember seeing an episode waaaay back when where she (at least, I'm mostly sure it was Oprah) set out a table of free gym shoes in the waiting area, but ONLY the right ones. And people took them. Later during the show, she went around and asked people why on earth they wanted just one shoe. Some folks actually had good answers (for the dog to chew, to toss in the dryer with blankets, etc). At the end though, she gave everyone a left shoe too.

hydrargyrum

]]> <![CDATA[Oprah's Favorite Things 2007: The Audience Freaks Out!]]> I'm not a big Oprah fan, but I do live in Macon. The average household income here is in the upper-20s, and there are many poor areas of the city...I would wager that a lot of these guests probably have fridges that are 15 years old or more and really do appreciate the gesture. It's easy to think of this as being materialistic, but this isn't an area where there's much recognition, and if her fan base is strong here it makes sense to visit. Most of these fans would never be able to take a trip out to see her show otherwise.

fizzyg

]]> <![CDATA[Oprah's Favorite Things 2007: The Audience Freaks Out!]]> @ThaKadinskyPapers: What were you off smokin'??! Figures!

@HeatherNumber1: Scared of the power and scared of the fact that the power is of a darker shade ;)

SinisterRouge

]]> <![CDATA[Oprah's Favorite Things 2007: The Audience Freaks Out!]]> @ThaKadinskyPapers: Wait...you drew a TV on your fridge w/ Nutella? I can't decide if I love you for that or if I'm pissed off because you wasted all that Nutella.

lolly71

]]> <![CDATA[Oprah's Favorite Things 2007: The Audience Freaks Out!]]> It is true that I don't know how I'd react, but I am still inclined to think it wouldn't move me.

Especially since I never want to be on TV, and I don't even know if I would want to accept stuff from a TV show.

girly

]]> <![CDATA[Oprah's Favorite Things 2007: The Audience Freaks Out!]]> Is it just me or is there some irony that Oprah's favorite thing is a fridge?

goodcheapfun

]]> <![CDATA[Oprah's Favorite Things 2007: The Audience Freaks Out!]]> @PorpoiseSpit: same in my house, except my fridge isn't even in my kitchen, but around the corner in the utility room. Which is what I kept telling myself while watching this today and thinking, Why can't I get piles of free stuff, Oprah? Please?? Just the soap, I love the soap, please can I have soap?

And to everyone saying they wouldn't get excited if they were in that audience, puh-lease, you so would. Not just because they have someone warm up the audience first, not just because everyone else around you is screaming, but because free stuff is always exciting. Even if it's stuff you don't want and will never use, at least you don't have to feign gratitude to Aunt Beryl for the ugly thing.

mockingbird

]]> <![CDATA[Oprah's Favorite Things 2007: The Audience Freaks Out!]]> This is the only Oprah show that I'll tivo. My husband had never seen it and we laughed for the whole hour.

missdona

]]> <![CDATA[Oprah's Favorite Things 2007: The Audience Freaks Out!]]> @JessicaLovejoy: Sorry, how much Oprah hate did I miss? I smoked a bowl and was drawing a TV on my icebox using Nutella and some crushed pecans, hey! dinner theater!

@elevendy: and don't forget The Iraq! such as.

ThaKadinskyPapers

]]> <![CDATA[Oprah's Favorite Things 2007: The Audience Freaks Out!]]> Personally I can't stand all the screaming on these Favorite Things eps. The decibel levels even through the TV. I do not want to be there even for the free loot.

enjikunoichi

]]> <![CDATA[Oprah's Favorite Things 2007: The Audience Freaks Out!]]> This story and "No shopping day" from consumerist need to be united somehow.

I agree w/ someone earlier, I could not see myself getting excited over this.

How do they get people to applaud & stuff on command? Why do people do it? Would they be kicked off the set if they didn't?

girly

]]> <![CDATA[Oprah's Favorite Things 2007: The Audience Freaks Out!]]> @AnnieGetYourFun: She's pretty fricking funny at 1:33, too. How many times did you have to pause that to catch the crazy eye?

Good catch.

PorpoiseSpit

]]> <![CDATA[Oprah's Favorite Things 2007: The Audience Freaks Out!]]> @JessicaLovejoy: I think I really want to hang out with you.

iamtrex

]]> <![CDATA[Oprah's Favorite Things 2007: The Audience Freaks Out!]]> @heartslikestars: HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

JNOV

]]> <![CDATA[Oprah's Favorite Things 2007: The Audience Freaks Out!]]> Also, the Christmas music really skeeved me out.

AnnieGetYourFun

]]> <![CDATA[Oprah's Favorite Things 2007: The Audience Freaks Out!]]> I'd like to be there the year she finally yells out "beards!" and every audience member goes home with their own Stedman.

HeartsLikeStars

]]> <![CDATA[Oprah's Favorite Things 2007: The Audience Freaks Out!]]> I disagree. Pause the video at 1:34 for a WAY funnier face.

AnnieGetYourFun

]]> <![CDATA[Oprah's Favorite Things 2007: The Audience Freaks Out!]]> What's funny is I have the world's smallest kitchen with the fridge in the unapproachable corner. I'd have to stand against a wall and directly in front of the fucker to watch it. .... literally seconds of fun for me!

PorpoiseSpit

]]> <![CDATA[Oprah's Favorite Things 2007: The Audience Freaks Out!]]> @fabforever1: My sentiments exactly. Stuff is cool, stuff can be useful, but unless you were in desperate need of it, it's nothing to lose your shit over. It comes across as greed to me, makes me uncomfortable.

I'm not an Oprah hater. She does good things for people, but this orgasm of consumerism isn't her best work, IMO.

KLondike5

]]> <![CDATA[Oprah's Favorite Things 2007: The Audience Freaks Out!]]> Fuck you. You're totally right!!

I do yell out "Oh god" when I puke, and when I cum.

The little things I don't realize could fill up a decent-lettered Encyclopedia.

Cutting Makes You Sexy

]]> <![CDATA[Oprah's Favorite Things 2007: The Audience Freaks Out!]]> @fabforever1: I feel like this kind of thing is inevitably said by someone who doesn't have to worry about money and can generally access the material goods she or he may desire. There might be folks in Oprah's audience who would never be able to purchase any of the items they won. And while it's not the entire answer to their life it might feel pretty damn good.

narymary

]]> <![CDATA[Oprah's Favorite Things 2007: The Audience Freaks Out!]]> "EVERYBODY'S GETTIN' A 709 FOOOOOOOOOOOOORM"

PaceysCreek

]]> <![CDATA[Oprah's Favorite Things 2007: The Audience Freaks Out!]]> @ceejeemcbeegee: I think people are just scared of the power. Especially men. They see women watching, or observe how Oprah's words can influence real change, and they assume she's got all the poor wifeys brainwashed. I'm not her biggest fan, and some of her 'experts' are idiots (that 'doctor' who said finding porn was akin to child molestation... what's her name?), but I'll be damned if she's not one of the most amazing people around.

HeatherNumber1

]]> <![CDATA[Oprah's Favorite Things 2007: The Audience Freaks Out!]]> @JessicaLovejoy: AH! I just saw the Kat Williams special - that guy is so fucking funny I was laughing out loud in my empty apartment.

And as a future independent bookstore owner - anything that gets people reading is okay by me.

I will be totally happy with Oprah once she says "blood diamonds" on her show, and refuses to wear diamonds anymore.

And that James Frey freak show was AWESOME.

unpopular

]]> <![CDATA[Oprah's Favorite Things 2007: The Audience Freaks Out!]]> @sixseeds: So what? People are the same way about all kinds of celebs.

ceejeemcbeegee

]]> <![CDATA[Oprah's Favorite Things 2007: The Audience Freaks Out!]]> @ceejeemcbeegee: Yes, I can't quite figure out why Oprah, of all people, inspires negativity in some people. She does many things to help people. The Oprah's Angles shows are amazing. She singles out regular people for their community service efforts and rewards them and the organizations that they support. Its awesome.

gra

]]> <![CDATA[Oprah's Favorite Things 2007: The Audience Freaks Out!]]> @beejshan: Word. I don't mind if people dislike Oprah. It's just if you don't like the woman, have an accurate reason.

ceejeemcbeegee

]]> <![CDATA[Oprah's Favorite Things 2007: The Audience Freaks Out!]]> I did think some people in the audience looked like they hoped for something a little more useful...

sequined

]]> <![CDATA[Oprah's Favorite Things 2007: The Audience Freaks Out!]]> @elevendy: Such as.

I.Can. Haz.Black.Editors?

]]> <![CDATA[Oprah's Favorite Things 2007: The Audience Freaks Out!]]> @heidiho: Word. I had a neighbor who won a Jag on Scrabble. She had the money for the taxes, fortunately. She put it like this, "I just bought a $75K jag for 15 grand."

ceejeemcbeegee

]]> <![CDATA[Oprah's Favorite Things 2007: The Audience Freaks Out!]]> Wow, Bah Humbug in this comment section, huh?

BeejShan

]]> <![CDATA[Oprah's Favorite Things 2007: The Audience Freaks Out!]]> I personally believe that some U.S. American women in the audience don't have refrigerators or television sets. Well, at least nice ones and they certainly don't have friges with the tvs in them like the one the Oprah has and such as. And I believe that our economic system over here in the U.S. should help the U.S., uh, the U.S. women so they can build a better future for their children.

Elevendy

]]> <![CDATA[Oprah's Favorite Things 2007: The Audience Freaks Out!]]> @ceejeemcbeegee: My friend got SCREWED with taxes when she won the Showcase Showdown on Price is Right. She sold most of it but she still owed money.

heidiho

]]> <![CDATA[Oprah's Favorite Things 2007: The Audience Freaks Out!]]> @gra: Thanks.... I was just about to add that. And the winner could have sold the car pay the taxes. An undriven car worth $28k could easily fetch $20K. Pay the IRS the $7k taxes and keep the difference. That's a $13K profit, tax free! What's the problem with this, exactly?

ceejeemcbeegee

]]> <![CDATA[Oprah's Favorite Things 2007: The Audience Freaks Out!]]> I read the O list and vommed a little.

My mom and I talked about going to Chicago next year to get a bunch of free shit. Then she said "but how would we bring it home on the plane?"

The HZA

]]> <![CDATA[Oprah's Favorite Things 2007: The Audience Freaks Out!]]> @gunshy007: For the record, the cars were considered "prizes" just like the shit people win on 'Jeopardy" or 'the Price is Right'. And people have to pay taxes on the winnings there too, not just the benefactors of Oprah's Fave Things. It's common practice for winners to pay taxes on the value of their winnings. Yet, no one's bitching about the taxes they pay on those shows. I wonder why Oprah's being singled out here?

ceejeemcbeegee

]]> <![CDATA[Oprah's Favorite Things 2007: The Audience Freaks Out!]]> @gunshy007: This was covered above by @ceejeemcbeegee:
You don't need to pay taxes on gifts of $12,000 or less. Further to that, when Oprah gave away the cars, which were worth more than $12,000, she made sure to pay the taxes.


gra

]]> <![CDATA[Oprah's Favorite Things 2007: The Audience Freaks Out!]]> Mmmmm... My fave is waaaay back when, on the Rosie show, when she and Sam Donaldson were voted Least Kissable in a Scope poll, so Rosie went apeshit with her "Just Say Nope to Scope" campaign and Listerine paid $1,000 to the her charity for every kiss she received on the show. It's a nice object lesson on the power of daytime television - anything mentioned on those shows goes thru the roof in terms of sales bumps. Oprah and Rosie really don't do anything other than mention the products on the show, and the companies do the rest. I'd say a good portion of those 'fave' gifts are already advertisers on the show or in the pages of their ancillary mags...

sfikus

]]> <![CDATA[Oprah's Favorite Things 2007: The Audience Freaks Out!]]> Giving is cool & all, but it's even cooler when you don't have to pay hidden costs. I never understand this about Oprah. Remember the cars she gave everyone(who could not afford cars?)Uh, if you don't have enough money to buy a car, why do you think these people will have $7000 to pay the tax on a new one? I'd love to know what happens when some people cannot afford to pay the tax on the gifts. Do the items get shipped back? Does Oprah personally tell them "Sorry, thanks for coming to the show anyway."
Honestly, I've had it with the Almighty Oprah.


shunguy007

]]> <![CDATA[Oprah's Favorite Things 2007: The Audience Freaks Out!]]> I would take that fridge and sell the holy fuck out of it to buy something useful. I mean, fridges are useful, but who in god's name needs a goddamned television built into their fridge?

I would take a bottom freezer side by side and spend the rest on something awesome. Like an extra mortgage principal payment.

Man, Jez, you guys should start a money feature.

Smackdown

]]> <![CDATA[Oprah's Favorite Things 2007: The Audience Freaks Out!]]> @polypam: I guess it bothers me that people are going nuts over all this stuff which is being given away as a form of advertisement. Can you imagine how competitive it must be to get those products to show on Oprah just before the holidays and how much more they will sell after this show? Also, I cried for the birth of my daughters, my wedding and when I helped some of the poorest people in Brazilian shanty towns, never because of a fridge!

fabforever1

]]> <![CDATA[Oprah's Favorite Things 2007: The Audience Freaks Out!]]> So the TV and DVD player are built into the fridge? Who'd want to spend two hours sitting in front of their fridge watching a movie? I would - it depends on how drunk I am and how much Jaeger is in the fridge.

Cam/ron

]]> <![CDATA[Oprah's Favorite Things 2007: The Audience Freaks Out!]]> @sixseeds: Maybe this speaks to the sad state of literacy in America but, as with the Harry Potter craze, I'm just happy when people are reading. Anything.

HeatherNumber1

]]> <![CDATA[Oprah's Favorite Things 2007: The Audience Freaks Out!]]> @sixseeds: Good point.

I think we need an experiment: Oprah gives out, say, used gym socks, and we'll videotape the results.

Gloria

]]> <![CDATA[Oprah's Favorite Things 2007: The Audience Freaks Out!]]> @sixseeds: And she doesn't actually give them this stuff, right? Doesn't it come gratis from the manufacturers?

JNOV

]]> <![CDATA[Oprah's Favorite Things 2007: The Audience Freaks Out!]]> @ThaKadinskyPapers: This reminds me of Katt Williams talking about weed so good you just sit in the kitchen and stare at the fridge.

JessicaLovejoy: Wanton Trollop

]]> <![CDATA[Oprah's Favorite Things 2007: The Audience Freaks Out!]]> They remind me of those people on Extreme Home Makeover when the move the bus and they're falling all over the street and screaming and fainting and stuff. Granted, that's a house (with a refrigerator, and usually some other stuff), but screaming and fainting over Uggs. Come on! They're on the list every freaking year. Seriously, Oprah, time to move on from the Uggs.

coopergirl

]]> <![CDATA[Oprah's Favorite Things 2007: The Audience Freaks Out!]]> Yahhh America!!! I must admit watching grown woman freak the fuck out of stuff is hilarious to watch.

But Oprah gives those damn uggs every year. Which I believe is half the reason for their consistent shelf life...

I'll take the fridge, camcorder and cupcakes please. (Also, no iPhone/iPod..weirdo.)

DawniD11

]]> <![CDATA[Oprah's Favorite Things 2007: The Audience Freaks Out!]]> @fabforever1 and Gloria: It's not just the fridge, or the car, or whatever she gives. It's the fact that Oprah gave it to them. The woman has a cult following. I know she draws attention to important issues and all, but she frightens me. When I worked at Big Box Bookstore any books she mentioned would sell out everywhere within an hour of her show airing and we'd have to field all these desperate inquiries from fans about when our next shipment of the book was due in.

sixseeds

]]> <![CDATA[Oprah's Favorite Things 2007: The Audience Freaks Out!]]> I'd take the fridge! If they are givin' em away for free!

I like Oprah.

gra

]]> <![CDATA[Oprah's Favorite Things 2007: The Audience Freaks Out!]]> Yes, good to know about the tax free gift limit when liquidating estates! No, really, my fam has saved on lots of inheritance taxes with this.

madamequeen will not let you sleep on the couch

]]> <![CDATA[Oprah's Favorite Things 2007: The Audience Freaks Out!]]> I like it better when she has people on her favorite things episode for a reason. Katrina victims, Iraq war families. That said, yes, I'd go freaking nuts for this crap.

PinkSoxHat

]]> <![CDATA[Oprah's Favorite Things 2007: The Audience Freaks Out!]]> A friend of mine worked at the Dr. Phil show for a while, and the amount of swag they got, especially around Christmas time, was absolutely ridiculous, but still not up to Oprah standards. Too bad the people there were total slave drivers, it sounded kind of hellish.

eedlebeedle

]]> <![CDATA[Oprah's Favorite Things 2007: The Audience Freaks Out!]]> @fabforever1: I agree! The thing that I find a little disoncerting about this show is that every time Oprah is presenting a new "favorite thing", the audience doesn't go bat-shit crazy until she says how much the retail price is. It could be a years supply of Shit on Rye and if Oprah was like, "Retails for $1000!", the audience would fall out of their chairs in excitement.

polypam

]]> <![CDATA[Oprah's Favorite Things 2007: The Audience Freaks Out!]]> That fridge would be *perfect* for stoners - food and TV in one place??? Yes, please.

ThaKadinskyPapers

]]> <![CDATA[Oprah's Favorite Things 2007: The Audience Freaks Out!]]> Yeah, I can't cry over a fridge. A really generous gift, but it's a FRIDGE.

Gloria

]]> <![CDATA[Oprah's Favorite Things 2007: The Audience Freaks Out!]]> @ceejeemcbeegee: Oh, wow - $12K now.

JNOV

]]> <![CDATA[Oprah's Favorite Things 2007: The Audience Freaks Out!]]> That fridge sounds silly, and it is odd to have this ode to commercialism right in between stories on rape in third world and eating disorders, but would I step over my own mother to get into that audience? Hell yeah. I'd have holiday shopping covered for the next, oh, five years.

HeatherNumber1

]]> <![CDATA[Oprah's Favorite Things 2007: The Audience Freaks Out!]]> @ceejeemcbeegee: and

@ae38:

I think the first $10K doesn't get taxed(?)

JNOV

]]> <![CDATA[Oprah's Favorite Things 2007: The Audience Freaks Out!]]> @ceejeemcbeegee: Wait, scratch that, my bad, just re-read the code. The recipient doesn't have to pay, but the giver does. And the min gift amount is $12,000 per year per person, so her favorite things hardly qualifies.

www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=107815,00.html
(copy and paste)

Gift Taxes

IRS Tax Tip 2007-39

If you gave any one person gifts in 2006 that valued at more than $12,000, you must report the total gifts to the Internal Revenue Service and may have to pay tax on the gifts.

The person who receives your gift does not have to report the gift to the IRS or pay gift or income tax on its value.

ceejeemcbeegee

]]> <![CDATA[Oprah's Favorite Things 2007: The Audience Freaks Out!]]> I actually watched the first half hour of this because I love watching the audience shit their pants. Then I mixed a Bloody Mary and sat in my back yard reading a Bette Davis biography.

JessicaLovejoy: Wanton Trollop

]]> <![CDATA[Oprah's Favorite Things 2007: The Audience Freaks Out!]]> Wow! I can't imagine getting that apeshit crazy excited over anything.

The fridge is cool, but I can't imagine an occasion in which I would sit in my kitchen and watch TV or a movie on it.

Looker

]]> <![CDATA[Oprah's Favorite Things 2007: The Audience Freaks Out!]]> lol my sister just called me to tell me that she's depressed that she didn't get any of this free stuff. Jez, you're quick, she's still watching it I think and yall already posted. Oh technology!

LatinaGoddess

]]> <![CDATA[Oprah's Favorite Things 2007: The Audience Freaks Out!]]> @ae38: No kidding. I'd have to sell whatever I got in order to pay the taxes on it. I'd just say thanks, but no thanks to Oprah's gifts.

RetroChristal

]]> <![CDATA[Oprah's Favorite Things 2007: The Audience Freaks Out!]]> @ae38: Whoa that takes the fun out of it!

I scream along with the women when they get the gifts :)

BabyPHAT

]]> <![CDATA[Oprah's Favorite Things 2007: The Audience Freaks Out!]]> I don't know, it is nice and I am glad the audience got all of those presents, but it bugs me to see people jumping up and down and screaming over material things like that - something weird. I mean, crying because of a refrigerator? I think these days we put too much emphasis on financial/material happiness.

fabforever1

]]> <![CDATA[Oprah's Favorite Things 2007: The Audience Freaks Out!]]> @ae38: Err... technically, everyone has to pay that tax on any gifts you receive, not just the ones Oprah gives you.

So cross that one off your "reasons why Oprah is evil" list.

ceejeemcbeegee

]]> <![CDATA[Oprah's Favorite Things 2007: The Audience Freaks Out!]]> I would dry hump her for a fridge with a TV and DVD

Skipping Toward Jaded

]]> <![CDATA[Oprah's Favorite Things 2007: The Audience Freaks Out!]]> Too bad the writer's strike has SNL down. I would love to see what Maya Rudolph would do with this edition of O's fave things.

BowlingForDollars

]]> <![CDATA[Oprah's Favorite Things 2007: The Audience Freaks Out!]]> What these people don't realize is that they are obligated by the IRS to pay a gift tax on all items they received and that tax is approx. 44%. Thanks but no thanks Oprah - i can not afford ur giftz

ae38

]]>