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From Essence

It’s been nearly two years since Oprah finished up her uber-popular daytime talk show—4,561 complete in shows in fact, according to People. But there’s one thing she simply misses the most—the audience.

The OWN creator sat down with Steve Harvey on his network talk show, also based in Chicago, and explained her feelings “I got a little choked up seeing you guys today, because what I really miss is the camaraderie with the audience every day… I did that for 25 years,” said Oprah.

She told Harvey she decided to end her show while she was still on top. “When I look back at the body of work, those of you who watched us for years, it’s astounding,” Oprah explained.

Awww, Oprah!  Many people miss you too! You can read more over on essence.com.  Perhaps it’s time for a new talk show on OWN? Would you watch?

AP Photo/Dave Allocca, StarPix

This Black History Month, we celebrate some of pop culture’s most influential movers and shakers who have changed the landscape of the world of entertainment. From the first African-American billionaire to the one of the hardest working men in radio, African-Americans have pioneered various media outlets, some even simultaneously.

Here are only a few of pop culture’s African-American innovators in the areas of music, television and film. We threw in a bonus, above: Michael Jackson. Besides his singing career both with the Jackson 5 and as a solo artist, and his investments across the music industry (including The Beatles portfolio), he invented the moonwalk, a move that continues to mystify and inspire dancers good and bad around the world. Check out this slideshow for more on the late, great MJ.

Weight loss and weight gain seems to be a consistent problem in the USA.   With so much focus on diet fads and weight loss programs, it can be tough to know what’s right for you and your body.  These celebrities have done it all with their weight: kept it off, then put it back on.

celebrityhealthfitness.com

Kirstie Alley

Who can forget our favorite lady from “Cheers” during the early ’90′s?   Kirstie Alley became a spokeswoman for Jenny Craig from 2005 to 2008, when she was almost 228 pounds. Before that, she would constantly go up and down with her weight.   Her stint on “Dancing With The Stars ” in 2011 has kept her in shape and even starting a weight loss campaign.  ”Cheers” to that!!

Now that Oprah’s retired from her talk show and is focusing her energy on her new network, we’re left wondering who’s going to fill that void? Who will we invite into our living rooms in the afternoon? We hit the streets of New York and asked some Harlemites what they thought about this troubling question. Here’s what they had to say.

After 25 years, it’s hard to believe that Oprah will no longer appear on our television screens every weekday afternoon to share some wisdom, make us laugh, cry or inspire us to do better. While many of her fans are surely sad to see her go, Oprah told the audience in her last show, that this moment is not bittersweet for her. It’s just sweet.

If you missed the final episode, check out this clip to see what our longtime, daytime friend had to say to her audience.

What did you think of the final episode will you miss Lady O?

Oprah filmed two of her final three episodes yesterday at the United Center in Chicago. If you were expecting grand that’s what precisely what you’ll get. The last two episodes were literally jam-packed with celebrities all to celebrate Lady O in her final season. Oprah’s leaving her enormously popular talk show, after 25 years,  to devote her attention to the OWN network. Can you believe she’s been on air for a quarter of a century?Amazing.

Anyway, the final two episodes included performances from Beyoncé, Usher, Stevie Wonder and Patti Labelle among others.

Athletes Emmitt Smith and Michael Jordan were in attendance. There were also several actors in the place to be including, Tom Hanks, Jamie Foxx, Halle Berry, Will and Jada and Tom Cruise were there as well. (No surprise that Tom would make it back around, considering he used Oprah’s couch as a trampoline.)

The performances will air on May 23 and the final episode on May 25.

This should make for really good television. Are you excited to watch?

When we saw the commercials for Oprah’s interview with author and life coach Iyanla Vanzant, it looked like it was going to be juicy. Well, it didn’t disappoint.  For a year and a half, Iyanla was a regular on Oprah as a “teacher of spiritual laws and principles,” but she abruptly stopped making appearances over 11 years ago.  Iylanla wrote a book in 2010 called Peace From Broken Pieces about her split with Harpo among other things. Oprah decided it was time to have Iyanla back on the show to hash it all out. Their convo was frank; just as it would be between two former friends trying to mend fences. Turns out like many fractured relationships, there was miscommunication. It was an awkward convo. Here’s how it all went down.

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With Madame Oprah stepping down from The Oprah Winfrey show and starting her OWN network, she’s looking for new talent: You.

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Oscar-winner Mo’Nique is receiving more accolades. 

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The Oprah Winfrey Show reached out to former Food Network star Juan-Carlos Cruz, who is accused of cooking up a rotten plot to off his wife.  This is not sitting well with everyone.

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