Live updates from 'Surprise Oprah! A Farewell Spectacular'
You could say tonight is Chicago's version of the Oscars. That's because some of the biggest names in Hollywood are expected at the United Center this evening when Oprah Winfrey tapes "Surprise Oprah! A Farewell Spectacular."
I'm in attendance and will update the blog throughout the night, letting you know which celebrities showed up, and anything else I can pass along.
11:20 p.m.: Show's over. Now it's time to go searching for that much-talked about Oprah afterparty or go home. I think I'll do the latter. Thanks for following along and thanks most of all to Angela, the staff member who let me borrow her phone charger as my blackberry's battery died. I couldn't have done this without her. Literally.
11:14 p.m.: The last surprise of the night is Usher. He sings "Oh Happy Day" with a gospel choir as the show's other guests take the stage for one of those group sing alongs. Afterward, all the celebs hug each other like they do at the end of "Saturday Night Live" every week.
10:56 p.m.: Get ready to Awww. It's Stedman's turn on stage. "Honey, you are so special," he said. "I'm so happy for your success and so proud of you. ... It amazes me that I get to be around a woman who changes people's lives everyday and I get to be around a woman who takes her own lunch to work every day. She says she takes her lunch to work because she wants to save money."
10:43 p.m.: Next up is Dr. Maya Angelou, who recites a poem about Oprah as Alicia Keyes plays the piano. At least I think it's a poem. It's always hard to tell with Angelou. She could be ordering a pizza and it would still probably sound like a poem.
10:24 p.m.: Winfrey begins to cry after a montage about her impact on education and really lets the waterworks go during Kristin Chenoworth's performance afterward, which includes students from Morehouse College. "If you're looking for a breakdown, that was it," Winfrey said. "Carry me on out of here."
10:15 p.m.: Maria Shriver comes out with Gayle King and, believe it or not, King is the one who has the awkward moment on stage. Her mic wasn't working and had to start her heartfelt speech over. Afterward, Shriver talks about Winfrey's impact and makes no mention of you know what.
10:05 p.m.: Simon Cowell introduces Rosie O'Donnell, who sings "You give me fever" with Oprah lyrics. The song features cameos from Dr. Phil, Nate Berkus and Dr. Oz but no Rachel Ray. O'Donnell's new talk show will take over Harpo Studios when Oprah leaves.
9:51 p.m.: Jerry Seinfeld comes out in a tux to do a quick set. I can't tell if I'm not laughing because I'm tired or because he just did an entire set on marriage.
9:39 p.m.: Jamie Foxx and Stevie Wonder perform "Isn't She Lovely." The crowd digs it and claps along, which is good since it sounds like we have a while to go. Speaking of Wonder, I hear he was at the Apple Store on Michigan Avenue today.
9:33 p.m.: Hall of Famer Michael Jordan came out to the "And now ..." Bulls theme. That song never gets old. Jordan says: "We came into Chicago at the same time ... You've done wonderfully. I know you've been fan of basketball. I've been fan of yours."
9:27 p.m.: And we're back -- the second show has started, and it appears Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith have taken over the hosting duties from Tom Hanks.
9:26 p.m.: Got a better look at the crowd when the lights came on during intermission. The United Center is filled with women in pastel church dresses. This place looks like one big easter basket.
8:58 p.m.: Cruise and wife Holmes introduce a performance by Rascal Flatts. And that closes the taping of the first show. Rascal Flatts is performing "I Won't Let Go." Not sure why they went with a slow song. They have better songs. Like 20 of them. The crowd needs an energy boost (or more Beyonce). They're not as loud as they were before.
8:47 p.m.: Halle Berry, Queen Latifah and Katie Holmes have hit the stage. The three actresses go on and on (and on) about Winfrey's impact. If you need to go to the bathroom at some point when the show airs, this will be a good time.
8:30 p.m.: Diane Sawyer greets the crowd and announces that 25,000 oak trees are being planted in Winfrey's honor. Incidentally, the Tribune is hearing from Oprah's PR team that 13,000 are in attendance.
8:25 p.m.: Winfrey to the crowd: "I'm so happy you are all here. How did you get tickets? You must know somebody."
8:13 p.m. Beyonce was so good, she's performing the same exact song again -- only this time without camera errors (I'm guessing that's what happened). The crowd is holding up blue lights for the performance. It reminds me of a Super Bowl halftime show.
7:55 p.m. Beyonce has hit the stage. Loudest applause of the night, not counting Oprah. She's performing "Run the World (Girls)" in a tuxedo-like dress.
7:42 p.m. Madonna joins Tom Hanks and Oprah but it doesn't look like she's performing, which is disappointing. "Like a Prayer" is one of my favorite song ... I mean, uh, um, what's the score of the Mavs-Thunder game?
7:39 p.m. Madonna's on stage.
7:34 p.m. Josh Groban hits the stage to sing "(Somewhere) Over the Rainbow" and then Patti LaBelle comes out to finish the song. Impressive. Hopefully they do Freebird next.
7:27 p.m. Hanks introduces Tom Cruise by saying "some might say pulling off this party has been darn near a mission impossible."
7:23 p.m. Hanks: "Oprah Winfrey, today you are surrounded by nothing but love. Your studio wasn't big enough to hold it all, so here we are."
7:20 p.m. And the crowd goes wild. Oprah has hit the stage to the Black Eyed Peas "I Gotta Feeling." She's joined onstage by Tom Hanks.
7:10 p.m. You know those bachelorette parties where the women dance to every song and use any excuse to scream? The atmosphere here is kind of like that -- only with 20,000 people.
7 p.m. Before the show, one guy proposed to his girlfriend on stage. This might be the only time a girl would ever want to get proposed to at the United Center.
6:53 p.m. The announcer revealed Charles Barkley, Emmitt Smith and Dave Chappelle will be in the crowd. I hear Barkely was supposed to hit Chicago Cut Steakhouse tonight -- maybe afterward?
6:51 p.m. Apparently former mayor Richard Daley and the Blackhawks' Jonathan Toews are in the crowd. Mascots Benny the Bull and Tommy Hawk are also here.
6:17 p.m. The show hasn't started, but there are plenty of well-dressed adults dancing to the music. Even the 80-something by the stage is getting down. I feel like I'm at a Bar Mitzvah. For those of you wondering what the stage looks like, I'd say it has an "American Idol" feel to it. The United Center has also been decorated with sort of an Oprah Ring of Honor featuring photos from past episodes.
6:12 p.m. Bulls mascot Benny the Bull is working the crowd as it gets ready for showtime.
5:42 p.m. Beyonce is going through her soundcheck. She's performing "Girls Who Run the World."
5:33 p.m. I took my seat and there was a box of Kleenex waiting for me. There's a box in about every third seat. Seriously. Unless they plan on showing the ending of "Rudy," I probably won't use it.
5:09 p.m. There are no signs of celebs by the United Center entrance yet (unless you count "106 and Park" co-host-turned "Access Hollywood" correspondent A.J. a celeb, which a lot of the women here do.) It appears the celebs will enter through the back entrance currently being guarded by suit-wearing security. Speaking of suits, that's what many of the men in line are wearing. Many of the women are wearing dresses (and are probably regretting it because of the cold).
4:49 p.m. Don't even bother trying to come to the United Center in hopes of scoring an extra ticket. All the "Have an extra ticket?" people I talked to said not one person has stopped to sell a ticket.
Brian Cassella/Tribune photo
4:34 p.m. I've arrived at the United Center, where there is already a line down the block for the 7 pm show. Not suprisingly, just about every media outlet in Chicago is here interviewing the crowd. Even less suprising? There is 1 man to about every 10 woman outside the venue.
2:22 p.m. For those of you who didn't see it on my blog earlier this afternoon, Beyonce was rehearsing for her performance at tonight's show at Hubbard Street Dance Chicago on Monday and Tuesday. Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson dined at Spiaggia on Monday. I assume he'll be taking part in the show as well?
More Oprah: O-tainment | O's family/friends | Oprah's fashion sense | Oprah's hairdos
For the folks who are leaving tacky comments about Oprah, keep in mind that Mr. Michael "Chicago Bulls" Jordan isn't complaining about a game. Instead he came in person to tell Oprah Winfrey that he's a fan of her. You don't have to be a diehard Oprah fan to respect her accomplishments. Some of these comments are ridiculous. Phony? Do you even know the woman? All the insults are out of control. Oprah Winfrey's legacy makes Chicago that much better. Respect her mind/mentality/business/drive.
Posted by: Maroonsista | 05/17/2011 at 11:17 PM
It would have made more sense for the Times to have someone with a sense of who Oprah is and what Oprah has accomplished in 25 years cover the story of the final shows. I have watched Oprah for more than 25 years but haven't seen the "wackadoo crap" you have managed to focus on. Sorry that you've missed the boat. We've had a great ride. http://bit.ly/mldgOe
Posted by: Yarber | 05/18/2011 at 05:22 AM
see you later pig vomit, and yes i am a hater to this woman who is a closet racist and bullshitter
Posted by: f oprah | 05/18/2011 at 06:56 AM
I thought that the Oprah Winfrey Show went off the air last year.
Posted by: Kurt | 05/18/2011 at 07:10 AM
Looks like the Democratic National Convention started early this year.
Posted by: Rick | 05/18/2011 at 07:31 AM
What A Self Absorbing Waste Of Space This Woman Is. Just Disapear Orca.
Posted by: Thomasw | 05/18/2011 at 07:41 AM
Good riddance O. Let the mainstream media wither and die. We need real investigative journalism and that skill is only coming from alternative media these days.
Posted by: Bill (Of Rights) | 05/18/2011 at 08:34 AM
Oprah is not going anywhere but to her own network .... incredible what dribble the public will swallow.
Posted by: Hazmat77 | 05/18/2011 at 08:42 AM
Never cared to watch the creation of a generation of glorified victims.
I would tune into watch a Palin daytime show of tough, common sense, winners.
Posted by: rowley | 05/18/2011 at 08:50 AM
Does anybody over there in Mafia Town like ANYBODY? We tend to appreciate people here on the "Worst Coast".
Posted by: DroidianSlip | 05/18/2011 at 09:06 AM
if you people hate oprah so much why are you taken the time to voice your stupid opions of her, she decided to end her own show she has harpo her own tv channel so get it straight haters
Posted by: valerie peterson ross | 05/18/2011 at 09:09 AM
And to think Oprah will forever be equated with Psycho Dad on "Married with Children"...true that!
Posted by: mike | 05/18/2011 at 09:39 AM
Does this mean we are finally free of this egomaniacal baby huey?
Posted by: Rickredlum | 05/18/2011 at 09:53 AM
See ya you fat n. Take you half black loser of a president with you.
Posted by: Bob | 05/18/2011 at 09:57 AM
Who cares?
Posted by: AnneP | 05/18/2011 at 10:11 AM
My parents trained me never to say anything about anyone unless I could say something GOOD about them. So here goes:
GOOD RIDDANCE !!!
Posted by: Clearhead | 05/18/2011 at 10:34 AM
Anyone whod' invite racist Jamie Foxx loses my respect.
Posted by: tina | 05/18/2011 at 10:39 AM
Oprah, admit Jesus is the Truth, the life and the only way to God instead of your new age rubbish that there are many paths to salvation and mabe God may bless you again
Posted by: Swis | 05/18/2011 at 10:50 AM
What does a person with a billion dollars have to cry about? That is the problem with liberals. Nothing makes them happy.
Posted by: 1984AnimalFarm | 05/18/2011 at 10:57 AM
It's all about me, it's all about me, why can't you see it is all about me.
You brainless women and jerry springer watchers bought the LIE, now you get to pay for it.
I gave you the mess-siuhhhh
You quit eating beef
and all it took was to give some of you greedy sponges a car, check what surprise is under your seat now, the 14.5 trillion dollar tab, for believing in an ambiguous hope, and undefined change, SURPRISE !!!
Posted by: Oprah | 05/18/2011 at 11:15 AM
This stupid yap's "finale" reminds me of one of those old Westerns where it took a guy 5 minutes of stumbling after being shot before he finally died. Enough already. This self-obsessed woman Orca thinks she's the queen of Sheba, she's just the queen of vapid yap, which contributed to giving us Narcussus himself as president. Thanks for nothing Orca.
Posted by: Nico | 05/18/2011 at 11:23 AM
Who had the gall to think about moving the date of the Bulls game? to request the game be moved? who granted the later date so Oprah could self-serve her ego some more?
Please be gone already, you've infringed on my life for the last time, now leave.
p.s. The picture of Orcah in this story looks like she apparently ate several of her worshipers. Someone notify Missing Persons at CPD.
Posted by: Quinnby | 05/18/2011 at 11:27 AM
Those who watch Oprah are mindless idiots.
Posted by: Bob | 05/18/2011 at 11:31 AM
Is it true the Oprah's Fat Head finally exploded with this back-slapping group hug?
Posted by: john hernandez | 05/18/2011 at 11:37 AM
Only one word can explain these insane people "douches"
Posted by: charlie sweet loads | 05/18/2011 at 11:40 AM