The Oprah Winfrey Show

In 1983, Oprah Winfrey went to Chicago to host "AM Chicago", a half hour television talk show that was one of the lowest rated programs on WLS-TV. Her first episode aired on January, 2 1984, and within months the show overtook "Donahue" as the most highly rated in Chicago. On September, 8 1986, it was expanded to a one hour format. It was broadcast nationally, and renamed "The Oprah Winfrey Show". That was the beginning of what would become a worldwide phenomenon. Oprah signed a syndication deal with King World, which she credited to the advice of the movie critic Roger Ebert, who predicted that "The Oprah Winfrey Show" would eclipse the success of his own show, "At the Movies". The syndicated show quickly surpassed Donahue's show in the national market, becoming the number one daytime talk show in America.

In the mid-1990s, Oprah changed her format to a less tabloid-type show. She featured issues such as woman's health, politics, spirituality, and home decor. She interviewed celebrities directly involved with issues such as cancer, charities, or substance abuse. In 1993, she had a rare interview with Michael Jackson. It was the fourth-most popular event in television history, and reached an audience of over one hundred million people. In a show in 2004, Oprah gave each audience member a new Pontiac G6 Sedan, as part of a publicity stunt. The resulting taxes became the object of a bit of controversy.

Oprah is well-known for the patriotic efforts that have stemmed from her television show. She is involved in the environment and global issues. Her Angel Network helps Hurricane Katrina victims, as well as children in developing countries. She is involved in other charitable efforts and politics, and recently supported Barack Obama in his bid for the presidency.