Who Should Oprah Interview?January 27, 2012
Media savant T Tara Turk goes deep inside cable TV to reveal Video On Demand's Hidden Gems so even the busiest of our readers can get the most out of On Demand TV. Tell Tara what VOD shows you think deserves her attention.
Who Should Oprah Interview?
Now that awards season is upon us, it’s time for those time honored traditions that include Oscar pools, obsessions over who’s wearing what dress, what dog should be nominated for Best Supporting (I made that one up) and the one probably most taken for granted: The Barbara Walters Special Oscar Special.
She started the special in 1981 and her last was in 2010 because "After you have done a lap dance with Hugh Jackman it is time to leave.” Okay she said that but the real reason is that the 80 year old believes film stars are everywhere “celebs are famous for doing nothing.” Preach sister. But that shouldn’t mean that we shouldn’t have an Oscar special. What to do? What to do?
OWN
OPRAH is here to save us! Listen, since last I chatted about Ops (that’s her nickname - I’m not sure if she knows that), she’s gotten some traction on her “Oprah’s Final Chapter” show even though she’s interviewing folks like Goldie Hawn, Steven Tyler and Paula “I have diabetes and the sky is blue” Deen (Who’s shocked about her diabetes? Raise your hand). We all know Oprah can interview somebody better than the FBI and CIA combined so why not have Oprah resume Babs Walter’s recently vacated territory?
Since the 84th Annual Oscar nominations are now known, dress makers are frantically fitting starving actresses, diamond makers are praying nobody looses anything and the industry is on the watch for the most bizarre campaigns (last year’s Melissa Leo took that prize with her self bought ads), why not have Ops get in on the action?
Here’s who I think Oprah should snag on Oscar night:
Albert Brooks - He was ROBBED. In fact, the cast and crew for “Drive” was robbed. Since Mel took to Twitter to be nice nasty after not being nominated, can we get Oprah to get more than 140 characters from him? Um, yes!
Jean Dujardin - He’s in a silent movie (The Artist) but I’m sure he has a lot to say and I’m sure there are lots of women who want to hear him say it (and I’m sure Gayle King will happily help Oprah with this interview).
Melissa McCarthy & Kristin Wiig - I’m sure they’’ll be stunned about their nomination twenty years from now and stunned comedians from a raunchy movie (Brisdesmaids) is every interviewer’s dream.
Terrence Malick - The “Tree of Life” director is so reclusive that he probably doesn’t even speak to his family. You know who can break through that? Oprah.
Nick Dudman, Amanda Knight and Lisa Tomblin - Oprah can ask these makeup artists for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2, “How does it feel to be the only ones nominated for one of the best franchises of the past 20 years?” Short interview but poignant.
Who Oprah should not interview:
Steven Spielberg - been there done that. My friends and I still recite dialogue from The Color Purple so thanks.
George Clooney & Brad Pitt - Been there done that. Besides, how can you top the scene in Ocean’s 12 where they both watch Oprah and tear up? You can’t. Not even live Oprah.
Meryl Streep & Viola Davis - We already love them. Oprah, Viola and Meryl on the screen would be like creme brulee, pot du creme (try it! heaven!), and a cherry pie on the screen at the same time. Yummy times three. Besides, been there done that.
You get my point. Oscars and Oprah go hand in hand. These are friends, even more so than most knew Barbara Walters. And she knows what questions to ask having been nominated herself! If ever there was another strategic step for OWN’s world domination, this should be it.
T. Tara Turk is a novelist/playwright/screenwriter, living in LA with her boyfriend and dog - all three successful TV addicts. You can find her at www.ttaraturk.com or follow her on Twitter @ttaraturk.
