Do you have weird feelings about Oprah? So do we, and so does our guest! Kimberly Springer, co-editor of "Stories of Oprah: The Oprahfication of American Culture," joins us to talk about the rise of Oprah Winfrey and her infamous "wagon of fat" weight loss episode.
Buy Kimberly's books:
- Stories of Oprah: The Oprahfication of American Culture
- Living for the Revolution: Black Feminist Organizations, 1968-1980
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Clips!
- Oprah Winfrey Rolls Out A Wagon Of Fat (Buzzfeed)
- How Oprah's Weight Affected Her Relationship with Stedman (Oprah)
- MadTv - Oprah - Fat Cam (Mad TV)
Links!
- The Importance of Being Oprah (New York Times Magazine)
- Oprah's 'Fattest' Mistake (CBS News)
- 5 awesome objects from the new Oprah exhibit (Washington Post)
- Oprah's biggest on-air mistake? The wagon of fat (Today)
- Diet That Made Oprah Winfrey Slim Demands Discipline, Specialists Say (New York Times)
06/08/21 • 49 min
11 Listeners
Maintenance Phase - Oprah Winfrey & The “Wagon of Fat”
Transcript Summary
In this episode titled "Oprah Winfrey & The 'Wagon of Fat'," the popular podcast "Maintenance Phase" delves into the life and influence of Oprah Winfrey. Beginning with her rise to fame in Chicago as the host of AM Chicago, surpassing Donahue's ratings and transforming the show into The Oprah Winfrey Show, the episode explores the astounding success and estimated earnings of Oprah during the early 1990s. The discussion also delves into Oprah's journey in media, addressing her racial identity and her ability to appeal to white America. Special guest Kimberly Springer joins the conversation, offering insights into Oprah's appearance and its reflection of her class and wealth. The episode highlights an unfortunate sketch from MADtv, which portrayed Oprah as an angry black woman in a fat suit, prompting Oprah herself to admit it was a mistake. The scrutiny surrounding Oprah's weight loss journey, including her dramatic reveal of a 67-pound loss on her show, is examined, along with the societal pressures and disconnect between her present self and her past self. With engaging discussions on cultural influence, body image, and societal expectations, this episode provides a captivating exploration of Oprah's life and the complex narratives surrounding her. It provokes thought and reflection on the intersections between fame, identity, and body image in today's society.
Transcript
[Maintenance Phase theme]
Mike: Hello, and welcome to Maintenance Phase. The podcast where you get complicated feelings and you get complicated feelings, and everyone gets complicated feelings.
Aubrey: [laughs] Wait, Mike, can I tell you what I wrote in my notes, in case you asked me to do the tagline?
Mike: What do you have?
Aubrey: I wrote, “Hello, and welcome to Maintenance Phase, the podcast wher
Oprah Winfrey & The “Wagon of Fat” Top Questions Answered
What year did Oprah move to Chicago and become the host of AM Chicago?
Oprah moved to Chicago in 1984 and became the host of AM Chicago.
When did Oprah's show's ratings surpass Donahue's?
Oprah's show's ratings surpassed Donahue's within a month of her becoming the host of AM Chicago.
When did Oprah's show go into national syndication?
Oprah's show initially went into national syndication in 1986.
How did the attention to Oprah's body change over the years?
The attention to Oprah's body has decreased over the years as she has achieved wealth and success.
What was the content of MADtv's sketch portraying Oprah in 2002?
MADtv did a sketch in 2002 portraying Oprah as fat and grotesque, displaying racialized and sexist stereotypes.
In a 2011 interview, what did Oprah admit was her biggest mistake on the show?
In a 2011 interview, Oprah admitted that her biggest mistake on the show was the fat episode, expressing discomfort with how it perpetuated discussions about her weight.
What were some of the motivations behind Oprah's weight loss?
Oprah's weight loss was motivated by societal pressures and feelings of inadequacy in her relationship, not solely by her partner.
What were the rumors surrounding Oprah and her partner?
There were rumors about Oprah and her partner being gay, fueled by ideas of physical mismatch.
How did the media portray Oprah's body?
The media often used unflattering photos of Oprah to reinforce negative perceptions of her body.
How did Oprah's weight loss affect how others perceived her?
When Oprah was fat, her touch was seen as comfortable and non-threatening; her weight loss made her body seem more sexualized and therefore dangerous to some.
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