May 25, 2013

Oprah’s Longtime Exec Lisa Erspamer Suddenly Fired

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*Deadline.com is reporting exclusively that OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network has fired one of Winfrey’s closest and most trusted executives, Lisa Erspamer. According to the website, Erspamer, EVP of production and development for the underperforming cable network, was let go Wednesday (Jan. 25) after an 18-year tenure with Winfrey, and the news was delivered to [...]




Oprah Mag, Website Struggles Post Talk Show

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*As Oprah Winfrey’s OWN cable network, a joint venture with Discovery Communications, is just starting to pull itself out of the ratings doldrums with new programming, her magazine and website continue to struggle following the end of her long-running syndicated talk show, according to Women’s Wear Daily. Observers have said that the real test of [...]




Oprah Denies Enquirer Report of O.J. Confession: ‘It’s Not True’

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*Well that was quick. Oprah Winfrey is denying a National Enquirer report that O.J. Simpson confessed to the 1994 murder of his ex-wife to one of her producers. A spokesperson for her production company Harpo denied the report that the dream interview is in the works. “That’s not true,” a spokesperson said of the story [...]




Oprah’s Camp Denies Reports of Show Filming in Egypt

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*Reps for Oprah Winfrey have shot down reports the talk show host is taping a future episode of her show in Egypt. The country’s new tourism minister Munir Fakhri Abdelnur reportedly told a local newspaper in Cairo that Winfrey was planning to broadcast a live show from Tahrir Square on “a Friday in March.” But [...]




Oprah, HBO to Adapt Lynn Nottage’s ‘Ruined’

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*Playwright Lynn Nottage is writing a teleplay of her Pulitzer Prize-winning drama Ruined, to be produced by HBO Films and Oprah Winfrey’s Harpo Productions, reports the Los Angeles Times. The story follows a tough brothel/bar-keeper named Mama Nadi, who is trying to make a buck in the chaos of civil war in the Democratic Republic [...]




Oprah Reveals First Week of New Shows – Sorta

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*Harpo Productions just released a schedule of the first week of guests for the 25th and final season of “The Oprah Winfrey Show.” However, Monday’s season premiere remains “top secret,” with only hints of “celebrity guests and a surprise musical performance. Later in the week, Winfrey will host country music stars The Judds and revisit [...]




Oprah Developing Show for Jenny McCarthy

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*Jenny McCarthy is following in the footsteps of Dr. Phil, Rachel Ray, Dr. Oz and Nate Berkus as the latest personality to sign a development deal with Oprah Winfrey’s Harpo Productions. Harpo executives have yet to release a statement on the show’s content, but they insist it won’t be similar in format to “The Oprah [...]




Physical Trainers Suing Oprah Violated Confidentiality

Oprah Winfrey

*A group of physical trainers are suing Oprah Winfrey and her Harpo Inc. for non-payment, however, their legal action may be foiled by clause in the contract they signed, and which is now posted at TMZ.com According to the Web site, Unicus Performance Training filed the lawsuit earlier this week, claiming they never received payment [...]