Just about everything, according to Hollywood Reporter critic Ray Richmond. His review of the reality miniseries that debuts this Sunday is just scathing — 800 words of bile. If this thing came with an EW-style letter grade, it’d have to be some sort of F-minus-minus: "[A] profoundly hyperkinetic and unwieldy adventure inproduct placement, in Oprah-as-Messiah hype and, ultimately, in what’sso utterly fake and insidious about ‘reality’ television itself… Shallow as a birdbath, the program would appear to exist less as a truephilanthropic exercise than yet another self-aggrandizing vehicle inOprah’s divine quest to become synonymous with all that is virtuous andgood on Earth."
I haven’t seen Oprah’s Big Give, but I’m inclined to agree with Richmond’s (slightly unhinged-sounding) take — this show does look like a vapid, hyper-materialistic mess posing as charity. Still, Richmond doesn’t address my biggest problem with the TV ads that have been airing constantly this week. Namely: The word "Give" is not a noun, for O’s sake! Every time I see this title come on my screen, I get furious. "Aw, man, did you see that give? It was pretty big." NO! I’m not generally a grammar-police type, but something about that title just drives me nuts, no matter what the actual content of the show is. Anyone else filled with uncontrollable rage when they read those three words? (Or do any of you want to defend Oprah against Richmond’s and my intemperate snark?)
The biggest problem is that the concept is unrealistic. I am almost certain that if you try to give away a huge amount of money, Uncle Sam would want a nice percentage of the proceeds.
This is just another reason to add on my long list of why I can’t stand Oprah. I am amazed by the number of people that buy any product that she endorses and live their lives by every little thing she says.
Oprah saw the ratings Extrme Home Makeover keeps getting and decided to get in on the act.
I think the tide is beginning to turn against Oprah; not a full-fledged backlash, but people are growing tired of her. I don’t think backing Obama has helped her image much because she seems to be acting on a God-complex. And people hate nothing more than arrogance in a celebrity.
Besides, many of Oprah’s film and tv-related projects tend not to do well (ie. Beloved).
I think the tide is beginning to turn against Oprah; not a full-fledged backlash, but people are growing tired of her. I don’t think backing Obama has helped her image much because she seems to be acting on a God-complex. And people hate nothing more than arrogance in a celebrity.
Besides, many of Oprah’s film and tv-related projects tend not to do well (ie. Beloved).
I would say that even if Oprah’s show is a vainglorious, materialistic mess, there are other reality shows that are far more egregiously damaging to our society. No good can come of “Flavor of Love” or Jerry Springer’s show.
Hate the title, hate the concept, hate Oprah. Won’t be watching this sanctimonious s***.
I can’t stand Oprah. At all. Ever.
at least she’s trying to help people, for chrissakes. most people never even give charity or philantrophy a mere thought. what is so wrong with you ppl that you can overlook that simple, and most important fact? being cynical and snarky all the time is not a virtue…
I am literally flummoxed at the hate directed towards this show. No I have not seen it yet, But I admire the fact that Oprah uses her celebrity and influence for good. This is the first reality show where instead of competing to get something, people are competing to give and help other people. What I find astounding is that there is nary this much hate directed at a show like “The Moment Of Truth”, which is another in a continuing line of “whatever I have to do to get on television” shows where people debase themselves and the people they “supposedly” love. If you watch her show, Oprah doesn’t yell at people in unfortunate situations. She empathizes and then tries to find a solution. And yes, after all that she has done and continues to do, I think Oprah gets the benefit of the doubt regarding her new show. Just the concept alone of “The Big Give” elevates the reality genre.
I have long thought that Oprah needed to get her head out of the clouds. I saw 5 minutes of a show where her style guru was helping people make the most out of the space of their studio Manhattan apartments. He showed a filing cabinet that doubled as a coffee table. Oprah thought it was great and quite a bargain at something ridiculous like $900. Does she really think people who watch her show and are trying to get the most space out of their studio Manhattan apartment can afford $900 for that??!! OPRAH, GET YOUR BLACK HEAD OUT OF THE CLOUDS!!!!!!!!
Count me as another person who can’t stand Oprah. She’s always seemed to me to have a bit of a messiah complex.
As a vague-at-best Oprah fan, I like the idea of this show. She wears her celebrity well.
Wait – is Extreme Home Makeover sanctimonious too? What may be somewhat exploitive at least has its virtue in exposing people to how good charity can feel. It drives ME nuts that cynical snark is considered the thinking mans tv while people like Ellen or Oprah are chastised for being “arrogant media whores” who only do this type if thing to – what – take over the world with their virtue? Why can’t a woman who has earned bajillions of dollars give it away to the people she sees fit? I can only hope that once Ray Richmond makes bajillions of dollars he will give it to people he thinks are worthy. Sorry for the rant – I’ve been hanging out on the Clinton vs. Obama message boards and the vitriol there is contagious I guess.
She does do good stuff. I’d just respect it more if she didn’t publicize it.