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I wondered on Wednesday about Oprah's so-called "Pay it Forward" show, where she gave audience members $1000 debit cards, loaned them video cameras, and told them to go out and do good works in a much-ballyhoed replacement for her "favorite things" holiday show. So charitable, I thought.
And then the comments started coming.
Audience members were asked to come back for the wrap-up show at their own expense. And they did, expecting (it seems) that their difficult journeys of giving back would be featured. Everybody loves a little fame, or at least thanks, for their efforts. And, let's face it, if Oprah asked you to film something you'd done, and then come back to the show, wouldn't you come? Of course you would.
Except that, once back in the studio audience, only a very few of the audience members' stories were told. The audience was also informed they couldn't keep the video cameras -- the tax burden would be too much (despite, as some commenters mentioned, the fact that the expense to return to Chicago for the taping was many times greater than any tax burden). Those who wrote in weren't so upset that their exploits went unwatched (despite the fact that they'd worked very hard to execute and record the tale of their response to Oprah's challenge) -- they were more hurt that the producers asked them all back without mentioning which clips would be shown. As Connie Miller said, "When the producers called the audience to return they should have informed them that their particular stories were not going to be highlighted so they could choose to get a pat on the back from Oprah from home and not pay additional funds to come back."
The final injury? When the audience members were in the waiting room, the producers played reels of past "Favorite Things" shows, so the charitable and entirely gift-free viewers could see the delight as audience members of years past discovered free gift ... after free gift ... after free gift.
Sheesh. At least give them a pashmina shawl, Oprah!
Oprah's 'Pay it Forward' show costly for audience: charity doesn't begin on TV
Posted Nov 24th 2006 4:12PM by Sarah Gilbert
Filed under: Consumer Experience, Television, Scandals
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Reader Comments (Page 4 of 4)
1-01-2007 @ 8:13PM
Lil said...
We have been doing this since June 2005. I was really surprised to see the turn of events when Ophra made her attempt. Look at our web site. Pay it forward is great if you do the right thing.
1-02-2007 @ 3:04AM
Surfnsfree said...
I think it was a fitting experiment. As others have said. Anyone who is in the audience is not that needy.
It may remind some people of the blue eye brown eye experiment. It is a sad reminder that many Americans just want what is in it for them and giving and sharing and giving back something that has been generously loaned is no longer the normal behavior. So sad.
1-02-2007 @ 7:55PM
josh said...
The point is that she is a BILLIONAIRE. How much money does one person need? A million here and there is chump change. If you want to be a real Christian, you would give ALL of your money to charity and keep just what you need to live an average life. I could be rich, but I choose to help those less fortunate. I don't remember Jesus living in a mansion, and taking a small crumb of bread to feed the masses. Why should we be any different? Humanity will perish for it's selfishness and greed.
1-04-2007 @ 7:29PM
ls said...
I understand the disappoinment of having to cover your expenses and if you were treated unkindly and I hate that those things happened. I have enough faith in Ophra that you will be made whole in time. I wonder if you can write these expenses off under Charity on your taxes? Red Cross deducts its expenses from the contributions. Anyway, I wanted to say congrats to those who participated and made sacrifices to bring much happiness and assistance to others!!! I also wanted to share this url that I came across to the readers, a website that lists many of the pay it forward participants and their acts of kindness: http://www.payitforwardmovement.com/media/oprah.html
1-16-2007 @ 7:58AM
Sandy Rini said...
I no longer watch Oprah or buy any of her magazines,books,etc.Oprah has proven herself to be a rascist in my opinion.When asked why there were no white girls chosen(or any other color except black) for her school in Africa(what...no other race had poor, or underpriveledged girls in Africa??)her comment was that she felt no obligation to appease white people.What kind of comment is that? It was totally unnecessary and a direct slap at white people.It would have been less rude to say...my money ...my choice. To the person that asked when was the last time the person commenting before her had built a school...get real...there is no comparison to the amount of money available to Oprah as compared to a normal person. The person that commented about how much money is donated by Oprah's audience in HER NAME is right on.The things she does with that money SHE TAKES THE CREDIT FOR!!How much of HER ACTUAL CASH is actually laid out for these charitible acts,The casino incident is no one time fluke.Everywhere she goes now she is a PRIMA DONA BIG TIME and absolutely runs roughshod over everyone.On that road trip she acted so shocked,,,c'mon...did she forget where she came from???Driving herself was such a big deal??It makes me sick.She actually preaches on her show now...and brags aout how enlightened she has become.I think she is a big phony.How incredibly cheap of her about the cameras.Since she never pays anything for the things she gives away to her audience my guess is she found out the company that provided the cameras was NOT GOING TO DONATE THEM SO SHE TOOK THEM BACK!! I think that pretty much says it all!!