Oprah's Favorite Things 2008: Recession-Friendly Gifts Cost "Next To Nothing"

Oprah's Favorite Things will be recession-friendly this year. After years of lavish giveaways — last year, for instance, she gave away an HDTV refrigerator, a camcorder, and many luxurious home products — the host will be scaling back her annual list of Christmas gift recommendations to reflect hard economic times, the show said in a statement:

"They're some of Oprah's favorite things, but this time there's a twist...they cost next to nothing! On [Wednesday's] show, viewers reveal their creative ways to spend less over the holiday season. You'll meet a mom who shows us how to create a one-of-a-kind treasure that comes straight from the heart Then, one family talks about their very own tradition that doesn't cost a cent. You'll also hear some great ideas to make your holiday party memorable and affordable. And, Oprah unveils a special gift that won't cost you a thing! Find out how to have the thriftiest holidays ever."

To prep for next week's episode, watch video of the always-over-the-top crowd reaction from last year's Favorite Things episode here, and video of the crowd reaction to Oprah's Favorite Things for Summer here.

Comments

[jaydeedub]

Where's Stedman? Did she kick him to the curb?

[meede]

He was standing behind her in the Park on election night. He's still with her.

[darkday]

I can't stand Oprah, but even I'll give her some credit. She got Obama elected. In my political science we read about a paper showing the county by county link between Oprah's popularity and Obama's vote count, even after controlling for race, education etc, and there's no way he would have got the Dem nomination without Oprah. She easily brought in more than a million votes in a primary that was extremely close. The evidence is overwhelming:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/31/AR2008083101761.html http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/09/08/opinion/polls/main3244412.shtml?source=

[Mattie]

How sad that people are so stupid and uniformed that they vote by what Oprah says. What a sad statement about our country! How about you read about his voting record and his accomplishments.

[justchill]

sad, indeed, but hey, whatever it takes...th­ank you oprah for the influence you had (or not) in bringing us the next potus

[obamasandiego]

Oprah's got credibility. Why would you think people are stupid to vote for what she encourages them to vote for? At least people didn't listen to Palin's advice to vote for her ticket! Now that would have been extremely stupid!

[Cooper1608]

And you think Oprah's upset that you can't stand her. Please get a life. Stop "hatin"

[maggiee]

How big of a drag is it if you've been trying forever to get in to one of these "my favorite things" shows and THIS is the year you finally get a ticket.

[Cynth]

I know. Cue the trombone for those folks...th­ey're stuck having to be grateful for the simple things. Credit to Oprah for dialing back the madness, though. :-)

[Mattie]

that's what I thought!

[classc 1]

My thoughts exactly. I will watch to see the expression on the faces of these poor souls.

[Norak]

Taking home macaroni hearts.

[iranter]

for a multi-billionaire, what does "next to nothing" mean? A million is next to nothing against a billion!

rich people. you have to love em.

[westportmike]

Could you imagine being in the audience that day???? "Oh, my God, I'm on Oprah's favorite things show..Cha Ching!! Cruel Joke on these poor people.

[Cooper1608]

How on earth do you think it will be a cruel joke? The show hasn't even aired yet. Maybe she will surprise them. Wait and see before slamming her. Those poor people. The ones on previous shows didn't appear too be poor to me. In fact they looked pretty rich to me. It's her money and people should get over it. She can do what she pleases. Christmas is celebrating the death of Jesus Christ that died on the cross that we all might have a chance of getting into Heaven. Christmas is so materialistic, it makes me sick.

[4everdem]

Wow Oprah is a billionaire and she decides to cut back. I guess she is affraid Harpo Productions might not make a gazzilion dollars this next year and she can't drop a million on her Christmas show?

I used to like Oprah. Now she is a sell out.

[darkday]

Huh? Harpo's not the one paying for these gifts. The companies that make them do in exchange for the publicity of being on Oprah. Oprah's given hundreds of millions of dollars behind the scenes, but the stuff she gives away on TV is payed for by sponsors.

[damali]

don't bother trying to explain. people enjoy trying to feel better about their own sad lives by coming down on Oprah. they forget that she is a self-made woman who worked her way up from poverty by getting an education, being a serious hard-worker, ethical and generous to those around her. oh but who cares about that...bec­ause you know, once a poor person becomes rich, their lives are no longer worth anything.

[mirage2008]

No offense to anyone but Oprah is pisses me off. She was useful in her support for Obama, but other than that I want her to choke on her own emo self-righteousness.

Just saying doods.

Don't hate me. K.

[darkday]

Useful is an understatement. She put him in the white house. I can't stand Oprah but I give her credit. She single-handedly delivered over a million votes in the Democratic primary:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/31/AR2008083101761.html http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/09/08/opinion/polls/main3244412.shtml?source=

[MrMostly]

The last thing this economy needs is a lot of people not buying things for Christmas. Consumers need to consume.

[toocoldout]

Joe Klien made the same point on Morning Joe and Oprah's Suzie Orman beat the living crap out of him for saying that. She said, how can folks consume when they are in debt up to their eye-balls? We need balance, and I think that's what Oprah's offering with this show.

[intelliwoman]

Just like the consumers who couldn't afford them bought houses. Look how well that turned out

[Giada]

The holiday is how each of us define it. My favorite holidays were not about the gifts, but about my family, the pleasure of being together, good food, laughter ...

[oscartucker]

Wait until the show airs; see what she's talking about.

[toocoldout]

Oprah's gift to America was Obama. Without the million votes she got him in the razor close primary, this would be one sad Christmas:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/31/AR2008083101761.html

[darkday]

So true. I'm not an Oprah fan but she decided the primary.

[Mattie]

is that how you vote, whoever Oprah tells you to go with! LOL!

[ladyv]

toocoldout and darkday are sockpuppets of one another.

[SonnyListon]

nobody cares.

[toocoldout]

I do! Speak for yourself!!!

[ReddzVoice]

EXACTLY; speak for yourself. If that guy didn't care, he would not have commented.

Peace and love...

[frikkenkids]

I think Oprah's favorite thing is the physical manifestation of awesomeness (in her mind) that is Oprah.

[Myshkin57]

What would be recession-friendly is giving people things that do cost a good deal that they cannot afford. It's her show but I find this "I'm gonna teach people to save money nonsense really condescend­ing." If you want to help people out help them get a job or how about giving away a year's worth of CTA passes to people in Chicago? She could help the environment and help people who are short on cash in one fell swoop.

[Myshkin57]

Sorry... should be "... I find this "I'm gonna teach people to save money" nonsense"" With the quotation mark in the wrong place it's not even a sentence.

[proggirl]

Come on now, folks.
I find this frustrating too. I mean, a billionaire telling me how to live on the cheap. It is a bit condescending.
But remember that she didn't come from money, she made it through skill, wits and luck.
Besides, if she came out with opulent gifts, she'd be pilloried for that even worse.
What could she do that would make you happy?

[pickwickianmom]

Here is the thing that Oprah has done that has made ME happy.

When I go to Kmart, Walmart, or Target there are real BOOKS there since Oprah started her book club. My little Kmart that has only stocked religious books for years finally has FAULKNER and TOLSTOY.

I like the thought that she is introducing people to books. Some people are snobby about her book club, but I think that's silly. David Brooks wrote a brilliant column about how the middle class used to aspire to culture through Reader's Digest condensed novels and classical music records but were ridiculed. Now they don't even try and along comes Oprah and revives some semblance of culture for the middle class.

[Mattie]

she's like a god to some of you, guess what, I can vote without her advice, and I've always read books....W­OW, they have chapters and everything!

[Bitsko]

Once I built a railroad
I made it run
Made it race against time.
Once I built a railroad
Now it's done
Oprah, can you spare a dime?

[mitchoz]

I like Oprah, but I really wish billionaires would stop telling me how to live on a budget. I will never make in 350 lifetimes what she makes in interest on her money. Just send me a check Oprah. I would be grateful and use it to make purchases in a thrift shop.

[googie]

Oprah didn't start out rich. She's experienced poverty as well as wealth. However, it does seem she has forgotten much of the poverty.