Oprah Winfrey Warns OWN Talent To Steer Clear Of 'DWTS'

Oprah Winfrey has made it clear that she doesn’t want to see her friends taking part in "Dancing With The Stars" -- even famously telling The Duchess Of York, Sarah Ferguson, "I better not see you on [the show]" But is Oprah trying to sabotage the ratings powerhouse or simply looking after those she loves?

“Oprah has very mixed feelings about reality TV,” one TV executive tells me. “A few years ago, when she was doing her own show, she didn’t care for it at all. Manipulating people who are so desperate to be famous and making then look foolish on TV is just not something she is comfortable doing. However, now that she has her own TV network, her views are starting to soften. The docudrama with Sarah Ferguson was basically a reality show and OWN has the O’Neils and The Judds, which might not be as crazy as some of VH1 and Bravo shows, but nevertheless they are reality shows.”

Further proof that the former daytime queen's views are changing is OWN's "Your OWN Show" host Carson Kressley, who was just cast in season 13 of the show, joining the network.

“Carson is a member of Oprah’s OWN family. If she really didn’t want him to appear on the ballroom floor she would have stopped it,” an insider tells me. “Which she clearly didn’t. Her network isn’t the big hit she and everyone else thought it would be. Now those 20 million people watching one of her network stars shake his ass twice a week looks much more appealing.”

Who knows, maybe we might see Winfrey herself do a Cha-cha-cha -- or at least Gayle King should get her dancing shoes ready.

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Comments

[CrabbyGolightly]

08:15 AM on 09/08/2011

Huh? "Oprah has very mixed feelings about reality TV. A few years ago, when she was doing her own show, she didn’t care for it at all. Manipulating people...and making then look foolish on TV is just not something she is comfortable doing."

Sorry, Rob, but this is drivel. Oprah's show was the original reality TV show and you should know this if you pretend to be a reporter.

[policy5]

06:14 PM on 09/05/2011

Oprah does know how to make money, I haven't watched her in years.

[dickjjdic]

05:41 PM on 09/05/2011

Send her & Obama both to Africa. They need them

[Charles Ossa]

08:07 PM on 09/05/2011

Dick head.

[servicemasterwv]

04:54 PM on 09/05/2011

only losers go on dwts becasue the ones on there are not stars !!!!

[ncqueenxox]

04:31 PM on 09/05/2011

lol OMG I have not watched Oprah for years ,I dont know what her ex could say about her that she didnt tell her self or some other book did say!She is smart , but I believe she is a fake thats why I stopped watching her,I dont see how she can tell others what to do , but if the money is good then they can choose , I do believe Oprah is a person that has too be the boss!

[Danny Terry]

04:13 PM on 09/05/2011

SHE is a has been she needs to go and spend her money and have a good time and try staying out of everyones bussiness

[winlockmike]

04:08 PM on 09/05/2011

Well OWN is in the crapper so shes going to bad mouth others thinking that people give a s--t what oprah has to say.

[blinn8656]

04:04 PM on 09/05/2011

Those with the most money rule the world.

[ixob673]

03:35 PM on 09/05/2011

Something smells here.

[BigLon]

03:34 PM on 09/05/2011

All you people that actually give a hoot what Miss Oprah thinks,
MUST be completely devoid of brain cells.

[hathor38]

03:34 PM on 09/05/2011

Gail is not Oprah's puppy dog. Was Ed Mcmann Johnnie Carsons puppy? I think no,t the two are 2nd Bananas that's all.
WINTER is coming more people at home, more people will watch Oprah's station.

[winlockmike]

04:10 PM on 09/05/2011

Two bananas Right be closer to say they use 2 bananas when they get together

[rogiec123]

03:32 PM on 09/05/2011

who cares what Oprah say's. Another over paid, loudmouthed, billionaire phony.

[jgmrealestate]

03:30 PM on 09/05/2011

Be careful what you say about Oprah ,big brother is watching as she is in cohoots with the Prez

[Danny Terry]

04:18 PM on 09/05/2011

That should tell you something about how that race works even some blacks can't stand the two faced idiots she is supported by WHITE people not the blacks they get nothing from her if it wasn't for WHITE support she wouldn't have made a dent on T V

[ncqueenxox]

04:37 PM on 09/05/2011

jgmrealestate , Wonder how many people really believed Oprah when she came out for obama believed it was not because he was black? Remember Oprah went to Wrights church but didnt tell people WE GOT A CHURCH IN OUR COUNTRY THAT HATES WHITE FOLKS AND THE COUNTRY!! no Oprah didnt share that!

[ThisAlreadyHappened]

03:29 PM on 09/05/2011

Oprah's black?

[winlockmike]

04:10 PM on 09/05/2011

not in her mind

[trishamine]

03:22 PM on 09/05/2011

If only Oprah would pick up "All My Children" on her net work. She is so right about dancing with the stars, they get hurt a lot, that's why I stopped watching them a few years back, I don't like watching people getting hurt or doing impossible moves and ending up being hurt. Dancing is suposed to be fun not a death wish. As for those reality shows, they stink all of them.

[kristiemaureen]

03:32 PM on 09/05/2011

Reality shows all stink, but All My Children is worth saving? Wow... just... wow.

[octap53]

03:40 PM on 09/05/2011

you know, people still have the freedom of choice and don't need her to be telling them what to do and not to do without repercussions. those people are smart!!! i think the show stinks, but if u want to go on and look foolish,that's thier choice