Oprah On Hand To Officially Welcome Rosie O'Donnell To Harpo Studios

With the Thursday afternoon unveiling of a sign welcoming Rosie O'Donnell's new talk show outside the Near West Side's Harpo Studios, daytime diva Oprah Winfrey has officially abdicated her longtime home to her successor.

As NBC Chicago reports, Winfrey was on hand Thursday for a brief ceremony revealing the new sign for the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN)'s "The Rosie Show," which will make its television debut Monday, Oct. 10.

Want to get an early glimpse what to expect from the new show from the Emmy-winning actress and host? Chicagoist this week ran an enlightening interview with an audience member at a test taping of the show. Jeff Rieck told Chicagoist the taping included a confident opening monologue, interviews with "The Playboy Club" stars Melissa Gilbert and Jenifer Lewis and some insight into O'Donnell's thoughts on her new home:

"She told the studio audience—many of whom were Chicagoans—that she loves it here, and she listed all the things that she really likes about Chicago versus New York City—wide streets, clean, friendly, and no one has given her the finger yet! But, the best part? That was when she admitted that she has had to adjust to our funny Chicago accent, which she imitates really well, by the way."

Thursday, O'Donnell also announced that she has purchased a home in the Lake View area, the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

As part of the promotion of her new venture, O'Donnell also recently landed on the front cover of the October issue of O Magazine alongside Winfrey -- only the third time in the magazine's history that Winfrey has shared the cover with someone else. Inside the issue, O'Donnell discussed her 2007 divorce, her family and her return to television.

Reservations to attend tapings of "The Rosie Show" were opened up for the first time last week and tickets, at least for the time being, already appear to be spoken for.

WATCH O'Donnell discuss her new show: