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Oprah's Kremlinologist
Recently, she says, two Harpo employees working on the development of the Oprah Winfrey Network, the talk-show host’s new cable home, were in nearby Boulder and gave Peck a call. “They said, ‘We have your book, and we think it’s provocative,’” she says. “They wanted to do interviews with me to get insights in all of this.” She said no.
Although she professes indifference to the many teachings of the Oprah show—Peck and her husband, who’s pursuing a Ph.D. in Mexican history, repeat phrases from the program as jokes to each other—she does feel an emotional connection to the host. Peck, who is 57, was born two years before Winfrey. “Oprah and I took different paths,” she says, “but her empire was the bridge that brought us together.” Now that things are winding down, she does worry about her subject.
“It would be hard to be Oprah Winfrey,” she says. “You’ve got a person who’s entire public persona, and the empire on which it rests, is organized around one idea: that she is the person she is today and she has all of these successes because she is entirely self-actualized. She talks all the time about how she’s rid herself of her own demons. If you believe everything you are is how you think, as she professes, then there’s no room for any problems. When there’s any non-happiness anyplace, it undermines the entire message. Think of the pressure you’re under all the time to act as if everything’s perfect.”
For this reason, Winfrey’s retirement after a quarter-century on air was inevitable, Peck says. Between the ratings dropoff and the recent spate of scandals (including Winfrey’s controversial endorsements of Eckhart Tolle and the guru behind a sweat lodge where three died this fall), the end was nigh. Better to go out on a high note, with a blockbuster interview and big announcements about the (still uncertain) future, then face down the inevitability of someday not getting renewed.
It’s the end of an era—for America and for Oprah studies. But Peck is optimistic.
“I don’t want to be working on Oprah for the rest of my life,” she says. “I do have other interests, you know.”
Rebecca Dana is a culture correspondent for The Daily Beast. A former editor and reporter for The Wall Street Journal, she has also written for The New York Times, The New York Observer, Rolling Stone and Slate, among other publications.
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SCMax101
Well...I guess someone had to study her
DakLak
[Yawn]
vanyam
Wow...this "expert" from BOULDER has the answers to the collective psychological disfunction of society?? I'm so impressed... Another Birkenstock babe from the city of idiots. I never realized that my personal problems were caused by SOCIETY rather than my own screwy thinking... All these wasted years...I could've just said SCREW IT, it's THEIR fault...YOU KNOW.....er...SOCIETY!!! Yeah, that's the ticket... Now I'm depressed... I think I'll go down to Whole Foods at sneer at all the "people" who caused me all this grief. You know...THOSE people... Can you believe this broad make a career out of following OPRAH??? Whoa...that's scarey... Goodbye Oprah, goodbye Peck, hello psychological freedom!!! No I have NO one to blame for my insanity and depression but...my neighbors... WHEW...
JeffreyinLA
Don't you feel better now? Everybody gets a prize, there are no losers, your self esteem is the most important thing in the word, life is all cake and lemonade.
"Birkenstock babe" is a great phrase.
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MTinMO
DAILY BEAST- YOUR TITLE TO THIS STORY SUCKS. Oprah privately supported a candidate for the first time, one who is being called a communist among many other things, and you put a title of the story that has the word Kremlin? What comes to mind when you hear the word Kremlin??? You just give fodder to the crazies out there that are even saying they want the president dead, when you put a title like that on a story about his most prominent supporter that isn't related to him. If you are reporting news, you have a responsibility to not sensationalize or give false impressions. I'm disappointed in you. With that...
Oprah has created her own dynasty. The woman is to be admired for her vision. I remember when she first went national and my mother and sisters in-law were so excited to watch her show. A black woman like them with her own talk show. My husband had to set the VCR to record during the day so they wouldn't miss the show. We had just started our relationship shortly before that came about so our relationship is almost the same age as her show. We appreciate Oprah for all she has done. We shouldn't be surprised that someone would study how she has gone about her rise to one of the most powerful women. She has done much behind the scenes that many people don't even know about. The hurricane survivors know well what she is willing to do and how much she gets others involved too. She has earned the right to do as she wishes. Her show will be missed by many, every day people as well as the rich and famous. Good luck Oprah!
lcinPA
Wow. How weird. Really? Sounds like she needs some help. How can you be indifferent and yet be so committed to her "study"? I mean I guess it can happen, but it just doesn't make any common sense.
JeffreyinLA
This is what's wrong with our "educational" system -- non-teachers like Janice Peck take up class rooms, resources, and time and teach nothing remotely useful. If it weren't for colleges loading up the curriculum with specious "required" courses, a bachelor's degree could be earned in three years and cut the cost by a third. Peck ought to be ashamed of herself, and if her educational life is over, then it's good news for those seeking a real education. You stupid woman!
PatriceFitz
@JeffreyinLA: "You stupid woman!"
Do you find yourself feeling that emotional about men who do things you don't agree with? Do you call them stupid?
No one said that her course was required.
goddess3a
Is there such a word as "specious", jeff?
betsyboulder
Janice Peck is the laughing stock of the JSchool. Always going for the POPTART issues instead of true research and thoughtful study. She is enjoying her 6 minutes of fame... tra-la-la...
Janice Peck has not grown in her position; she is always tricking out her thoughts. Sad. ONE-DIMENSIONAL. ONE SUBJECT does not a academic make. Doesn't realize she is almost 60... she ain't so cute anymore. An embarrassment to whole school. Her "scholarly" writings are more like a Vanity Fair (with emphasis on Vanity) vignette.
charlesfrith
The study of TV personality probably has more value than entire philosophy departments all over the US.
kellymcv
political prisoner she....
slobone
Wait, she's read 250 transcripts -- in 20 years? That's like one a month. Not even really enough to get tenure...
deborahreally
Peck? Peck? Peck? Any relation to "The Road Less Travelled Peck?" M. Scott Peck was one of Oprah's gurus... in the beginning.
Thank you.
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