| Oprah Winfrey is one of the most popular talk show | | | | ($175-$250), and a Hewlett |
| hosts in Americantelevision history. As her show | | | | Packard Digital Camera, Printer and Dock (total value |
| enters its 21rst season, she has millionsof viewers who | | | | $730) among otheritems. Fall audience members |
| tune in each day. One of her most popular segments | | | | racked up with UGG Classic Short Boots |
| is her | | | | ($110), a Philip Stein Teslar Watch ($595), and a Sony |
| "Favorite Things" holiday show. During this show, Oprah | | | | DCR-DVD200 Handycam |
| shares with thestudio and television audience some of | | | | ($1000). |
| her favorite things including jewelry,gadgets and | | | | 2004 was a very special Favorite Things segment for |
| vacation getaways. | | | | Oprah. Sheconvinced 300 teachers to attend her |
| People love this show because on the "Favorite | | | | show, under the premise of talking abouteducation and |
| Things" episode, audiencemembers get the | | | | a teacher's daily routine. Instead, she surprised them |
| extravagant gifts that Oprah displays. Around 300 | | | | withthe Favorite Things episode. The teachers |
| audiencemembers are showered with gifts each | | | | received gifts such as a Sony |
| holiday episode. The amount varies,but Oprah audience | | | | VAIO S260 notebook computer, a Dell 30" |
| members can each expect to receive between | | | | wide-screen LCD television, a Maytag |
| $4,000 and $15,000worth of gifts. But, Oprah is a big | | | | Neptune Top-Load Washer and Drying Center, and a |
| winner as well. The 2004 episodeof "Oprah's Favorite | | | | trip for two to the exclusive |
| Things" had the highest ratings ever for a "Favorite | | | | Miraval Resort and Spa. Total gift amount for each |
| Things" episode and was the second highest rated | | | | teacher was about |
| episode for the season. | | | | $15,000 - much more than the previous year total of |
| Oprah has been doing her "Favorite Things" episode | | | | $4,800. Oprah, asupporter of education and teachers, |
| since 1999. Guestsreceived a set of Illumination Ritual | | | | knew the teachers were worth every penny. |
| Candles, each one to inspire differentfeelings like love, | | | | In 2005, Oprah decided to make her favorite things |
| peace and passion and each candle contained a tiny | | | | audience up of Katrinarelief workers. Among the gifts |
| gemstoneinside. The 12-candle set was valued at | | | | were Sony VAIO(R) FJ Notebook, Kashwére(R) |
| $169.95. Dog owners were nodoubt thrilled with the Fifi | | | | Shawl Collar Robe, BlackBerry 7105T from T-Mobile, |
| and Romeo Pet Clothing ($150 and up) - one of | | | | and a couple of Oprah'sfavorites from 2004, UGG |
| Oprah's favorite things of 1999. One of the most | | | | Australia's Uptown Boot and an Apple iPod. |
| extravagant gifts thatyear was a Susan Abbott | | | | Whileconsiderably less than the year before, the 2005 |
| Personalized Painting, ranging from $5,000 and up. | | | | recipients still received over |
| Oprahloved the Susan Abbott painting given to her by | | | | $7,000 worth of items. |
| author Sarah Ban Breathnach. | | | | Probably due in part to Oprah's television audience as |
| In 2000, Oprah added many hi-tech gadgets like the | | | | well as her personalappeal, each year the |
| Motorola Talkabout pager | | | | manufacturer's of the items found on Oprah's |
| (priced at $179), so audience members could receive | | | | favoritethings donate all the gifts. But they reap great |
| email while on the go. | | | | benefits from doingso. They get television exposure |
| Another favorite thing from 2000 was the book | | | | and an immediate increase in sales aftereach episode. |
| equivalent of the iPod, the | | | | Companies like Sephora and Macy's have both |
| Gemstar REB1100 eBook from RCA ($299). The | | | | publicallystated that as soon as Oprah mentions one |
| Gemstar let users download upto 8,000 book pages, | | | | of their products, people are comingin the stores in |
| so they never had to carry around a book again. | | | | droves to get it. |
| The BlissLabs Glamour Gloves ($44) and Gel ($22) | | | | So in the end, it is a win-win situation. The |
| was one of Oprah's favoritethings in 2002. The | | | | manufacturers seeincreased sales, the audience gets |
| Panasonic 4-in-1 Digital Camera from Frontgate | | | | great gifts, and Oprah just keeps on gettingmore and |
| ($449)was also a big hit that year. The camera, the | | | | more popular with her viewing audience. |
| size of a credit card, takespictures and video, but can | | | | Shelley Lowery is a successful writer with an interest |
| also be used as a MP3 player and audio recorder. | | | | in celebrities like Oprah Winfrey. She demonstrates the |
| In 2003, Oprah decided to do two episodes of her | | | | power of Oprah's Favorite Things list each year on the |
| favorite things segment -one in the Spring and one in | | | | holiday shopping season. See her report on what |
| the Fall. Spring audience members got an | | | | products made the list on Oprah's Favorite Things for |
| Apple iPod ($399), Silhouette Minimal X Sunglasses | | | | 2005, 2004, 2003, and 2002. |