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