Hi-tech devices explained


Oprah's Favorite Things Hits Big This Holiday Season

Oprah Winfrey is one of the most popular talkIn 2003, Oprah decided to do two episodes of
show hosts in American television history. Asher favorite things segment - one in the
her show enters its 21rst season, she hasSpring and one in the Fall. Spring audience
millions of viewers who tune in each day. Onemembers got an Apple iPod ($399), Silhouette
of her most popular segments is her "FavoriteMinimal X Sunglasses ($175-$250), and a
Things" holiday show. During this show, OprahHewlett Packard Digital Camera, Printer and
shares with the studio and televisionDock (total value $730) among other items.
audience some of her favorite thingsFall audience members racked up with UGG
including jewelry, gadgets and vacationClassic Short Boots ($110), a Philip Stein
getaways.Teslar Watch ($595), and a Sony DCR-DVD200
Handycam  ($1000).
People love this show because on the
"Favorite Things" episode, audience members2004 was a very special Favorite Things
get the extravagant gifts that Oprahsegment for Oprah. She convinced 300 teachers
displays. Around 300 audience members areto attend her show, under the premise of
showered with gifts each holiday episode. Thetalking about education and a teacher's daily
amount varies, but Oprah audience members canroutine. Instead, she surprised them with the
each expect to receive between $4,000 andFavorite Things episode. The teachers
$15,000 worth of gifts. But, Oprah is a bigreceived gifts such as a Sony VAIO S260
winner as well. The 2004 episode of "Oprah'snotebook computer, a Dell 30" wide-screen LCD
Favorite Things" had the highest ratings evertelevision, a Maytag Neptune Top-Load Washer
for a "Favorite Things" episode and was theand Drying Center, and a trip for two to the
second  highest rated episode for the season.exclusive Miraval Resort and Spa. Total gift
amount for each teacher was about $15,000 -
Oprah has been doing her "Favorite Things"much more than the previous year total of
episode since 1999. Guests received a set of$4,800. Oprah, a supporter of education and
Illumination Ritual Candles, each one toteachers, knew the teachers were worth every
inspire different feelings like love, peacepenny.
and passion and each candle contained a tiny
gemstone inside. The 12-candle set was valuedIn 2005, Oprah decided to make her favorite
at $169.95. Dog owners were no doubt thrilledthings audience up of Katrina relief workers.
with the Fifi and Romeo Pet Clothing ($150Among the gifts were Sony VAIO(R) FJ
and up) - one of Oprah's favorite things ofNotebook, Kashwére(R) Shawl Collar Robe,
1999. One of the most extravagant gifts thatBlackBerry 7105T (TM) from T-Mobile, and a
year was a Susan Abbott Personalizedcouple of Oprah's favorites from 2004, UGG
Painting, ranging from $5,000 and up. OprahAustralia's Uptown Boot and an Apple iPod.
loved the Susan Abbott painting given to herWhile considerably less than the year before,
by  author  Sarah  Ban  Breathnach.the 2005 recipients still received over
$7,000  worth  of  items.
In 2000, Oprah added many hi-tech gadgets
like the Motorola Talkabout pager (priced atProbably due in part to Oprah's television
$179), so audience members could receiveaudience as well as her personal appeal, each
email while on the go. Another favorite thingyear the manufacturer's of the items found on
from 2000 was the book equivalent of theOprah's favorite things donate all the gifts.
iPod, the Gemstar REB1100 eBook from RCABut they reap great benefits from doing so.
($299). The Gemstar let users download up toThey get television exposure and an immediate
8,000 book pages, so they never had to carryincrease in sales after each episode.
around  a  book  again.Companies like Sephora and Macy's have both
publically stated that as soon as Oprah
The BlissLabs Glamour Gloves ($44) and Gelmentions one of their products, people are
($22) was one of Oprah's favorite things incoming  in  the  stores  in droves to get it.
2002. The Panasonic 4-in-1 Digital Camera
from Frontgate ($449) was also a big hit thatSo in the end, it is a win-win situation. The
year. The camera, the size of a credit card,manufacturers see increased sales, the
takes pictures and video, but can also beaudience gets great gifts, and Oprah just
used  as  a  MP3  player  and audio recorder.keeps on getting more and more popular with
her viewing audience.



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