The Oprah Winfrey Show: October 2009 Archives

Oprah announced yesterday that controversial Republican figure Sarah Palin will be on her show next month to plug her new book, and Palinpalooza has already (big surprise) stirred up both bases.

Facts and misunderstandings have flown fast and furious in the last 24 hours. People reported that last year "Palin famously turned down a campaign season appearance with talk show host." Well, not completely. First, Oprah kept her at bay through the election, then Palin returned the favor.

The Drudge Report posted an item in September 2008 claiming that Oprah's staff was bitterly divided about whether to book Palin on the show. Oprah quickly responded with a statement debunking Drudge, saying, "There has been absolutely no discussion about having Sarah Palin on my show. At the beginning of the presidential campaign, when I decided that I was going to take my first public stance in support of a candidate, I made the decision not to use my show as a platform for any of the candidates. I agree that Sarah Palin would be a fantastic interview, and I would love to have her on after the campaign is over."

Oprah famously endorsed Barack Obama -- did a "happy dance" for him, no less -- the winning Democrat in last year's campaign. (He even joked about making her his VP.) Obama has appeared twice on Oprah's show -- but not while he was a candidate. He also plugged books on "The Oprah Winfrey Show" in January 2005 and October 2006.

Immediately after Election Day, Oprah did invite Palin to be on the show. And Sarah snubbed her, talking to several other shows instead.

Round and round -- the point is, it's finally happening, for good or ill. So, the question ...

What do you think Oprah should ask Sarah during the interview?

According to yesterday's announcement, they'll be meeting for the first time during the actual sit-down -- no pre-planning or rehearsal -- so O's gotta have her ducks in a row. What should she ask? Where shouldn't she go? Tell us below ...

And, as much as "Saturday Night Live" has skewered Palin with Tina Fey's spot-on impersonation, here's a clip from a Dutch TV comedy show featuring an Oprah spoof -- with "Sarah Palin" as a guest ...

You betcha! Former Alaska governor Sarah Palin will appear on "The Oprah Winfrey Show" on Nov. 16.

Harpo announced the booking today, adding that Winfrey and Palin will meet for the very first time on the episode.

Palin has been courted by numerous talk shows. Other than news-channel interviews and a cameo on "Saturday Night Live," she hasn't made it to Leno, Letterman, etc.

Of course, there's really one reason Palin chose Oprah: She's got a book to sell. And Oprah can move tanker-loads of books. Palin will be hawking her upcoming memoir, Going Rogue: An American Life.

Palin was John McCain's running mate on the Republican ticket for the 2008 presidential election. Oprah endorsed Barack Obama in the election, the first time she publicly supported a candidate.

Think Oprah can see Russia from her Chicago skyscraper?

Oprah keeps her ear to the ground -- which may the safest place for it on her talk show this Friday.

Boxing rivals Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield will face each other again, not in the ring but on "The Oprah Winfrey Show," during its weekly live broadcast this Friday, according to an announcement from Harpo Productions.

Oprah will referee the pair during the appearance, which is the first time the fighters have met since June 28, 1997, at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, when Tyson was disqualified after biting off part of Holyfield's right ear during their WBA heavyweight title fight.

Tyson was just on Oprah's show on Monday of this week, discussing the death of his 4-year-old daughter and talking about his family. But he also commented on the infamous ear-chomping incident.

Asked by Oprah about it, Tyson said, ''I didn't feel guilty at the time. ... I apologized to him.''

Winfrey wondered whether Tyson felt the apology.

''No, I did not,'' he said. ''It wasn't sincere.''

Harpo Productions says Tyson will take questions from the audience on Friday.

What do you dial up when you hit the karaoke bar? Do you roller-skate straight for the "Xanadu"? Do you break out the hair metal? Do you dream the impossible dream?

Whatever you sing, Oprah wants to hear it.

Well, gospel singer BeBe Winans does, anyway. On Oprah's behalf -- as announced on today's show -- Winans is hitting the road "American Idol"-style to find the best karaoke singers in America. It's Oprah's Karaoke Challenge.

You can also enter by submitting a two-minute video of yourself singing along with your favorite karaoke track. You can upload your video from now until 11:59 p.m. Oct. 19.

Several singers will be selected to perform on "The Oprah Winfrey Show."

So start practicing. And take heed of Winans' 10 karaoke tips.

Here's a Beatles backing track to get you started ...