"You get a car! You get a car! You get a car! You get a car." - Oprah during her great car giveaway
Oprah: The 20th Anniversary Collection DVD Review
By Jude Carson
It hardly seemed necessary: a six disc collection of highlights from Oprah's first twenty years. After all, the series is still on the air, and viewers can simple watch new episodes of the show rather than old clips. However, with its mix of fluffy celeb interviews, hard-hitting news, and behind-the-scenes tales, Oprah: The 20th Anniversary Collection turns out to be a must-have for Oprah fans.
Only two full-length episodes are presented: "Oprah's 50th Birthday Bash" and "Christmaskindness." The surprise birthday bash includes performances by Tina Turner, Josh Grobin and Stevie Wonder, video tributes from a boatful of stars, and appearances by John Travolta and Jay Leno. "Oprah's 50th" is inconsequential, but "Christmaskindness" makes up for it. In this episode, Oprah and her crew head off to South Africa to bring a little Christmas joy to the country's children, handing out toys, clothing, shoes, and love. This episode is a real tear-jerker. If you aren't moved, then you are definitely hard hearted.
The remainder of the DVD consists of clips organized by theme. "The Beginning" on disc one, for example, takes a look at Oprah's early years before she started her iconic talk show. This section includes rare footage of Oprah's start in Nashville, her segue to Baltimore, and her fateful move to Chicago. Viewers will even learn that movie critic Roger Ebert convinced Oprah to syndicate her local Chicago talk show (which beat Phil Donahue's popular series on the very day it premiered).
As one would guess, many of the clips are meant to be heart-tugging: dying mothers who are saying goodbye to their children, kids with fatal diseases, and women who are raising nine nieces and nephews in addition to their own three kids. Sure, some of it can be a bit much, but if you're in the mood for a good cry, look no further.
Thankfully, though, it's not all depressing. There are many fluffy clips, too, including sections on decorating, Oprah's "Firsts" (segments where Oprah does things for the first time), and makeovers. The first five discs also include clips of celebrity interviews. These clip compilations are somewhat disappointing. Oprah's series allows her to speak in-depth to her guests over the course of her hour long shows. Here, they are so short that they often come across as teases for Entertainment Tonight. The lengths of the clips are inconsistent. Bill Cosby gets about thirty seconds while Will Smith's interview is so long you'd swear it's completely uncut. Some of the interviews are dominated by Oprah, and an alarming number showcase jokes about her wealth.
One of the best sections is "The Headlines" which explores such past news stories as Oklahoma City, Columbine, September 11, and the tsunami. The Little Rock Nine are reunited with some of their tormenters from when they integrated their Little Rock school. Others may be less known, but are just as dramatic. In "Forsyth County" (1987), Oprah visits a Georgia county that did not have a single black resident. In "AIDS in Williamson, West Virginia" (1987), Oprah hosts a town meeting when residents ostracize an AIDS patient who dared to swim in the municipal pool. Oprah gives her perspective on the stories, and written follow-ups are included. The only problem with these and other clip compilations is that Oprah often provides too much context or story framing.
Other favorite Oprah moments included here are Oprah with her wagon of fat, the great car giveaway, and crazy old Tom Cruise.
Is your favorite clip or celeb included? Check out this list:
Disc 1
The Beginning
Nashville
Baltimore
Oprah's Audition
Oprah Comes to Chicago
The Oprah Winfrey Show: The Early Years
Heartprints
Kathy Bray
Mrs. Duncan
Rudine
Truddi Chase
Joni Jacques
George Dawson
Erin Kramp
Kate and Zach
Jacqui Saburido
Tish Hooker
Mattie
The Stars, Act 1
John Travolta
Julia Roberts
Liberace
Mel Gibson
Barbara Walters
Eddie Murphy
Arnold and Maria
Jerry Seinfeld
Goldie Hawn & Kurt Russell
Bruce Willis
Jamie Fox
Priscilla Presley
Leonardo DiCaprio
Nicole Kidman
Jude Law
Hilary Swank
Salma Hayek
Billy Crystal
Barbra Streisand
Tom Hanks
Disc 2
Aha!
"I Used to Beat my Child"
Whisper
"Your Story will Save Lives"
Stranger Danger
Gratitude
Surrender
Sexual Seduction
Authentic Power
Relationships
"Love Doesn't Hurt"
All Pain is the Same
"You Teach People How to Treat You"
"I Never Thought of it That Way"
Dr. Maya Angelou
"Do Your Eyes Light Up?"
Surprise!
Good News!
Will you marry me?
Mary Tyler Moore
Happy 40th Birthday, Oprah!
Thanks, Philadelphia!
Sing it, Jake!
Tom Cruise
Princess Fannie
Dave the Porsche Guy
The Hottest Ticket in Television!
Home
A Private Tour of Oprah's Home
"Use Your Good Stuff"
Small Space Makeovers
Decorating Disaster Makeovers!
Nate Makes Over Kirstie Alley's House
Nate Guts Actor Jerry O'Connell's Bachelor Pad
The Stars, Act 2
Elizabeth Taylor
Tom Cruise
Bill Cosby
Julio Iglesias
Bette Midler
Demi Moore
Jay Leno
Cher and Chastity
The Judds
Denzel Washington
Ellen Degeneres
Kevin Costner
Steven Spielberg
Sarah Ferguson
George Clooney
Madonna
Disc 3
The Interviews
Elie Wiesel
Diana Ross
John F. Kennedy Jr.
Sidney Poitier
Nelson Mandela
Dr. Catherine Hamlin
Lisa Marie Presley
Firsts
Oprah Onstage with Tina Turner
Oprah Runs a Marathon
Oprah Goes to Basic Training
Oprah in the Delivery Room
Oprah Works at McDonald's
Oprah Babysits
Oprah Flies with Celine
Oprah Races Lance Armstrong
Oprah Makes a Music Video
Oprah and Gayle Go Back in Time
Oprah Gets Her Ears Pierced
Oprah Gets a Role on Desperate Housewives
The Stars, Act 3
Halle Berry
Johnny Depp
Tiger Woods
Matt Damon
Clint Eastwood
Matthew McConaughey
Gwyneth Paltrow
Paul Newman
Susan Lucci
Jennifer Lopez
Michael J. Fox
Bernie Mac
Beyonce
Tatum O'Neal
Cameron Diaz
Brad Pitt
Disc 4
The Headlines
Forsyth County
AIDS in Williamstown, West Virginia
Betty Broderick
Susan Smith
The OJ Simpson Verdict
Oklahoma City
The Little Rock Nine
Texas Cattleman vs. Oprah Winfrey
Columbine
September 11
Tsunami
Makeover Hall of Fame
The Many Looks of Oprah
Makeovers, The Early Days
Makeover Highlights
What Not to Wear This Summer
Age-Defying Makeovers
Take it Off!
Movie Star Makeover
Vogue Makeover
Red Carpet Makeovers
Mom Makeovers
Queer Eye for the Straight Guy Makeovers
The Stars, Act 4
Chris Rock
Robin Williams
Jim Carrey
Celine Dion
Brooke Shields
Drew Barrymore
Diane Keaton
Cybill Shepherd
Ben Affleck
Britney Spears
Bono
Meg Ryan
Hugh Grant
Disc 5
Weight
"The Fat in the Wagon"
Oprah's Weight Loss Ups and Downs
Inside the Life of an Obese Person: Stacey Halpern
Incredible Body Makeovers
Spring Training
Make the Connection
Incredible Weight Loss Stories
Check Your Health 2003
Oprah's Weight Loss Plan
Books
Oprah's Book Club: The Inside Story
Oprah's Book Club Dinners
Here's to Books
Angels
Oprah Launches the Angel Network
Viewers Join the Angel Network
Angel Network Scholarships
Angel Network Houses
Oprah's Use Your Life Awards
The Stars, Act 5
Paul McCartney
Oscar Montage
The Stars of Sex and the City
Lionel and Nicole Richie
Olsen Twins
Mike Myers
Robin Givens
Ashton Kutcher
Adam Sandler
Jessica Simpson
Jon Stewart
The Cast of Everybody Loves Raymond
Renee Zellweger
Richard Gere
Robert Downey Jr.
P. Diddy
Luther Vandross
Wildest Dream, The 19th Season
The Cars: The Season Premiere
Oprah's Wildest Dream Bus: Paola
Tina Turner makes Felicity Huffman's Dream Come True
Josh Grobin Surprises Gayle
Wildest Dreams Montage
Production Notes
Disc 6
Oprah's 50th Birthday Bash!
Christmaskindness
Behind the Scenes: A Day in the Life of The Oprah Winfrey Show
Laughs!
The contents of Oprah: The 20th Anniversary Collection are divided onto six discs. The discs are housed in a foldout cardboard digipak. The digipak is decorated with photos from Oprah's series. A folder panel holds a booklet detailing all of the clips included in the set. The digipak slides into an outer cardboard sleeve.
