Oprah in Australia

Jan - 25 | By: MaxP | one comment.

Filed under : Chat Show, Documentary, News, TV

Rumour has it the Australian and New South Wales governments paid millions of dollars to get Oprah to film some of her shows in Australia. Back in September last year Oprah made one of her famous big announcements that all 300 members of her studio audience in Chicago will be coming with her to Australia. The result of that investment and announcement was shown over several nights on Channel 10 this last week.

Oprah and some of her Chicago audience invited to Australia

Well Oprah put on quite a show, four episodes of her show from down under were shown here and in the USA and it made us look good. The Chicago audience experienced the length and breadth of Australia. They were split up for some trips and experiences, one couple even making it to Western Australia, others they completed with Oprah herself. Oprah knew her job and never stopped praising the country and the things that she saw and did. But lets face it, it is a great country and it can’t have been that hard to fake sincerity.

Oprah in front of the Sydney Habour Bridge & Opera House

Oprah and her audience experienced everything from walking on top of the Sydney Harbour Bridge to the Great Barrier Reef to Uluru (Ayers Rock) and a great deal in between. All accompanied by a huge helping of praise and wonder and some spectacular photography.

Oprah with some Aboriginal children at Uluru (Ayers Rock)

The big show itself, filmed on the steps of the Sydney Opera House (or was it Oprah House that day? ) was equally spectacular. They wheeled out all of the Hollywood big gun Aussies that the Americans would recognise and had music from the big International acts that were touring Oz at that time, no less than Bon Jovi and U2. Bono and Jon Bon Jovi also waxed lyrical about this great land of ours.

Russell Crowe promoted not only Australia and Sydney, but of course his South Sydney Rabbitohs Rugby League team , some of whom were in the audience. Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban were interviewed together, although they did not have a lot to say. Olivia Newton John appeared with those black skin tight pants from Grease, although she wasn’t wearing them. For the big finale Hugh Jackman smashed up his handsome face for the show. For anyone that did not see this on the news, Jackman made a spectacular entrance on a Flying Fox from the top of the Sydney Oprah House, but he forgot to apply the brake and smashed himself into part of the lighting rig. The show had to be paused while he went back stage to be patched up. They wound up all together singing “I Still Call Australia Home” although most of them live in the USA.

Hugh Jackman on the Flying Fox

Hugh Jackman receives some TLC from Oprah

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I’ve never been a follower of Oprah, although I have seen the odd show and bits of shows. I am not in it’s target audience of stay at home housewives. Apparently 6000 people showed up to see the filming on the steps of the Opera House and if you were cynical, which I am, you could believe many people show up for the booty. Oprah is famous for giving away stuff to her audiences, a car for every one of them and this trip are only the tip of the iceberg. And the 6000 Opera House audience was no exception, they all left with a big bag of swag, including two diamond necklaces each, in the shape of an “O“. Well worth the trip, look out for them on Ebay soon.

Oprah and the stars who still call Australia home

The big question is, did Australia get value for it’s investment in bringing the show here? Only time and the accountants will tell. But there is no denying it was a most spectacular promo. Although it must be remembered that of it’s core audience of Americans only 37% of them have a passport and have ever left the country, mind you, that does represent more than 114 Million people. Plus the show is scheduled to be shown in another 140 countries, not to mention the Aussies who may be persuaded to holiday at some of the sites shown. So I believe that it will probably bring in more visitors than Paul Hogan‘s offer to “throw a shrimp on the barbie“, or Lara Bingle asking “Where the bloody hell are ya“. So if you are reading this from outside Australia check out Oprah‘s show and come on down.