Oprah Winfrey to Get Own Planet

Top-rated daytime talk show host Oprah Winfrey is set to get her own planet.

Ms. Winfrey is forming a 50-50 joint venture with the United Nations to launch OWP: The Oprah Winfrey Planet, a spokeswoman for Ms. Winfrey and the world announced today. The unprecedented multi-platform global venture will be designed to entertain, inform and inspire people to live their best lives. 

Oprah Winfrey Planet, LLC will debut in 2009 with more than 6.6 billion people on what is currently Planet Earth, using existing geography, natural resources, and populations. The planet is expected to be simulcast in HD.

"Fifteen years ago, I wrote in my journal that one day I would create a planet, as I always felt my show was just the beginning of what the future could hold," said Oprah Winfrey, who will serve as Chairwoman of OWP.

For the United Nations, the deal represents a potentially lucrative gamble. It trades a shaky global alliance rife with relationship ruts and low self-esteem issues for a share of Ms. Winfrey's burnished brand and lucrative future.

United Nations' Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon says, "The U.N. looks forward to Oprah's invaluable leadership in helping us make this our best life ever. We're especially excited about access to internationally renowned Oprah resources like 'Knock-Knock It's Nate,' 'Does Your Underwear Need an Overhaul?,' and 'Age-Defying Hair Makeovers.' The possibility of an Asian touring company of 'The Color Purple' is also of great interest to many of our Pacific Rim countries."

Winfrey's company, Harpo Inc., is expected to immediately start making over the Western Hemisphere as well as the region of South Africa where the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls currently resides. Europe, Africa, Asia, and Antarctica will be overseen by the United Nations until a long-term plan is devised or until Colin Cowie's wedding schedule eases up.

While Ms. Winfrey was an investor in the launch of another elemental entity, the Oxygen TV Network, her spokeswoman says, "It didn't reflect her vision at all."

(Thanks to Chuck Fiorello!)

Comments

[Liz B.]

Tell it, sister!