Oh, Oprah! Gazette reporter experiences show firsthand
By Sarah Severson
Check
"yes" if these statements apply to you:
·You make it a point to set your VCR or DVR to tape the Oprah Winfrey Show.
·You have checked out Oprah’s web site, www.oprah.com.
·You have called Oprah’s audience reservation line, only to get a busy signal.
·People visit from out of town and expect you to be able to snag Oprah tickets.
·You glance through any tabloid at the supermarket that has Oprah’s name across the front and discount any negative press about her weight, her relationship with long-time boyfriend Stedman Graham, and any other aspect of her life.
·You cry while watching the Oprah’s Favorite Things shows (partly from watching audience members’ sheer joy and excitement, and because you secretly wish you were there receiving all those great gifts).
If you checked three or more statements, you are a huge Oprah fan and totally deserve tickets to see an Oprah taping. Read on for tried tips and techniques to get a seat in Oprah’s audience.
Recently I had the rare opportunity of attending a taping, but getting tickets was no walk in the park. Most women I know in the Chicago area have tried calling Oprah’s reservation hotline, only to get hours of busy signals. The hotline number is (312) 591-9222, do not call unless you have plenty of patience and an entire day to spend hitting "redial." The hotline is answered on certain days listed on the website or after one of her shows.
Last minute reservations
To get my tickets, I spent months stalking www.oprah.com (which was bookmarked on my computer), regularly scanning the “upcoming topics” list on the site to see if I could relate enough to write in about them, and checking the “last-minute reservations” link a few times each day. Often, the show’s producers are looking for a specific audience, like fans of a specific celebrity or people who have had a certain experience.
I wrote in numerous times, sharing passionate stories, pouring my heart out to the folks at Harpo Studios, Oprah’s production company (so-named because "Harpo" is "Oprah" spelled backwards). When I actually got a call back saying I had tickets, I almost dropped my phone because I was so excited.
Oprah statistics
All of that effort was worth it, though, to see Oprah’s newly designed studio with stadium seating and room for about 325 audience members. In Oprah’s last season (which was her show's 20th), she interviewed 600 people, according to a Harpo spokesperson. The show is taped from August through November and January through May, and the schedule varies each week. There never are weekend tapings—usually the tapings are Tuesday through Thursday, and often there is a morning and afternoon taping. Audience members are asked to wear bright colors.
The experience
I went to a morning taping, so I arrived at the studio at 1058 W. Washington Blvd. at 6:30 a.m. and waited in line outside for about 30 minutes. There were about 80 people in front of me by that point who had arrived much earlier.
After the staff opens the doors, you check in
(bring your photo I.D.) and go through security, checking your coat if you
are wearing one, along with any other personal items, cameras, or
camcorders. Then you are directed to a waiting room upstairs (try to sit in
a chair near th
e stairs, if possible), where you can watch clips from old
Oprah shows playing on televisions around the room.
You should plan on waiting in this room for at least an hour. A few minutes before general seating begins, the producers call out names of people whose groups can go into the studio first. These are the people who get the seats front and center on the floor of the studio.
Now one thing that is not entirely clear is how one is picked to be in this group. These are prime seats, just a few feet away from Oprah and her guests. Obviously, if you are a relative of a guest, you will most likely get a seat down there. The rest of the lucky audience members in this section may be chosen because they wrote an amazing story when they tried to get tickets, or they may have been so excited on the phone or upon arrival that staff took special notice.
Once the groups are selected to sit in the prime seats, staff call out groups of numbers (remember, the numbers are based on the order of arrival in line), so numbers one through 50 file into the studio, then 51 through 100, and so on. The remaining seats are first come, first served. In the studio, the seats on the far sides are more likely to get camera time, but if you want to be able to see Oprah and her guest(s) clearly, the middle sections have better views.
Once everyone is seated, the producers practice with the audience—working on expressions and reactions. I went to the taping of the show with singers Faith Hill and Tim McGraw, so the producers would say things like, “When Faith says something sweet about Tim, how will you react?” and the whole audience says “Ahhhhh” in unison. There are cameras all around the room, and they are likely to catch a really great reaction, so keep this in mind if you are looking for two seconds of fame.
Watching Oprah is a treat, especially when she does a fun show with celebrities. During the breaks, Oprah was very candid with the audience, talking about her dogs and other funny personal experiences.
The actual time spent taping varies per show, and often the production team tapes segments for more than one show. Going to a taping is an exhausting experience—by the time you get there early, wait in line, wait inside, and go through the various emotions as an audience member, you may be ready for a nap. Yet seeing this famous Chicago host in her prime and in her element is completely worth the time and energy.
