TV Moment of 2009: The End of 'Oprah'

When Oprah Winfrey announced the end of 'The Oprah Winfrey Show' in November, it perhaps came as no great surprise. For months prior, speculation had run rampant over the future of the show given Winfrey's decision to launch OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network, a joint venture with Discovery Communications that will replace the Discovery Health Network and debut in approximately 80 million homes in January 2011.

The fate of Winfrey's hugely successful talk show became clear on Nov. 20, when she made a teary announcement before her studio audience that, after "much prayer" and "careful thought," she had decided that her show, the crown jewel in a fortune estimated at $2.7 billion, would end after its 25th season on Sept 9. 2011.

"These years with you, our viewers, have enriched my life beyond all measure. And you all have graciously invited me into your living rooms, into your kitchens, and into your lives ... I want you all to know that my relationship with you is one that I hold very dear. And your trust in me, the sharing of your precious time everyday with me, has brought me the greatest joy I have ever known," Winfrey said. "So, the countdown to the end of 'The Oprah Winfrey Show' starts now and until that day, I intend to soak up every meaningful, joyful moment with you."

While she was careful not to cite a specific reason for the end of the show, it seemed most likely Winfrey wanted to shift her focus exclusively to OWN and shape it into the network she desired. She had, after all, been an investor in the Oxygen network, which was sold in 2007 to NBC for $925 million, and she reportedly felt it never truly reflected her voice. Additionally, Winfrey's production company had spawned several successful shows that were already in syndication, such as 'Dr. Phil' and 'Rachel Ray.' Turning her undivided attention to a network where she could promote her proven brand and leverage the strengths of her development company seemed an unspoken motivation.

It's true that Winfrey's audience has begun to erode recently, falling 35 percent in the past five years, and 43 percent among adults from 18-49. The show has, however, enjoyed a uptick in ratings this season owing to high-profile guests like Whitney Houston, Sarah Palin and Mackenzie Philips.

Ratings aside, there's no denying that Winfrey's show has profoundly impacted mainstream consciousness. It's given rise to some of the most memorable moments in talk show history, including when Winfrey appeared on stage in 1988 wearing size 8 designer jeans after four months of dieting, when all 276 members of her audience were given new Pontiacs in 2004, and when Tom Cruise maniacally pumped his fists and couch-jumped in 2005.

While Winfrey's presence on OWN is assured, it's still not entirely certain how she will appear on the network. But, one thing is obvious: 'The Oprah Winfrey Show' in its current form will cease to exist.

"That chapter is ending. She will not be doing that show," said Discovery Chief Executive David Zaslav. "She'll be on in a meaningful way, with different types of shows, with different types of voices, with a lot of different creativity, but all of it will be different from her show and it will be what she wants to do."