It is a big couple of days in the Williams household…not only are we in midst of the two-night Dancing with the Stars Finale (I think Mark and Chelsea will win) and the kick-off of the new Bachelorette Season starring Ashley Hebert as the Bachelorette aired last night, but it’s also time for the Surprise Oprah! A Farewell Spectacular, commemorating Oprah for her 25 years of daytime television.  The Surprise Spectacular, which was taped last week at Chicago’s United Center, aired yesterday afternoon and is just about to air this afternoon in a few minutes (at least where we live – 4 p.m. on ABC).  And then tomorrow is her final, final show.  No more new Oprah daytime talk shows after tomorrow.  As the promotions say, it’s the last Oprah Winfrey Show ever!

This is big news….Oprah was an institution even when I was young.  In fact, you may not know it, but in the 1970s Oprah Winfrey aired the 6 o’clock news and “People are Talking” in Baltimore, MD, which is where I grew up.  Furthermore, she came to my school, The Bryn Mawr School, to speak when I was about 11 years old; I remember it so clearly.  And I was a big fan of the Oprah Winfrey Show watching it through college, after entering the “real world” (remember that term?), while nursing my little ones, when sick with the flu and countless other times.

So on yesterday’s show, Tom Hanks was the master of ceremonies, and there was an all-star guest list including such celebs as Tom Cruise, Madonna, Jackie Envacho, Josh Groban, Patti Labelle, Dakota Fanning, Beyonce, John Legend, Halle Barre, Queen Latifa, Katie Holmes and Diane Sawyer.  It was quite an amazing show with tons of old clips of the show – everyday citizens who had shared their pain and joy over the years with Oprah – as well as announcements of book donations to those in need and rebuilding of school libraries across the country with thousands of Oprah Oak Trees being planted in front of those libraries.  The show certainly was spectacular….

I can’t wait to watch today’s show.  What about you?  Will you watch too?  It sounds like Usher, Will and Jada Pinkett Smith and Jerry Seinfeld amongst others will make appearances??  But we don’t know for sure…not until the show airs.  And then what about Dancing with the Stars and the Bachelorette? Did you watch last night’s shows?  Who do you think will win the dance-off?  And who do you think will be the last Bachelor standing (more on that as the season progresses)?  I can’t wait to hear….  And in the meantime, enjoy all of the fun television today and tonight…..