ALL-STAR SALUTE TO OPRAH WINFREY (TV)
Summary
In this special program, talk show host and actress Oprah Winfrey is honored and presented with the third annual America's Hope Award at the McCallum Theater in the Bob Hope Cultural Center in Palm Desert, California. Hope opens the ceremony by stating the award is given to an "outstanding individual who personifies the spirit and ideals of America for future generations." Whoopi Goldberg describes how Winfrey shuffled between her divorced parents as a child and endured the horror of sexual molestation by a relative at age nine, followed by footage of Winfrey discussing the topic and a clip from the film, "The Color Purple." Goldberg chronicles Winfrey's rise to fame as host of her own popular television talk show and presents segments from the program. Actors Neil Patrick Harris and Kirk Cameron review Winfrey's willingness to tackle tough social, economic, religious, and political topics; they introduce clips of relevant and racy topics on her show and applaud her tireless efforts on behalf of the homeless, battered women, people with AIDS, and the hungry. Next, Tom Arnold and Roseanne Barr focus on romantic aspects of "The Oprah Winfrey Show" by presenting clips of an on-air marriage proposal, and a woman announcing her pregnancy to her husband, among other segments. After viewing a clip of his meeting with Winfrey on her show, M.C. Hammer dances and invites the audience to join him in singing "Help Our Children" in honor of her work with kids. Next, Sinbad performs a comedy routine about Winfrey's powerful influence over women. Then, Lily Tomlin, appearing in the guise of "average American" Mrs. Judith Beasley, reveals what she has learned from Winfrey and thanks her for "the Bac-O bits of insight which we can all take to sprinkle over the salad bar of life." Actor Fred Savage discusses problems endured by today's youth, Winfrey's rise above tough odds toward success, and her help in teaching children to read and write. And in a taped presentation, First Lady Barbara Bush thanks Winfrey for sharing her time and money for the cause of literacy. James Earl Jones praises her acting talents and her projects that explore the black woman's experience, followed by clips of her films "The Color Purple" and "Native Son," and the television series "The Women of Brewster Place." Then, the Voices of Calvary Choir accompany BeBe and CeCe Winant in a rousing gospel performance. Concluding the program, Hope officially presents the America's Hope Award to Winfrey, who accepts it on behalf of the organization A Better Chance, which provides college preparatory opportunities to children of color. Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: ABC
- DATE: November 30, 1989
- RUNNING TIME: 0:47:17
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:42776
- GENRE: Specials
- SUBJECT HEADING: African-American Collection; Specials
- SERIES RUN: ABC - TV, 1990
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Gregory H. Willenborg … Executive Producer
- George Schlatter … Producer
- Mark Boes … Associate Producer
- Gary Halvorson … Director
- Debbie Palacio … Direction (Misc.), Associate Director
- Bruce Vilanch … Writer
- George Schlatter … Writer
- Tom Chase … Music by
- Steve Rucker … Music by
- Voices of Calvary Choir … Choir/Chorus
- Oprah Winfrey … Honoree
- M.C. Hammer … Performer
- Sinbad … Singer , Dancer
- Bebe Winans … Singer
- Cece Winans … Singer
- Lily Tomlin … Cast, Mrs. Judith Beasley
- Tom Arnold
- Barr, Roseanne (See also: Arnold, Roseanne; Roseanne)
- Barbara Bush
- Kirk Cameron
- Whoopi Goldberg
- Neil Patrick Harris
- James Earl Jones
- Fred Savage