Oprah’s ‘Farewell Spectacular’: Tom Hanks, Maria Shriver, Michael Jordan, and Aretha Franklin say goodbye, and we were there!

After 25 seasons, Oprah Winfrey taped the third- and second-to-last episodes of her iconic talk show in Chicago’s United Center Tuesday night, with 20,000 guests watching — including EW. The episodes, entitled “Surprise Oprah! A Farewell Spectacular,” will air May 23 and 24, but why wait? We live-blogged the entire epic event, including surprise guests — Michael Jordan! Aretha Franklin! Maria Shriver! — and guest performances from Beyoncé, Rascal Flatts, Stevie Wonder and Alicia Keys. Check out our full tick-tock of all the highlights below, and then come back tomorrow morning for our recap of the blessed event. (All times are Central Daylight.)

Click here to read the full article.

Share

More than 20,000 people packed Chicago’s United Center to watch the celebrity-packed live taping of Oprah Winfrey’s second and third final shows.

Before the show even started, a man proposed to his girlfriend on-stage — who accepted as the audience cheered on. Among those in the audience: Oprah BFF Gayle King, former Chicago mayor Richard Daly, the Food Network’s Tyler Florence and NFL’s Emmitt Smith.

Tom Hanks hosted the first hour.

“Now Oprah, I know you do not like surprises. Let me see if I can put you at ease. There was an English playwright who said there’s no surprise more magical than the surprise of being loved, and that is what tonight is all about… pulling off this little show at the United Center has been the best kept secrets,” he said.

The first guest was Tom Cruise (who did not jump on any couches). Joked Winfrey: “You looked like you were 10 when you on my show in 1988. And what was up with my hair?” She says he’s been on the show 12 times.
Read more »

Share

Tune In Today! EXTRA‘s Mario Lopez chats with Tom Cruise at the premiere of Valkyrie. Check extratv.com for syndicated/local listings.

Share

Tom will be on the following programs:

- MuchOnDemand: Dec. 8th, 5pm, on MuchMusic Canada
- The Hour: Dec. 9th, 11pm, on CBC (website)
- Etalk (Live), Dec. 9th at 7pm (re-run on Dec. 10th, at 1pm ET) (website)
- Late show with Jay Leno: Dec. 11th, 11h35/10h35C PM, on NBC (website)
- Today Show: Dec. 15th, 2008 (website)
- Late show with David Letterman: Dec. 16th, 11h30PM, on CBS (website)
- Live with Regis & Kelly: Dec. 17th (website)
- Jimmy Kimmel: Dec. 22th, 12h05/11h05 C, on ABC (website)

I’m looking for someone who can record those shows for us. Let me know.

Share