Shills
Salon has a piece today about the ubiquitous on-air therapist Dr. Phil. The good Dr. is being criticized for, among other things, endorsing a line of weight-loss products called “Shape Up.” The most interesting line in the article is this:
“While he reports that he discussed his decision with his mentor, Oprah Winfrey (who has consistently refused to endorse products herself) he remains determined to chart his own course.”
Oprah has refused to endorse products? That’s just not true. Just today was Oprah’s consumerism orgy called “My Favorite Things,” where she shills Christmas gifts like face cream and DVD players, while magnanimously giving the mentioned products to everyone in the audience (who hoot and holler like lottery winners as each new freebie is announced). Oprah’s book club has made millions for the lucky publishers of her chosen tomes. If that isn’t endorsing products, I don’t know what is.
I guess I’ve always had a problem with Oprah, ever since I read a profile of her where she said she loves giving stuff to people, but if anyone ever actually asked her for anything, she would no longer consider them a friend. And I don’t like when casual mentions like the Dr. Phil article reinforce the erroneous idea that Oprah’s some kind of combination of Barbara Walters and Mother Theresa.
Strange historical fact: Eleanor Roosevelt did margarine commercials.
You watch Oprah?!
I, the real Dr. Phil, proudly endorse products. And I give to people who ask, when I can 🙂
Gerene: No, I don’t normally watch Oprah. But for some reason yesterday I was channel-surfing and saw the holiday gift show, right after reading the Dr. Phil article. Sometimes the weblog gods are kind.