Saturday, November 21, 2009
Losing Winfrey would be big blow for Second City
The Associated Press: "Step outside Oprah Winfrey's Harpo Studios and into the near west side neighborhood that's been home to her television talk show for two decades, and it's easy to get a sense of what she's meant to Chicago."
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12 comments:
There are so many factors in play here that I'm not sure what to think. The fact that most of the listed businesses and communities that would be affected by Oprah's leaving are upper-middle class or luxury services is a little disgusting; if Chicago is really in that big of an economic downturn, why not worry about the small businesses and the lower middle class? I thought that's who Oprah started out appealing to. Maybe I'm just operating under my normal misconceptions.
But still...it just seems a little weird to be this concerned about what I view as a relatively superficial source of city revenue. Just because Oprah is leaving doesn't mean that the studio won't still be there. In fact, there's another article on this blog about a new movie studio opening on the west side. Chicago will survive; it's been surviving since 1833.
I had no idea that Oprah had so much influence over Chicago! Seeing this article makes me think about how much pull she actually had. I feel that Chicago will probably be fine when she leaves, and continue to grow. The city needs to grow, with or without celebrities rolling in. The Harpo studio will still stand and bring in more shows or movies. I don't think Oprah's leaving will really hurt Chicago that much, as cmalloy has pointed out, it has been surviving since 1833.
I am with Katherine, in that I had never actually thought about the impression Oprah has made on the city of Chicago. Her leaving would definitely upset businesses near the area, especially restaurants and hotels. I also am in agreement that Chicago has survived as a successful city long before Oprah, and will continue to do so, now better than ever since it has been improved so much in the time that Harpo studios has been there.
It is very upsetting to claim that an entire city relies on one person's presence in order to thrive. Yes, Oprah Winfrey has been a great asset to the city of Chicago, but I would be disgusted with Chicago if it could not stand on without her. I think that it's a question of fear, the city is worried that so much will change with her leaving. But I think and hope that Chicago will be fine, it has much more to offer than Oprah Winfrey.
I really do not believe that the entire city of Chicago depends on one person's ridiculous day time talk show. Her studio is still around, we just do not have to hear her talk as much anymore (thankfully). Although Chicago might be a little hurt by the end of Oprah's show, did anyone think that her show would go on forever? This had to happen eventually.
I for one am very glad that the Oprah show is going off the air soon. She has a scarily large influence over too many people, and rather using that influence responsibly, she invites moronic guests onto her show who give terrible health/life advice while Oprah gushes about how brave/strong/insightful/life-changing they are.
Wow. This is quite shocking. While I'm so tired of Oprah, she does have lots of influence on the female community of the city.
Oprah's studio, however, I'm sure will keep producing things, so I'm a little confused as to why Chicago is making so much of a deal out of this. I'm sure something excellent will come along to follow her, otherwise there probably would have been more of a push to keep her on. Good luck to their future endeavors.
I was kind of shocked by the declaration that Opera is Chicago. When I think of Chicago I think of theatre, pizza, shopping, the mile, second city, improv, uofc...I don't know if I believe that Opera has such a large influence over Chicago as this article implies. I am sure her leaving will upset business but I don't think it will destroy the city. I agree with Cass, chicago has been surviving since 1833 I don't think Opera will break it. This reminds me of Enron. Yeah they screwed over Houston, but they didn't destroy it.
I am from right near Chicago, and I do not agree with the fact that Oprah IS Chicago. There are so many things that make the city what it is, that saying that the city will fall apart when she leaves is, in fact, a bit insulting.
On the other hand it is amazing to see how much influence she actually had. The list of communities and businesses that are affected is significantly more substantial than I would have thought. However, as Cass mentioned, it is mostly the upper-middle to upper classes that are affected.
I have total faith in Chicago that she will be ok.
I can't imagine flipping on the television and not seeing Oprah's face gracing the airwaves. While it's true that she has helped to shape the current face of Chicago, she can't be given all of the credit for making that city what it is. Sure, there won't be gobs of celebrities making their way to her studio in their fancy limos, or masses of women booking hotels and tickets years in advance to go see their goddess... but Chicago will still be Chicago. Last time I checked, there were other things to do in that city. People need to chill out.
I cannot hide that I am pleased that Oprah Winfrey is finally ending her show. All the businesses affected by its close are luxury services and caters. Like Cass, I also operated under the misconception that Oprah's main audience were women in lower and middle class incomes. I am hardly concerned for these businesses and am sure they will continue to thrive despite Oprah's show closing.
I don't. Think oprah is all that Chicago has to offer. It's true that she drew many people to the area and made Chicago well known in new circles, but now that it's been established I dont think it takes oprah to maintain it. The people of Chicago are perfectly capable of keeping the area nice. Many chanes in neighborhoods happen in many cities across the countries. These are motivated by people not one person. These people spark change and then new people join the reformed communty and keep te flame burning. It's true that oprah's studio drew many crowds and whn she leaves not as many people will visit, but that doesn't mean crack addicts will reclaim what used to be theirs so many many years ago.
As for oprah's new channel I'm interested to see how that plays out.
Oprah is not Chicago. That great city is so much more. She will be missed and is a local celebrity. I hope the labor crews of Harpo Studios will be label to find work. Harpo is know for large employment and good money. I am sure everyone will be fine. I do not think that Chicago is limping as hard as the article indicates. So they lost the Olympics, its not the end of the world. I don't think Chicago could have handled the Olympics. There was way too much work to be done to support an event of that size. Chicago will survive as it always does. I am sure Oprah will still bring enough money into town.
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