Charting The Decline of The Oprah Phenomenon, One Loss At A Time

Chicago's most influential native, Oprah Winfrey, flanked by President and First Lady Obama arrived in Copenhagen yesterday to plead to the International Olympic Committee that the 2016 Summer Games be set in the City of Big Shoulders. (Prominent Chicago-repping rapper Kanye West was not invited, presumably because he would have interrupted Rio's acceptance of the games.) Despite their best efforts and Oprah's universal persuasiveness that has in the past, convinced illiterate Ethiopians to quick-order James Frey's "A Million Little Pieces" off of Amazon, Chicago was eliminated in the first round, proving that the Oprah phenomenon is waning. Let's take a look at other things Oprah hasn't been able to purchase in recent years.

1. The Olympics (2009)

Maybe during the height of her influence (mid '90- early 2000's), Oprah wouldn't have even needed to fly to the International Olympic Committee. She could have appeared via satellite, greeted the group and cited "Chi-cahhhh-go!," as a jetlagged Harpo staffer distributed gift bags of Oprah's favorite things (paisley sweater capes, Calypso CDs and saltwater taffy) and the committee would decide, after an unanimous vote, that there is no better setting for the Winter Olympics than the Windy City itself. But having fallen to #2 on Forbes Most Powerful Celebrity List, even Winfrey's heartfelt speech about love resulted in a quick pwning by the IOC: "My message is really about my love for Chicago and ... the spirit that we know the games will bring and the spirit that the people of Chicago will bring to the Games."

2. A Job For Gayle (2006 - Present)

You'd think that being BFF with Oprah would really do wonders for your networking abilities. But outside of a handful of Entertainment Tonight appearances, a visit to the Mad Men set (as part of Oprah's '60s show) and few fruitless rumors about joining The View, Gayle has failed to find a career of her own career outside of the Oprah empire.

3. An Oscar (Ongoing)

Aside from a Supporting Actress nomination in '86 for The Color Purple, Oprah's Emmy-decorated career has not translated to the big screen, despite her forays into film (Beloved, Charlotte's Web, Bee Movie) and her close relationships with box-office stars like Tom Cruise, John Travolta and Jennifer Aniston. Maybe she'll have better luck riding her producing credit on Precious to the Academy's recognition.

4. Publicity For The Dr. Oz Show (2008)

Sure, Oprah could still fill Wrigley Field with Rocky Mountain butterscotch squares if she wanted, but when it comes to buying television ad space for her Harpo production and latest recipient of the Oprah's Sugar Mama Treatment, Oprah is out of luck. Despite the lack of TV spots for her latest syndicated daily talk show, The Dr. Oz Show tied ratings The Ellen DeGeneres Show.

5. End of the Day Entry into Hermes (2005)

This incident back in 2005 should have been our original indicator that the sails of the Oprah Ship were sagging. When Oprah arrived at the company's Parisian shop just after it had closed, "O" was denied entry. Whether it was the fact she wasn't recognized without full make-up or that the ahead-of-the-curve French employees were not impressed by Ms. Winfrey, she was not allowed to enter and a Harpo employee later chalked the retail devastation up to racism, calling it "Oprah's crash moment."

6. Connection With Her Audience (2001 - Present)

The most important factor in Oprah's power slide is her shrinking ability to relate to her Oprah Winfrey Show audience. Previously, the daytime forum was a safe place for anyone feeling low on self-esteem because Oprah understood and cared. The host would cry as guests shared tales of family tragedies and the insurmountable poverty they escaped through a homegrown greeting card business. No story was too sad or untouchable for Oprah of old.

As her influence grew though, Oprah started to befriend certain celebrities and presidential candidates, ties that immediately separated her from her viewers at home. She also erected a wall between herself and her interview subjects that seemed to only be broken by several A-listers, most recently Whitney Houston, a bond that Oprah strangely confessed that she had prayed for that morning. Between those few minutes where Oprah and Whitney reveled in this otherworldly two-way channel that did not translate into the living rooms of America, and the buddy buddiness Oprah developed with guests like Jennifer Aniston (Oprah told her audience that the two spent a weekend girl-talking on Oprah's compound and Aniston's secrets would not be shared with America), Oprah's guests were slowly pushed out of her once welcoming circle.