Oprah Winfrey
First Choice: Viola Davis
Davis's Oscar nomination for Doubt, Tony win for Fences, and oddball role on United States of Tara already qualify her for the marquee spot in a buzzy biopic, but the particular role of Oprah requires an actor of Davis's power and precision. Plus, she would lend the key line of dialogue, "I'm Oprah Winfrey, and welcome to the very first national Oprah Winfrey SHooOOWWWwww" its proper zeal.
Stedman Graham
First Choice: Tyler Perry
This won't happen since Tyler and Oprah are each others' confirmed favorite things, but since we can count on Mr. Graham being a big part of the proceedings, the actor playing him will need to be someone who can amp up Stedman's character past the even-keel diplomacy we're familiar with. If Tyler Perry betrays God and ends up playing Stedman, I'd like if the biopic was called Why Didn't I Get Married to Oprah? Seriously.
Gayle King
First Choice: Free
The 106 & Park Top 10 Live alum doesn't have a scroll of credentials, but I'll tell you what she does have: Fly Gayle King hair and saucy reactions. She fulfills everything on the checklist.
Roger Ebert
First Choice: Philip Seymour Hoffman
As the lore goes, Roger Ebert inspired a young Oprah to enter the world of syndication and, subsequently, the stature of legend. The "date" where Oprah and Ebert hashed out the talk show host's future will make the entire biopic worth watching. We're going to need a man accustomed to slaying in highbrow portrayals to fill Roger's shoes, and Philip Seymour Hoffman's dry, yet impassioned delivery is an obvious fit.
Dr. Phil
First Choice: Paul Giamatti
If the biopic's second hour will be double-stuffed with Oprah proteges, at least we can make the most of their notoriety and give Paul Giamatti another Emmy opportunity. He may have tackled John Adams with aplomb, but rendering an accurate, not-too-on-the-nose Phil McGraw impersonation would be a sizable challenge even for Giamatti. Do it for the craft, Paul!
Special thanks to Anna Wiegenstein.