Two days of Favorite Things is where we left off last time on Season 25 Behind the Scenes. “Fantastical,” Oprah calls it. She is right! Jenna Kostelnik, Senior Producer and the one in charge of this spectacular, feels the excitement…and the pressure. Sheri Salata, our EP extrordinaire, knows that Jenna can handle it. “She’s as calm as a cucumber.” Lots of players for this show….Lesia Minor – Senior Associate Producer and Oprah Stand in for the walk through the day before the show as well as Tara Denise, Production Designer, who has had her hands full this year with two sets, two shows, one day….too much? Oh…and let’s not forget Caroline Ziv, Producer working with Jenna in helping on the Favorite Things show. Keeping it together.
Since the show is called, “Oprah’s Favorite Things…” Oprah has found something else that she wants to include in the already two jam-packed shows. Oprah calls Sheri Salata in the day before the taping and says, “I want to add Jay-Z’s new book to the show.” In her EP voice, Sheri told her that there was no time…but when Oprah’s determined…her word is the final word…and it’s going to happen. We get to hear when Oprah calls Jay-Z to tell him that she wants to include the book… “but we need 320 books her by tomorrow,” Oprah tells him. I imagine Jay-Z picking himself up off the floor and Beyonce jumping up and down in the background as Oprah tells him that she wants his book on her Favorite Things show. He’s got this. “I’ll do it myself…to make sure it’s done in the correct fashion.” Now, Sheri just needs to know how to break it to Jenna without Jenna actually breaking….
Director, Joe Terry, is a pro at this. “Even though we’ve laid out the show and rehearsed it, these things happen and we make adjustments,” he says so professionally. He’ll make it happen….we just know it. But Jenna breaks…with her day husband, confidant and Co-Producer, Brian Piotrowicz. Supportive and caring, we love him…and we want him to be our friend. Everyone needs a Brian Piotrowicz. “Too much stuff….I don’t know if it’s all going to fit,” Jenna says. Brian just keeps telling her, “it’s going to be fine…it’s going to be fine…”
Not letting us forget, Oprah too has lots of moments of brillance…and she reminds us, that it was her idea for the audience fake out for the second FT show. Oprah had the idea to let the first audience leave with all their loot in nice flashy WHITE shopping bags with the logo “OPRAH’s FAVORIT THINGS” screaming from the side of them…while the second audience is waiting in line to come in. Oh…the drama and extra flavor this will add to the day! It’s a great idea! It’s an Oprah idea! Oprah runs through the rehearsal … for both shows. Caroline Ziv tells us that Oprah doesn’t like to rehearse… she likes it all to come naturally…but for these shows, she knows….and you can tell that she’s having a great time. This has to be one of her favorite shows. I know its one of mine!
The day of the taping…the Black Eyed Peas show up to sing in a snow globe. Sheri Salata tells us, “There is nothing like Favorite Things…it’s like a rocket ride to joy…there is nothing like it.” “The most exciting thing to me is to surprise and make other people happy,” Oprah tells us. “It’s so exciting…I couldn’t sleep…but the adrenalin will keep me going.”
Taping one starts with meditation and a real praying audience member and the snow globe smoke out of the Black Eyed Peas and the do-over. “We have to do that again. @#$% happens. We have to do it again,” Joe Terry says so calmly. Like I said…we know it will all be ok…Joe’s in the house. Then…go the bags. Parading the A show out with all of their stuff. “The B show audience is noooooot happy,” were the reports back to Sheri Salata. Oh…poor B show.
“Stedman has only been to in my entire career, 3 shows. For Stedman to be here, you know it’s important,” Oprah tells us. “I knew your 2nd show was going be tough for you and I wanted to get you through it,” he says as he reaches for her hand in a supportive gesture. “Here’s a woman who takes her lunch to work every day,” Stedman tells us, trying to give us the inside scoop on what makes Oprah so real…because she IS real. He tells the camera of their relationship, “We want each other to succeed.” It’s a little sneak peak into their relationship…very normal, very loving, very nice to see. We all want Oprah with someone…well, just like Stedman.
Finally, the B shows ready to go. Jenna is ready…”for mile 25 of the marathon.” Playing the role, Oprah talks to the audience as she’s getting ‘set up’ but really starting the show. Gayle, Stedman and the gang are all in the control room….while Oprah works it. “Who wasn’t pissed?” Oprah asks the group and then says of the rest who say they are fine, well “they’re just happy to see me.” Then…a holiday ornament bounces into the room….the snow starts flying….and off we go again…on to this magic journey….again!
We love Favorite Things…and we love seeing inside Oprah’s life…and we love Oprah. What can we do to keep the spirit of Favorite Things alive? Oh….does anyone have an answer to that? I do hope Oprah’s team is thinking about that…Oprah? Can you hear me?