Friday, February 22, 2008

A Letter To Daytime Talk Show Hosts

Dear Oprah, Ellen Degeneres, Regis & Kelly,

Hi! I am writing this letter because I really love your shows, but never get to watch them but for the occasional day off.


I, unfortunately, have a job working as a nurse for a busy neurosurgeon. Our office does have a TV set that we leave on for the purpose of patient privacy, but it really is pretty hard to actually watch the individual segments with anything but a passing glance and usually a guess as to the topics.

I have thought about taping your shows, but that is just not possible due to time limitations and stress of having so many shows “to watch.” I have been off most of this week due to the flu, and have been able to watch more of your shows.

I got to thinking that it would be a thrill of a lifetime to actually be a member of your audience (especially on Oprah’s favorite things show), or win some of the fabulous prizes that you give away (like when Ellen gave away some fabulous musical instruments), or be able to compete in your contests, or even submit things to your weekly features. I realized that competing in some of the contests requires ability to answer questions from previous shows, so that kinda leaves me out on those.

I also realized that I don’t fall into any category that sometimes seem to be the benefactors of your largess.

I will tell you a little about my life:
I have a great life, get along with my husband of 33 years, have 3 great boys that are now wonderful men, have a beautiful baby grandson (that could have competed in the baby of the year award on Regis & Kelly’s show recently, had I only known about it).
Here are some pictures that I might have submitted:



I very fortunately don’t have any hard-luck tales to share. I wouldn’t qualify for extreme makeover shows. I am not rich, but not poor, have health insurance, fairly good health, have a nice home, transportation to go where I need to, and a job I love. But mainly I have a great family that is close and whom I love very much.


One of “My favorite things” is getting together for Sunday dinner and just family time. We love sitting around watching the “grandson show”, which is where everyone in the household sits around and watches the baby play, or learn to crawl, or pull himself up.



The uncles both enjoy having some baby time, too. .

Along with grandma and grandpa:


The boys also manage to squeeze time into playing their instruments in the basement. I call their “band”: “Wasted Talent in the Basement” but they call themselves the Owens Brothers Band. (They are pretty good, even though I’m their mom, and they never play any of my requests.)
We hold a yearly barbecue that we call the Owens Backyard Bash or OBB that includes a combination of the boy’s friends, our neighbors, and coworkers and we have the Brothers band for entertainment.
We make a pretty wicked hot dog for the OBB!

I have to admit that I am a reality television junkie and have not missed a season of watching survivor , American Idol, or dancing with the stars.
I have thought it might be fun to try to compete on one of those shows, but I probably wouldn’t do that well.
Not from lack of trying on my part.


I don’t feel I’d be a great survivor contestant because:
1. I would end up looking like the anorexic girl they had last season, because I have one of those great metabolisms that lets me eat just about anything I want-(again a blessing for me).
2. I don’t like bugs.
3. My husband would say I am too opinionated and wouldn’t be able to keep my mouth shut when I should.
4. I would work myself to death around camp and be bad at the challenges, due to fatigue, because I am one darned hard worker and love to clean! (Hence the nickname from my middle son of the “terminator cleaner”.)

I don’t think I‘d make a great contestant on dancing with the stars because:
1. I’m not a celebrity.
2. I’m not that great of a dancer, even though I like dancing, can keep a beat, but would probably pass out doing turns!
3. My husband says I like to lead and he vows we will be taking no more dance lessons until I learn that the female does NOT lead!!

As for American Idol:
1. I don’t sing.
2. I’m too old for the competition.
3. I spend way too much time comparing the contestants to my own sons and saying “our boys could compete on that show!!” (I know this is the mother in me, but they definitely would not be in those outtake reels!!)

And even though I don’t watch Amazing Race, I wouldn’t be a great competitor because:
1. My husband and I would end up divorced trying to accomplish the goals. (You just can’t have a person whose internal compass is totally screwed (me) working with a logistics specialist !)

Anyway, the point I would like to make, is that I am just like the millions of people who watch your shows with the hopes and dreams of “wow, wouldn’t that be great to do that” or “win that” or “travel there” or “also help those people.” I sometimes feel slightly jealous about all the free gifts, prizes and such that your shows give away….Why can’t that be me? I feel like I am totally deserving! But you know what? I really wouldn’t trade my life for any of those great perks, especially if it requires some of the adversity that we have seen and heard about on your shows. I guess I'm just one of your average viewers but I don't feel "average".... I feel pretty Blessed!



I will continue to catch glimpses of your shows, continue to religiously sign up for HGTV’s dream home, publishers clearing house sweepstakes, have my husband buy the occasional lottery ticket (you know… when it gets really high and gets a lot of attention), look for my favorite “I’m going to Disney World!” commercial that runs after the Super Bowl and wish that it was me going to Disney, and continue to wish I could see your shows more often. I will probably lament that “ I never win anything.” But that’s ok.

Maybe one day in the future, I’ll be like that stay at home house wife that was surprised that she was chosen to dance with Derek, from dancing with the stars, on Oprah. Maybe I'll win a trip to Disney, or get a chance to travel more, but until then, I know I will continue to dream, be thankful for all I have, and enjoy my life!

Sincerely,
A devoted TV daytime talk show fan that unfortunately has to work during daytime viewing hours.

6 comments:

Unknown said...

NBC doesn't know what they're missing by NOT casting you for survivor. You'd sell the show all by yourself!

Anonymous said...

You know, Oprah has a "Wildest Dreams" contest that people write into with the hopes that Oprah will grant it. With a little tweaking, and a big wild dream, I think you've got a submission.

Jeff said...

Good to see you blogging again... your loyal fans love getting your insights. But i agree that you would most likely not want to go do survivor, but NBC would LOVE to have you... maybe you should sign up and see what happens.

Anonymous said...

So sad...so sad...guys it's CBS. Come on, how long has this show been on? really...
Show your mother a little respect ;)
She'd kick Elisabeth's behind!

Anonymous said...

I was waiting for someone to correct them about the CBS thing. Hehe.

Anonymous said...

Ellen DeGeneres and Oprah, Tell me why you both are Down President Trump's Throat? What has he really done to you? I just don't understand the hate the people has against our President. Just because the Democrat's lost, to the Republicans isn't any reason to have a Fit and a bad Spell. It's not only you I know this , it's really getting out of hand. Thank You P.S. A Concerned Citizen of the United States of America