Oprah May Be Bad for Your Health

Move will cut head count by 30 people

(NEWSER) - This week on Oprah: dealing with unemployment. The Oprah Winfrey Network is laying off a fifth of its workers as part of a major restructuring at the cable network, which has struggled for ratings since its launch last year, AP reports. "It is difficult to make tough business decisions that affect people's lives, but the economics of a start-up cable network just don't work with the cost structure that was in place," Winfrey said in a statement. More»

And it's not the only TV finale drawing eyeballs this week

(NEWSER) - It's starting to look like Americans haven't moved from the couch all week. Early numbers show yesterday's finale of The Oprah Winfrey Show drew the most viewers it has had in 17 years. The final episode—which featured no guests , but rather a personal conversation between Oprah, her studio audience ... and millions watching at home—garnered a 13.3 household rating in the nation's metered markets, according to Nielsen. The last time an Oprah episode had a number that high was back in February 1994—"People Shed Their Disguises" featured Oprah confronting guests about their questionable outward appearances. More»

Lisa de Moraes questions Winfrey's timing, motives

(NEWSER) - It’s her show’s final season, she’s just back from Australia, and suddenly she’s got a big surprise: Oprah has a long-lost half-sister! What a fortunate coincidence for the queen of talk, writes Lisa de Moraes in the Washington Post . This despite the fact that Oprah met her sister months ago, on Thanksgiving. And let’s not worry about the fact that Patricia had been trying to contact lost family members for years. More»

Family secret 'shook me to my core'

(NEWSER) - Oprah Winfrey knows a thing or two about staging reunions, but she's taking the one on Monday to a personal level: The talk-show diva says she'll unveil "the miracle of miracles," a family secret she'd discovered only recently. "I was given some news that literally shook me to my core. This time, I'm the one being reunited," she said. "I was keeping a family secret for months, and on Monday you're going to hear it straight from me." More»

A kinder, gentler Piers takes center stage

(NEWSER) - The obnoxious Piers Morgan familiar to reality show fans was nowhere to be seen as Piers Morgan Tonight made its debut in Larry King's old time slot on CNN, say critics. Morgan was fawning and deferential during his highly publicized interview with Oprah Winfrey. Some early reaction:

• "Morgan's nerves showed in his voice, his eyes and his desperation to have physical contact with his guest," writes Chris Matyszczyk at CBS, who predicts the real test for the host will come later this week, with guests including Ricky Gervais and Howard Stern.