So I mentioned before that you should check out Oprah on Friday because I had the inside scoop that loyal reader and fellow Chicagoan Dabuki was going to be on the show and it was a Favorite Things episode.  For those of you not in the know about Oprah (as if I am), a favorite things episode is basically an excuse for her to give away a ton of stuff to the audience.  So getting on one of them is kind of like saying, “I had tickets to the Price is Right and then I won a car!”  My grandpa won a car on the Price is Right once, back when Bob Barker had black hair.  He lost the showcase showdown though.  Anyway, back to Dabu!  She was kind enough to talk about her experiences.

I know you’ve been trying to get on Oprah for a long time.  Can you talk a little bit about what the process is like to get on Oprah?

You have to check the website to see when tickets are available.  They have a certain day that you call for that “season” from a certain time period……like 10-4 or something like that.  So there’s a number you call and call and call.  I have never gotten anything but a busy signal.  I have been trying to call since I moved to Chicago…..so September 2005.  Together with my friend Carrie, we have probably called over a thousand times total.  If you don’t call then sometimes you can check something called “last minute email reservations”.  So sometimes they say what the subject is, or it is just ambiguous.  So they have this email “form” that you can do where you say why you want to go, your availability, contact info., etc…..Then they call you.   Which is what happened to us.  Carrie did a last minute email reservation maybe about a month or so before she got the call.  We kind of had made it a pact that if one of us got called to go to the show we would take the other.  She could only take 1 person.   We learned from one episode of Oprah (I think it was one where Oprah asked questions) that tapings only occur Tuesdays through Thursdays, and 2 episodes each day if they do it.  OR 2 at the most.   Also, if you can get through on those hotline times you can take I think 3 or 4 people.  I am not really sure since that is not what happened to us.  So, needless to say the process was long for us.  However, I have talked to someone that just did last minute email a couple months ago and had no trouble.  I think it’s more chance than anything.  Carrie got to pick if we go in the morning.  Thank goodness she did.  I know someone who knew someone who went to the afternoon taping.  That was the Mary Tyler Moore Reunion show.  I did like that show, but not as good as favorite things!  The lady on the phone asked if she was taking her BFF.  She was like sure.  I think cause the lady knew it would be fav things.

How excited were you when you actually got there?

I was too exited.  I woke up super early.  I am not a morning person at all.  We had to be there by 7 I believe.  We met at Starbucks on Madison, which is about a block away.  We know that area well, because it was our old neighborhood.  Anyways….When we got there we were super excited.   They had like a cover to keep us warm, however we had to get in a single file line and we ended up out the door.  When you go inside they check in your coats and cell phones and cameras.  I knew that phones weren’t allowed in the studio so I just left it in my car.  I did feel smart that I knew that parking on Monroe (2 blocks south of Washington where the studio is) did not require a parking pass or anything.  Just free street parking.  People were paying like 25 bucks to park in the lot across the street.  I guess that’s the perks of knowing your city!! Back to the story.  You check your coat in and stuff then they take/check off your name at this podium thing before going into the doors where there is a metal detector, kind of like an airport, but  not as tough.  At that podium I think they check to see what you are wearing.  I know that they requested we not wear ‘black, beige, or white’ and wear bright colors.  I knew that already.  So Carrie wore a yellow sweater and I wore a jewel toned turquoise shirt.  I think our age helped us out as well.  We looked really young compared to a lot of people.  They give you a paper to write your address down and stuff too.  This other paper had a number printed on it.  I think it tallies up how many people are in there.  I know they have alternates too, like if people don’t show up.  I don’t know who wouldn’t show up to Oprah!!!!!  After you pass the security business you go up the stairs and they have all these chairs to sit in……so you sit and wait with these TVs on showing different shows, like favorite things, Tina Turner, other celebrities….and this lady announces how long until we can go in the studio.  All in this time you can go to the bathroom and they said that they will announce some names.  When they call your name you can follow them.  Essentially the bottom seats what I call the pit…….not really sure what it is called, get filled by them strategically.  I believe that had something to do with what colors we were wearing when they checked at the beginning.  Every time they called a name we were like ahh did they all you (Carrie).  She was the “nameholder” so we would go if she went.  If they wanted to fill in that bottom part you didn’t necessarily get to sit with your “party”.  I would have been not too thrilled.  The whole anticipation was killing us.  We all wanted to know WHAT show we were going to.  It was about 2 hours that we waited total before the show…..then they said they would be announcing more names and then opening up the studio.  Then……..we heard Carrie’s name.  The ushers were like slow down….on the stairs.  However, we weren’t walking that fast.  I know you would think it, but it was kind of impossible to run down the stairs, plus we would look like fools.  I think cause they were geriatrics.  Not making fun, but they really were.  The excitement of hearing her name was awesome.  Then…we get walked into the studio…..AHHHHHHHHHHHh  My knees kind of buckled, it was beautiful.  Not as big as you would think.  I was really excited at this point.  I could hardly believe it still.  Being an Oprah “expert” I knew that was NOT the normal set.  It was summery, gardeny, beachy, and bright.  They had the beach tents and nice scenes.  I was like…..Carrie…..it’s got to be summer favorite things.  I had a big joke running saying that I kind of hoped it would be summer favorite things.  I kept hoping and wishing.  I guess if you wish hard!! Hehehehe….but really I didn’t think it would be, because all of her latest favorite things have gone to people that deserve help (teachers, Katrina victims, other things).   So they sit us down in the ‘reserved’ seats it said.  Once all those on the bottom were filled they let the rest of the audience fill the back in. 
 
Did you have any hint ahead of time that this episode was something special?

It took a while for Oprah to come out.  One of the producers came out to tell us some etiquette.  Like if we get asked questions what we do.  Don’t talk into the microphone.  Don’t ask like personal questions. I can’t really remember that.  I was more in a trance still of being AT the show and kind of knowing it wouldn’t be a sad boring show.  They played some music to get us pumped up.  She said that the show was really exciting, she said there were some good summer ideas.  That was my 2nd “gut” reaction of maybe it will be favorite things. (first was the set)  I really did not know what to expect then.  I just think that I had it in my mind that it was going to be nothing but favorite things.  I told Carrie that the stars aligned as a joke.  I really should have been in clinic that day, but was excused because of this 3 day class that I wanted to take.  I was allowed to take the class, but not for a grade.  I could just sit in the lecture and not take the practicum.  Well the practicum was in the morning.  That meant I was not required to be there in the morning.  So I got to go to Oprah.  I didn’t have to miss clinic and I would be back at Rush in time for the 2nd day of lecture.  So everything worked out well.
 
It took a while for Oprah to come out.  I would say about 30 min from when we were seated.  Then we waited for her to come out of the side.  She came out by us.  We all started clapping when they said she was coming…..then nothing…so we stopped clapping…..then chants of Oprah Oprah!  Then nothing….then that again…….then she finally came out!!  Went up the stage…..then you saw her say she didn’t want to do the show……then I had gut reaction 3……say it Oprah say it…….THEN SHE SAID FAVORITE THINGS!!!

When she said “Oprah’s favorite things” was it as crazy as it seemed on TV (people crying, etc.)?  What were you feeling (i.e. were you screaming and crying along with everyone else)?

It was crazy, people were jumping up and down, crying, stunned, etc……..I was jumping up and down.  Carrie grabbed my arm.  We were just giddy as could be.   I thought Carrie was going to faint.  It really was a dream come true for us.  We, I guess, did not have big dreams!!  It really just was the icing of the cake on trying to get to Oprah while in grad school.  I was screaming and jumping, there really was just nothing else to do.  It was hard to calm down.  I did not cry.  I thought I would or pass out.  The lady in front of us was stunned.  Her sisters sat next to me.  I don’t know how they got to have 4 people though.  Lucky I guess.  They did email too.  She was a friendly lady next to me, except I think she bear clawed my arm when they said favorite things.  We all chatted it up a bit before the show got started naturally.  It really was a great time. 
 
After you knew it was a favorite things episode, was it hard to sit through that rediculously boring turkey burger segment?

It was hard sitting through the turkey burger segment.  Things running through my head “what will we get, are we getting flown to mar a lago?, I know Trump just had his ribbon cutting yesterday for the new hotel/apartment building, that chef is gorgeous, are we getting food….I’m hungry, I didn’t eat breakfast, I would like a turkey burger, his hair is really like that, it looks fluffy, commercial break (we sat for a few min), are we getting turkey burger patties, when is it going to be announced what we get….”
Then she said we were getting a grill……..

Were you really that excited about getting a grill? (Yes, I saw you jumping up and down!)

Oh yes, my reactions were very real.  No acting needed.  Even though I was a member of drama club in high school.  Then I thought…..where am I going to put a grill.  Then we sat down after jumping up and down.  I asked Carrie “what Is better this you’re your wedding day?”  She chose Oprah.  I dunno what she would say now, as that was in the moment.  
 
How did they ensure that you wouldn’t tell anybody what you got ahead of time?  Do they wait to give you the items until after the episode aired?

Well, after the whole show was done someone from legal came and talked to us about everything.  We had to sign a legal paper.  Oprah thought that was kind of weird.  She was like you know that all their friends and family know they went to the oprah show….what are they supposed to tell them when they asked what they saw.  Or about people’s husbands.  They said they could tell them or immediate family I think.  I kind of still was in a trance.  I told few people exactly what I got, i.e. my mom, brother, Tara, and a couple of friends.  Other things discussed was why we signed this legal paper.  It was basically so that none of the specific products were mentioned.  After we signed the papers and got our coats we were handed a big plastic bag full of goodies.  The cookbook, A New Earth CDS/book, GPS, Mary J Blige CD, Mariott gift card, and makeup were all in the bag.  The fit flops, yummie tummie, duffel bag, and grill were not in there…..well grill obviously.  We were given some postcard/giftcard things that we filled in our information and sizes and had to mail those in.  Which was good cause you can get it mailed where you wanted and stuff.  The bag we had to call in and order.  The make up was a big mix.  I didn’t know if they had like different bags for different skin tones.  It was a lot of make up.  I did tell some people to check out the O-wards on the website…..cause I had said I got some make up.
 
What is the best gift that you got?  Were you disapointed at all?

Everyone thinks the best gift is the grill.  I definitely do think that is great, but I think I was most excited for the GPS.  I really wanted one lately.  I am not sure why, but I really did.  The grill is great and definitely the most expensive, but I don’t really grill much and have no place for it. Well I do have my back balcony/patio thing, but I really wouldn’t want to keep it at my place.  It will be based at my parents house for the time being.  It definitely is something that SHOULD last a while.  I don’t want to say I was disappointed.  I thought the show was longer, but then again when it airs it essentially only is 40 min because of commercials. Summer favorite things is not as big as the Christmas ones, but I for some reason thought that there would be something really really really big…..or so I hoped.  I am really happy for all of the things I was given.  I really am not disappointed at all.  It was the best day ever. 
 
I think I would have been most excited about the GPS too! 

You said that you tallied up the items, how much was it all worth?  Do you have to pay taxes on it somehow?

My tally has it to be about 2400.  Also….. Being given all of the items was like winning on a game show or the lottery.  It would be taxed.  Oprah said she was paying the taxes.  I really didn’t know how that wasn’t considered a gift too…..It’s just not fair that in this country there is a tax on a gift.  She said that too.  I was thinking it.  It’s ridiculous.  The taxes were going to be about 900.  That’s CRAZY.  I would have been like, please just take this all back…….well maybe not.  I dunno what I would have done.  I aksed my lawyer friend how that worked out.  He said there’s some mathematical reason.  Oh well.  We had to sign a W-9 form to make it all official.
 
Anything else you’d like to add?

I guess if you want to get tickets you have to be persistent.  The subject of the show can always vary and it’s just chance.  You never know what you will get to see!! 
You should read the Oprah message boards for this episode.   The people on it are funny.  Some people that went to the show just say thank you and want to know where the turkey burger recipe is.  It wasn’t up yet when I had read it.  Also, there are people that BEG Oprah to send them stuff.  This one lady sounds so convinced that Oprah herself would be reading the episode and send her everything.  Some people got really mad that she gave out free things.  I think that no matter who people give things to, especially if they are rich that they will always be criticized.  You can’t please everyone.  They are just funny.