Why Oprah’s Two Night Special Made History

With 17 million total viewers absorbing Oprah Winfrey’s Where Do We Go From Here? TV’s most iconic personality was by far the number one ratings winner Tuesday and Wednesday night.

Having the specials simulcast across 18 different Discovery
DISCA
channels certainly helped boost the figures (The Discovery Networks
DISCA
control Winfrey’s OWN network), but it’s a testament to Winfrey’s influence and unique star power, that a cable conglomerate would back such a remarkable commitment. 

As a result, the buzz-worthy specials outdrew any broadcast or cable program, on either night, and ranked #1 in the news category on all social media, making history once again for the Emmy, Tony, Peabody and Academy Awards-recognized legend.

The specials, which dealt with the killing of George Floyd, systemic racism and the inequalities within the American justice system, featured experts across the range of American culture. Guests included politician Stacey Abrams, journalist Charles M. Blow; Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms; Academy award-nominated filmmaker and founder of ARRAY Ava DuVernay (When They See Us, 13th, Queen Sugar), professor and author Jennifer Eberhardt (author of Biased); Pulitzer Prize winner of The 1619 Project Nikole Hannah-Jones; historian and author Ibram Kendi (How to be an Anti-Racist), award-winning actor David Oyelowo (Selma), Color of Change president Rashad Robinson; and co-chair of The Poor People’s Campaign and president of Repairers of the Breach Reverend William J. Barber II.

As ever, Oprah Winfrey read the moment and took action.

America’s most famous and iconic interviewer, Oprah Winfrey has always pursued controversial subjects and equally infamous celebrities often in the center of a pop culture maelstrom, with spectacular ratings results.

Her reputation as America’s “Mother Confessor” is well-honed, and as an African-American woman whose popularity crosses every demographic, including ethnicity, she’s alone among her peers as a powerful figure who continues to explore issues specific to her heritage. Her commitment to seeking answers to difficult questions has created a bond between herself and her audience that is incomparable.

Oprah has the unique ability to check the nation’s temperature, and when ailing, provide a made-for-TV cure to help heal, clarify and show potential ways forward.

No other celebrity personality in the U.S. or around the world shares Oprah’s intuitive greatness to create not only intelligent understanding and debate around an issue, but her consistent determination to pursue social, political, emotional and even spiritual solutions, acts as a one-of-a-kind calming comfort.

Would a different news anchor, cable personality or journalist receive such support and attract such huge numbers? It’s difficult to conjure another personality even approaching Oprah’s influence, taking on such a divisive but important subject.

A multi-billionaire, she could have easily waited out this intense period and created something different down the road, benefiting from the luxury of time and greater resources, for perspective.

But Oprah knows what to do, when it must be done and who must do it and her partners at Discovery stepped up to ensure that her voice would be heard. Her audience consistently rewards her by showing up for such timely and relevant events.

2020 has been an unusual year in the media, for sure. As we shelter-at-home, various specials have broken records  – – The Last Dance for ESPN, and Where Do We Go From Here? for The Discovery Networks and Obama’s two commencement addresses (one of which just broke new records for YouTube, garnering 60 million views.)

Each features an African-American legend who defied all odds to pursue greatness at a level few can imagine, and even fewer still, will ever achieve.

As the nation continues to mourn, recover and regroup post George Floyd’s catastrophic death, Americans may be encouraged to learn that in a country still struggling with serious racial divides, U.S. audiences show up in giant numbers to experience the greatness of African-Americans who’ve found a way to inspire us, teach us, entertain and indeed, lead us.

We weren’t surprised when Michael Jordan’s documentary broke every record, nor are we surprised that Oprah and Obama continue to over perform, whenever they choose to shine their unique spotlight on an issue or concern.

Jordan helped us face the pandemic with some nostalgic excellence and insights; Winfrey has helped us face a national crisis with information, education and deep reflection. Obama inspires hope with a whole new set of high school graduates facing an uncertain world.

The challenging first half of 2020 will be remembered for epic tragedies, the pandemic and George Floyd’s killing chief among them. But we’ll remember 2020 for utter greatness as well, courtesy of three of America’s finest: Michael Jordan, Oprah Winfrey and Barack Obama.

Thank you, Chicago.