Oprah Blog

Oprah's Favorite Things...Ahhhhhh! While the screams from the audience were deafening, even at home, the products on today's episode were great. In case you missed it, here are the 11 items the audience received:

• Weber grill and tools
• Yummie Tummie tank and Fit Flops sandals
• NARS makeup brush
• Entire collection of winners from the first O-Wards from O Magazine
• Weekender bag
• Garmin GPS
• Marriott gift card
• O Magazine Cookbook
• Mary J Blige CD, Growing Pains
• A New Earth book and audio edition

Monday on Oprah:

• "The Cast of The Mary Tyler Moore Show Reunites!"

From giggling babies to grooms falling on their face, today's Oprah Show episode was great comic relief. Tom Bergeron, host of America's Funniest Home Videos was on hand to showcase the best of the best clips from the AFV vault. If that wasn't enough to tickle your funny bone, Amy Poehler and Tina Fey visited the show to talk about their movie Baby Mama and life on SNL and 30 Rock. Tina had great advice for the "smart and funny" teenage girls, like she says she was back when - let the boys practice and mess up on the other girls, and then swoop down and get them when they're a complete package...like when they're 30.

Tomorrow on Oprah:

• "Oprah's Top Picks for Summer"

I don't know about you, but I found today's show on FLDS, Warren Jeffs, etc. rather creepy. The show started with a round-about look at the current case in the Eldorado, Texas case and how the scenario unfolded. The details were ones that you've more than likely seen all over the news, but the few minutes that showed Lisa Ling speaking with 3 FLDS mothers was very telling. The women spoke very quietly and defended the actions of their culture, not denying them. While walking through the house of another mother, Lisa noticed that there were no photos in the homes, just pictures of Warren Jeffs - the prophet. The more that was shown about Warren Jeffs, the more it made FLDS appears to be a cult, and not just a break-off of the Mormon Church.

Hearing from Alissa Wall, the girl who was able to get Warren Jeffs convicted and sent to prison, was very telling. The story of Alissa seems to be the story of many young teenage FLDS girls - being raised and taught how to be a proper wife and mother. It was unbelievable to hear that the community supported a marriage between a 14 year old girl and her 19 year old first cousin because the prophet and God condoned it.

While I feel for the families that are now having to be separated, I support the actions taken by the state of Texas and believe that they did what was in the best interest of the children involved. What is your take on the Eldorado, Texas FLDS case? Post your comments below.

Tomorrow on Oprah:

• "America's Funniest Videos Plus Tina Fey and Amy Poehler"

Regardless of what your feelings are on past lives, new age, hypnotism or spirituality, today's show was an eye opener for everyone to consider and evaluate. I found Leon's experience with Dr. Weiss to be an amazing one with great results for Leon's life. The fact that Dr. Weiss himself was a skeptic at one point leads me to believe that his profound experience with Catherine was one that was enough for him to feel confident in his belief.

I was part of an experience in college during a resident advisor conference where a hypnotist came in to perform. The man selected a group of about 20 students and brought them on stage to be hypnotized and then made to do comical things. Being one of the 20 students selected, I went on stage and expected to let the process take its course - I just happened to be one of a few people at the time who was too "strong willed" for the process to take place. So needless to say, I became skeptical myself about the process of hypnosis and what could come of it. After watching today's show, I found that Dr. Weiss explained the process of hypnosis in a completely different way - as focused concentration. The students would many times say after coming out of their trance-like state (I saw the performance a number of times) that they didn't remember what they did. Dr. Weiss' method seems completely different and much more connected to the subconscious and a different part of the mind.

What did you think of today's show and how do you feel about past life regression? Post your comments below.

Tomorrow on Oprah:

• "Forced to Marry at 14: Lisa Ling's Special Report on Polygamy"

The kids on today's show danced, sang, acted, directed, and played music better than people more than 5 times their age. My favorite kid was Ethan, the 7 year old piano prodigy - listening to him describe how he learns a new piece and saying "we still have to stay humble" was so cute and heartwarming. The 12 kids that appeared on the show or via satellite have amazing talents and are living their dreams - or just having fun.

Abigail Breslin and Willow Smith were part of the show via satellite from a movie set. The girls star in an upcoming film produced by Julia Robert called Kit Kittredge: An American Girl, based off the American Girl books and dolls. The film opens nationwide July 2, 2008 and stars Abigail as Kit and Willow as her sidekick Countee. The girls shared that they enjoy acting and that it was fun to learn about the Great Depression through the film.

Tomorrow on Oprah:

• "Dr. Oz Explores Past-Life Regressions"

My mouth is watering after watching today's episode - Oprah's first sandwich showdown. To start the show, Gayle traveled around the country tasting 6 sandwiches from the list of America's Best compiled by Esquire Magazine. Among the 6 included a chicken parmesan sandwich from Perilla in Greenwich Village in NYC - the owner of the restaurant is Harold, the winner of the first season of Top Chef.

The second half of the show featured the sandwich showdown with celebrity chefs Ingrid Hoffman, Tyler Florence and Curtin Stone teaming with 3 viewers to make the most original and delicious sandwich creation. The teams had 15 minutes to make a plan, 30 minutes to shop at Whole Foods and just 25 minutes to cook. Two of the three sandwiches featured seafood, but the winner was Tyler Florence and his teammate with a pot roast sandwich on toasted garlic bread with cheese, sage, and a caramelized onion and cranberry marmalade.

Tomorrow on Oprah:

• "Oprah Presents the World's Smartest Kids"

I don't know how anyone didn't enjoy today's show - 2 living legends on the same stage was just amazing. Cher performed first followed by an interview period with Tina Turner then joining her on the stage. The duo talked about their rise to fame and their divorces, both which left them having to learn how to be strong women on their own. Tina followed up the interview with her own performance and an announcement that she will be going back on tour one last time. The duo ended the show with a duet of "Proud Mary" with Oprah joining them as well.

If you would like to see Tina Turner in concert, you can preorder your tickets on Oprah.com. While Cher will be at Caesar's Palace for the next 3 years, Tina Turner will be doing just 18 shows over a period of 2 months this coming winter. Head over to Oprah.com to reserve your seats today!

Tomorrow on Oprah:

• "Oprah's Sandwich Showdown!"

Today's show was an interesting one - Oprah with 3 friends and viewers via Skype chimed in on recent events and shows over the past week or so. These events included last night's primaries, the Tom Cruise interview, Barbara Walters, the Texas polygamy raids, Mariah Carey's wedding, and Randy Pausch. Oprah's satellite guests were best friend Gayle, Ali Wentworth (comedian and George Stephanopoulos' wife) and Mark Consuelos (actor and Kelly Ripa's husband).

None of the topics were given that much time and it was a bit distracting that the guests on Skype were talking over one another, but I was happy to see that Randy Pausch is still doing well to beat the odds and remain positive. I wasn't surprised by anyone's opinions and none of the news that was revealed was very new - which leaves me very little to comment on.

If anything, next Wednesday's show (announced today) with Lisa Ling and a girl who helped convict Warren Jeffs (the leader of the Texas compound) looks to be one of the best of the season. Lisa will go inside the community to investigate the religious group and give a side of the case we haven't seen yet.

Tomorrow on Oprah:

• "Oprah, Cher and Tina Turner at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas"

Barbara Walters was on the other side of the table today when Oprah interviewed her about the details from her new memoir, Audition. Sharing information on scandals from The View, on her secret affair with US Senator Ed Brooke and her struggles with her sister who was mildly disabled, a new side of Barbara Walter emerged.

It was nice to see a more human side of Barbara, instead of the typical tough interviewer and television personality. It was shocking to hear about her affair with an African-American man, especially in the 70s when the news breaking could have destroyed both of their careers. Seeing Barbara as a mother, I think, will connect her with so many people who didn't think that they had anything in common with "the first lady of television." Knowing that Barbara struggled having a daughter using drugs and running away like so many parents today, will help so many people know that if she can get through it, they can too.

Tomorrow on Oprah:

• "Viewers React: The Week in Review"

For the second hour of Oprah and TC, today's show celebrated Tom Cruise's 25 years starring in films since Risky Business in 1983. Today was a great day to enjoy the many entertaining and moving films that Tom has made that have had a huge impact in people's lives. Not only were a selection of clips shown from a collection of movies, but also remarks from some of his co-stars and friends.

One of my favorite Tom Cruise movies is Cocktail, simply because it's one of the first that I remember him in (I was 9), as well as All the Right Moves (he was a high school football player) and The Outsiders - which were shown regularly on TV growing up and solidified my affection for Tom Cruise the actor - I have never cared much about his personal life over the years - he is a really great actor. When Tom started dating Katie Holmes things got a little strange, since I was a year behind Katie in high school - but as weird as it was to see someone I went to school with on the cover of all the tabloids, the attention always seemed like such an invasion of privacy for them. I honestly hope these 2 Oprah episodes give people the glimpse of the real Tom they are seeking and give the rumors a break.

What is your all-time favorite Tom Cruise movie? Share in the comments below.

Tomorrow on Oprah:

• "Barbara Walters's New Revelations"