Original Air Date:
Friday, October 10, 2008
Guests:
- Ali Wentworth
- Gayle King
- Mark Consuelos
- Dr. Mehmet Oz
- Ben Stiller
- Chris Rock
Fridays Live in Chicago - The Financial Crisis:
The financial crisis is still on everyone's minds and was the first topic to be discussed on Fridays Live. Friday, October 10th, the stock dropped another 500 points in the first 5 minutes and the crisis isn't just affecting the US - Paris, London, Germany, Tokyo - other countries and major cities in the world are also experiencing financial stress. The stress of the situation is also making people sick. 8 out of 10 Americans now say they are under extreme stress. Even corporations are seeing how their employees are handling stress - AIG spent $400,000 to help employees relax causing a major uproar in America.
AIG was one of the companies to get relief from the federal bailout and many people were angered to hear that the company spent money they say was in another fund to pay for the corporate trip. Oprah replied, why didn't they use that other money to pay for their own bailout then. All Americans are feeling the pressure right now. Of 7,000 people surveyed, 47% reported having headaches, 35% having stomach aches and 34% experiencing muscle tension.
Dr. Oz appeared via Skype from his office in NYC to comment about people's reaction to financial stress.
The state of the economy in America has caused an increase in illnesses, suicides, major treatments and self medicating. Dr. Oz shared that the body has a way of going into an auto pilot when things get difficult and because of the way stress was 500 years ago - not stocks falling, but a famine - the body holds in fat when under stress. Ways Dr. Oz recommends dealing with stress are to have a solid network of support, stretch, deep breathing and loving sex.
Fridays Live in Chicago - Guests Ben Stiller and Chris Rock:
Ben Stiller and Chris Rock were welcomed to the show in part to talk about their new movie Madagascar 2: Escape to Africa. The film opens November 7, 2008. Ben was happy to be on the show for the first time, while Chris was returning after multiple times on the show.
Chris just recently finished a world comedy tour, one of the largest in history, where he was on the road for a year. Chris shared that it wasn't too difficult to tell jokes around the world because people laugh at the same things all over. His audiences dealt with the same relationship jokes, dislikes and laughed at the jokes about the US.
Fridays Live in Chicago - OJ Simpson:
The next topic up for discussion from the panel was OJ Simpson being found guilty on 12 charges including robbery and kidnapping. Oprah revealed the strange part that he was found guilty 13 years to the day of his previous trial, the jury deliberated for 13 hours and the alleged crime happened on September 13, 2007. Gayle commented by saying she has mixed feelings about the trial because while she believes he got away with murder before, she feels that if he was not OJ Simpson, he would not be going to jail for so long for this crime.
Chris responded that he has made a lot of money off of OJ in the past as he had made him a part of his show for years. Chris even shared that he did in fact get a call from OJ years ago, and Oprah had a clip of that call. A clip of the Oprah Show from September 25, 1997 was shown with Chris Rock as a guest and the voicemail from OJ Simpson was played. Chris joked to whoever becomes OJ's cell mate not to cheat on him.
Fridays Live in Chicago - Madagascar 2: Escape to Africa:
Ben Stiller and Chris Rock talked about their new movie Madagascar 2: Escape to Africa where they returned as their characters Alex the lion and Marty the zebra. The film follows the 4 main characters as they try to get out of Madagascar with the penguins in a plane and crash land in Africa. Ben shared how typically in animated films the actors record their lines alone, but for this film he and Chris had the chance to work together. After the experience with the first film, Ben explained that it made loosening up and expressing himself easier in the studio the second time around.
Ben was also impressed by how easy it was for Chris to adlib in the studio without someone to react to, coming up with funny bits while recording a scene.
The late Bernie Mac passed away before the completion of the film, but played Zuba, king of the lions and Alex's dad. Ben connected with Bernie through the film even though they only met in passing. He looked forward to doing press for the film to get to know Bernie better. Chris, on the other hand, had been friends with Bernie for over 20 years. Chris shared that Bernie always lit up the room and was always the funniest guy in crowd.
Fridays Live in Chicago - Kids:
The next topic the group discussed was the best or most fun age of children. Oprah shared that she doesn't really connect with kids until they are about 3 and start communicating, and how they become so fun at that age. Ben, Chris, Ali and Mark all have young children and each shared how 3 is a fun age and how it is interesting to watch younger siblings pick up new things from older siblings, even at such a young age. Gayle shared that she genuinely has loved all the stages of her 2 children who are now in their 20s but has realized through Oprah and others that the urge to have children is not for everyone.
Fridays Live in Chicago - Sex Addiction:
Ali posed the question of how do you know when sex addiction is an addiction and not just a desire to have sex; where is the line? David Duchovny just left treatment for sex addiction after 2 months and reportedly did well with it. Mark shared that he had seen a questionnaire for sex addiction and that the first few questions are general but get more in depth as they went on, he also shared that the addiction used to be on the mental disorder list but was removed in the 90s. Oprah and Gayle differ on whether sex addiction is real or a matter of irresponsibility, Oprah feels that the addiction definitely is real if it is a matter of being controlled by the addiction. Addiction can be separated from irresponsibility and cheaters by the way people are willing to jeopardize anything to get what they are addicted to because they are controlled by it, not in control of it.
Fridays Live in Chicago - Tyler Perry Studios:
Tyler Perry recently launched the first major television and film studio opened by an African-American in Atlanta. The 30 acre, 200,000 sq.ft. lot was celebrated with a 2 day event which Gayle, Oprah and Stedman attended. Oprah was moved by the dedication of the sound stages to living actors that inspired Tyler including Ruby Dee, Cicely Tyson and Sidney Poitier. Film of Sidney Poitier was shown as the sound stage was dedicated to him; his tears brought Oprah to tears at the event. Later they talked about what he was feeling and he shared that he was reminded of the years at MGM when he was the only African-American besides the shoe shine man and how far they all have come in the industry.
