Oprah Winfrey not to host Oscars 2012

Talk show queen Oprah Winfrey will not host the 84th Annual Academy Awards in February next year. "It’s not true, and I don’t know where that story even came from," said Tom Sherak, president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. "You have to remember how it works. First, I have to hire a producer, and then the producer comes to the Academy with suggestions for the host. So how could we have a host without a producer?" he asked.

Oprah Winfrey to make Broadway debut

Television mogul Oprah Winfrey is set to make her longtime dream of appearing on Broadway come true after meeting with theatre producers to discuss her debut role. The talk show queen has always wanted to perform on stage in New York, but has been too busy with her self-titled TV talk show to commit to a production. The Oprah Winfrey Show is scheduled to end this year and the 57-year-old is already reading scripts and meeting with theatre bosses to make sure she can finally fulfil her Broadway ambitions. "I have a stack of plays in my bag right now that I am reading. And just this past weekend, I was in New York meeting with producers. We were just talking about what would be the best route to take. But yes, this is really going to happen. Life is too short. I think that an ensemble production is the way I should go," said Winfrey.

She also said she was desperate to join the cast of hit play ‘Fences’, which opened last year and won Denzel Washington a Tony Award, and she even considered moving her TV show from its production base Chicago, Illinois to New York to accommodate a stint.

"I had always wanted to do Fences. I went through the idea of trying to take my show to New York, shoot a show during the daytime and appear on Broadway at night. But I couldn’t do it. And finally, Kenny (Leon, director) said he couldn’t wait any longer," she added.

Oprah Winfrey's Oz visit boosts tourism

TV mogul Oprah Winfrey’s trip to Queensland has boosted tourism in the disaster-ravaged state. For the first time since June 2010, the number of US inbounds passengers increased in January and February, with almost 10,000 entering Brisbane International Airport.

The modest growth of 1.1 per cent each month was in contrast to falls at Sydney and Melbourne airports of 0.2 per cent and 0.5 per cent.

The Brisbane Airport Corporation’s Rebecca Masci said it was encouraging to see the US market making a comeback.

"The increase in visitors from the US is potentially related to Oprah’s promotion of the region, and is a positive sign that international guests are receiving the message that Queensland is open and ready for business," said Masci.

The talkshow queen travelled to Australia last December, accompanied by 302 "ultimate fans", visiting Cairns, Whitehaven Beach in the Whitsundays and Hamilton Island.

The programs aired in late-January, shortly after the devastating Queensland floods.

Daniel Gschwind from the Queensland Tourism Industry Council said it may be too early to attribute any improvement to the "Oprah effect", but the positive growth was welcomed.

"I totally expect Oprah’s promotion of Australia to have a significant impact on visitor numbers from the US and given that it’s already showing signs of improvement, that puts us in a strong position," he said.

He said Winfrey's popular show was the "most effective word of mouth" imaginable.

"Oprah is the ultimate distribution model. She speaks to millions of people and most importantly, millions of people listen to what she has to say," he added.

Oprah Winfrey responsible for boom in plus-sized lingerie

Here is a good news for plus-sized women: You can now have fashionable and sexy innerwear- courtesy Oprah Winfrey. The talk show host’s public quest for flattering garments has pushed fashions for larger-sized women out from the back of the store and into the mainstream. In a 2005 episode of ‘The Oprah Winfrey Show’, Winfrey ordered the women of America to get fitted for a bra - and provided a free fitting for everyone in her studio audience as well.

And thanks to the Oprah effect, hot lingerie brands like Spanx, Wacoal, Sassybax have all expanded their shape wear lines to include women who embody the national average: a size 14.

Oprah Winfrey lifting documentary movies

Media mogul Oprah Winfrey vowed to bring documentary movies into homes across the United States on her new OWN television network in an effort she likened to her hugely successful book club. At a launch party at the Sundance Film Festival, which has long championed documentary movies, Winfrey told a delighted crowd that outspoken celebrity Rosie O’Donnell will be OWN’s "curator" of non-fiction films. O’Donnell will host specials in which the films’ makers and subjects are featured when the OWN Documentary Film Club launches this spring. "It is my intention to do for documentaries what we have been able to do for books," Winfrey said. "My goal, my dream, my intention is to bring documentaries into the mainstream, to have them stimulate new ways of thinking." Non-fiction films have long been the stepchildren to their far more popular siblings, narrative feature films, and it is rare when a documentary gets the necessary marketing and promotion to bring in big bucks at box offices.

Only 12 have broken the $10 million mark in movie theaters. Last year’s highly-praised educational documentary "Waiting for Superman," which premiered at Sundance, has taken in only $6.7 million.

Most documentaries end up airing on TV, but outlets that air them in that medium are limited to only a few - most prominently subscriber-based cable TV network HBO.

In her book club, launched on her daytime talk program "The Oprah Winfrey Show" during the mid-1990s, Winfrey would pick a title, audiences would read it, and then she would host shows to discuss the books with authors and experts.

The effort, which generated a few controversies among its selections, nevertheless kept her millions of fans tuned-in and made many of the chosen titles instant bestsellers.

Oprah Winfrey’s shows in Australia creating buzz

Oprah Winfrey’s shows in Australia have finally aired in the US, but travel agents are waiting to see if they have an impact on tourism numbers. Winfrey’s ‘Ultimate Australian Adventure’ specials, made with 5 million dollars of Australian taxpayers’ money, have created enormous buzz in its 4pm timeslots in the US last week. And though Tourism Australia is keen to claim its investment is already yielding rewards, US-based travel agents said the excitement has so far not transformed into concrete bookings. The shows were aimed at bringing a rush of American tourists Down Under to save the floundering industry. “The Oprah shows are creating big publicity, but they will not close the deal,” said Andrew Haffenden of US-based agency Australian Natural Adventures. “What Tourism Australia and agents need to start doing now is make this a call to action - this is an opportunity to put Australia up front again,” he added.

“I know my bookings have gone up, but I’m not sure if it’s because of Oprah or not,” said southern California agent Linda Kahn-Ferrell of Robinson Travel Service, who specialises in selling Australian holidays. “I’m figuring we might not get more calls until next week and people start checking on websites and really making plans,” she added.

US-based tourism operators reported hundreds more visits to their websites during the airing of the specials, while traffic had nearly doubled to Tourism Australia’s own website Australia.com, said Tourism Australia’s marketing general manager Nick Baker. Baker added that many Americans had called local agents ready to book tickets with no questions asked.

Oprah Winfrey: richest among Hollywood rich

TV mogul Oprah Winfrey tops the list of Hollywood’s rich of the year compiled by Forbes magazine. Oprah takes the top spot on the newly-released Hollywood’s 20 Highest-Earning of 2010 with an estimated $315 million, while the success of "Avatar" has put director James Cameron in second place with an estimated $210 million earning. Filmmaker Tyler Perry is on third spot with $125 million. Steven Spielberg, Jerry Bruckheimer, George Lucas and Michael Bay have also made it to the top 10 list.

The highest paid musician on the coveted list is Beyonce, who is ahead of Lady Gaga and Britney Spears by grabbing number nine with an $87 million.

Spears is at number 13, while Gaga on 14. Also making the top 20 are Madonna, Miley Cyrus and Taylor Swift.

Oprah Winfrey donates 40 million dollars

Oprah Winfrey, the most influential woman on television, is not just a chat queen but also one of the most charitable celebrities – she has donated 40 million dollars to the Oprah Winfrey Foundation. The Foundation works for causes including education and programs for women and children, according to a national philanthropic group. Novelist Nora Roberts came in second, donating 4.45 million dollars to the Nora Roberts Foundation to support literacy in underserved communities, followed by actress Meryl Streep, who gave 4 million dollars to the Silver Mountain Foundation for the Arts. These contributions were made in 2009, the most recent year financial information was available, according to The Giving Back Fund, which compiled the celebrity list.

“There are many generous celebrities, but when you can top a list of celebrity philanthropists three out of four years, as Oprah has, that is saying something,” People magazine quoted Marc Pollick, president of ‘The Giving Back Fund’, as saying.

Oprah Winfrey's neckline steals show

It is not often that US first lady Michelle Obama is overshadowed in the glamour stakes but all eyes were on TV mogul Oprah Winfrey during the White House reception for the Kennedy Centre honorees, thanks to a very low cut dress. The 56 year old wore a plunging white shirt, which she teamed with a black belt and a long chocolate brown skirt, to the White House event. Thankfully the rainbow medal she was awarded earlier provided just a few extra inches of coverage on what was otherwise a very revealing neckline. Winfrey was accompanied by Stedman Graham, her partner of the past 24 years to the star studded gala. Her daring choice has got the blogosphere buzzing, leaving Michelle, who wore a sleeveless bejewelled gown in maroon and beige, in the shadows.

The talk show queen was joined by Beatle Paul McCartney, dancer-choreographer Bill T Jones, country singer Merle Haggard and Broadway composer Jerry Herman.

Obama spoke at a White House reception for the honorees, praising them for being great human beings. "Although the honorees on this stage each possess a staggering amount of talent, the truth is, they aren’t being recognized tonight simply because of their careers as great lyricists or songwriters or dancers or entertainers," said US president Barack Obama.

"Instead, they’re being honored for their unique ability to bring us closer together and to capture something larger about who we are not just as Americans, but as human beings," said Obama.

The reception was also attended by Julia Roberts, Chris Rock and Claire Danes among others.

Oprah Winfrey to endorse Aboriginal Art

Oprah Winfrey is all set to use her celebrity status to promote a stunning collection of Aboriginal rock art, witnessed by only a few non-indigenous people, during her Australian tour. Preparations are in the pipeline to show Winfrey’s worldwide audience an Aboriginal shelter in a remote part of the Northern Territory’s west Arnhem Land, which is only accessible by helicopter.

Discovered only three years ago, the site provides a fascinating insight into one of the world’s oldest living cultures.

Since Winfrey announced last month she would celebrate her farewell season by bringing ‘The Oprah Winfrey Show’ to Australia, she has spoken of her wish to learn about Aboriginal people and their culture.

It is not known if Winfrey plans to make the trip personally to the rock art shelter or she’ll send a team from the 150-member crew that will travel to Australia.

Showing Aboriginal rock art is expected to boost Aboriginal tourism, which has become increasingly popular despite declining numbers of international tourists coming to the Northern Territory in Australia.