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Perhaps the most popular and most successful daytime television talk show in the history of the medium, The Oprah Winfrey Show concluded its historic 25-year run on May 25, 2011. To celebrate the departure (for more creative pastures on OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network, we present 10 Memorable Moments from ‘The Oprah Winfrey Show’.

1.  Sister Act

In late 2010, Oprah discovered she had a half-sister. It was a revelation that “shook her to her core.” More amazing? Her half-sister, a 48-year-old Milwaukee woman named Patricia, knew she was Winfrey’s sister for more than 3 years and never once tried to profit from the knowledge. “Family business should be handled by family,” Patricia told Winfrey on the show, further explaining how she wanted to tell Winfrey directly rather than reveal it through a third party.

2.  Oprah Interviews Michael Jackson

In 1993, Oprah received unprecedented access to Michael Jackson, the late pop icon, at his Neverland Ranch in California. The primetime interview included a tour of the 2,700-acre facility was part of the 90-minute special. The interview was live and broadcast around the world.

3.  Oprah Gives James Frey The What-For, Later Apologizes

In 2005, Oprah bestowed upon author James Frey the greatest gift of all. She selected his book, A Million Little Pieces for inclusion in the Oprah Book Club. The book sold millions. Then it turned out Frey’s non-fiction memoir was, in fact, greatly fabricated. Winfrey brought Frey on to the show in 2006 and told him she felt “duped” and that he had betrayed his readers. Frey apologized on air for “lying” to his readers. Nevertheless, the public lashing caused his publishing company to drop him. Then, in 2009, Oprah apologized to Frey for the public lashing. Frey returned again during the final 10 episodes of Oprah to rehash the whole event.

4.  Tom Cruise is in Love – or Insane

The episode aired in 2005 and will live in infamy – at least for movie star Tom Cruise. Apparently hepped up on life and his blossoming relationship with actress Katie Holmes, Cruise leapt up on Oprah’s couch and started jumping up and down. You can still see the video, during which Cruise talks about being in love, can’t sit still in his seat, leaps up on the couch – and generally makes a fool of himself. As people in love often do, I suppose.

5.  “You Get a Car! You Get a Car! You Get a Car!”

Oprah is probably most famous for this line, bellowed excitedly during the premiere episode of season 19. During that episode, Oprah and her staff dolled out nearly 300 brand new cars to everyone in the audience. It was also the episode that planted the seed for bigger and more bombastic season premieres, such as her 2010-2011 premiere.

6.  The Oprah Winfrey Show Comes to an End

Sure to be a spectacle, Oprah will end her syndicated television run on May 25th with a two-hour hush-hush episode. Speculation as to what Oprah has in store to see off her millions of fans runs from a star-studded spectacular to an intimate one-on-one episode with no studio audience. Either way, fans need not fear. They can find all the Oprah they want over on OWN.

7.  “We’re All Going to Australia!”

To kick off her final season of the syndicated Oprah, Winfrey had to top her car giveaway. So she decided to take more than 300 audience members to The Land Down Under. She mimicked her famous moment by yelling, “We’re going to Australia! We’re going to Australia! You and you and you and you, are going to Australia!”

8.  Mr. Poitier

Oprah fans know the talk show host finds inspiration in the life and work of actor Sidney Poitier. So it’s no surprise that she stood speechless when Poitier visited the show – as a surprise – to help celebrate the show’s 20th season. On top of it all, Oprah just finished sharing an anecdote about how she felt as though she wasn’t worthy to interview Poitier, and that a past interview had gone terribly wrong because she was too afraid to ask “the right questions.” Poitier kindly disagreed.

9.  A Wagon Full of Fat

Oprah is known for her yo-yo weight loss. She’s up, she’s down, she’s up, she’s down. Oprah started the whole thing – at least in terms of fans and critics keeping tabs on her weight – during a 1988 episode when she wheeled out a wagon filled with 67 pounds of fat. That fat represented the weight she’d lost over a four month period. On her official website, Oprah says the episode was the “biggest, fattest” mistake she’s made on-air. The show remains the highest-ranking episode in its 25-year history.

10.  Let’s Talk Mad Cow

Oprah’s 1996 episode about Mad Cow’s disease did a number on the beef industry – and led to a well-known lawsuit. A group of Texas cattlemen got together to take on Oprah, but to no avail. She won the court case – four years after it was initially filed. During that time, she worked with a man named Dr. Phil McGraw. Dr. Phil would later become a regular guest on Oprah before launching his own program (with Oprah’s help).

It’s likely you hear some form of this sentence once or twice a day where you work: “We have to attract Millennials.” Or maybe “The best to manage Baby Boomers is to show them you paid your dues to get where you are.” Or “Why is that Gen Xer always giving me the stink eye?”

If you wonder why your co-workers are making such blanket statements – or maybe wonder what the heck a Millennial is anyway, well, you’re in luck. This lovely little article will provide you with a snapshot of each generation still making waves in the workforce through the talk show hosts that best emulate that generation.

1.  Traditionalists: Regis Philbin, guest host, ‘Rachael Ray’

You probably know the Traditionalist generation by its other name, “The Greatest Generation.” Born between 1922 and 1945, Traditionalists are seen as disciplined and detail-oriented. The dislike conflict, even though many of them immediately signed up to fight in World War II after Pearl Harbor. They tend to believe in following the rules. They’re loyal and have a respect for authority. They often prefer an hierarchical organizational structure – boss, manager, worker – over more peer-oriented work.

Our poster host for the Traditionalist list is Regis Philbin. Philbin was born in 1931 in New York City. His father was a military man and Philbin followed in his footsteps, serving in the Navy after graduating college.

Philbin is quoted as saying, “You know, I never knew if I had any talent when I started in this business. My first job was being a page at The Tonight Show. I saw Jack Paar come out one night and sit on the edge of his desk and talk about what he’d done the night before. I thought, ‘I can do that!’ I used to do that on a street corner in the Bronx with all my buddies.”

The quote captures the Traditionalist generation’s view of hard work leads to success.  

2.  Baby Boomers: David Letterman, host, ‘Late Late Show’

Baby Boomers are so named because the generation, born between 1946 and 1964, are part of an explosion in the birth population following World War II. The generation also houses the largest population in America – about 80 million – followed closely by the Millennials, at 75 million. Boomers are often known as the first generation to enjoy true middle class economic prosperity, with more young men and women attending college than ever before. The generation also went through one of the most tumultuous times in U.S. history, surviving the Vietnam War, social change and fights for racial and gender equality. On the flip side, the generation is known as the Me Generation, often portrayed as greedy and opportunistic because they were promised “The American Dream.”

David Letterman, the king of late night talk, is our Baby Boomer. Letterman was born in 1947 in Indiana, gaining fame after debuting his NBC talk show Late Night. One could say Letterman’s comedic style and penchant for comedic excess – dropping things from a 10-story building, spotlighting stupid pet and human tricks – helps define the counter culture and scatalogical humor popular in the 1960s and early 1970s.

“Anything worth doing is worth overdoing,” is a joke Letterman is quoted as telling. Though in jest, the quote captures the excessive spirit many believe holds true for the Boomer generation. 

3.  Generation X: Jimmy Fallon, host, ‘The Tonight Show’

Born between 1965 and 1980, Generation X – or Gen Xers, as they’re usually called – make up the smallest generational population at 51 million. Xers are usually seen as independent skeptics who question authority at every turn and are more likely to slack off than truly apply themselves. Most were products of dual income families and had to learn to take care of themselves. They’re also familiar with government scandal – Watergate, Monica Lewinsky, WMDs. They’re also known as more interested in teamwork and supporting the team or community, being involved in social services and community projects, and truly separating business and life.

Our model Gen Xer? None other than The Tonight Show’s Jimmy Fallon. Fallon was born in 1974. You can see how Fallon portrays Xer traits on Tonight through the way he involves his guests and the audience in the show. He’s more interested in the community of the show than in his individual performance.

Fallon says, “There’s always going to be someone out there… who doesn’t believe in you or who thinks your head is too big or you’re not smart enough. But those are the people you need to ignore, and those are the times you need to just keep doing what you love doing.” The quote points to that Xer skepticism and overriding desire to be yourself.

4.  Millennial: Jeannie Mai, co-host, ‘The Real’

Born between 1981 and 2000, Millennials are the up and coming workforce. The true digital generation, whose lives are played out in social media and online. While they’re portrayed as the “Look at me!” generation, they are a generation that saw tremendous tragedy as well, including 9/11 and a host of school shootings while they were school aged. They’re often called “Chief Friendship Officers” and look to build relationships in and outside of work – two environments they try to meld together into one.

The Real’s Jeannie Mai is our talk show Millennial. Mai was born in San Jose, Calif., on January 4, 1980. Mai attended De Anza College in Cupertino, Calif., for a year before dropping out and pursuing her passion: communications, motivation and inspiration.

The following story captures the essence of her Millennial roots.

Mai took $268 and moved to L.A. hoping to break into show business. She brought a few headshots, a homemade demo reel, and the results of her research of the top agencies in Hollywood. She pulled up in front of the William Morris Agency, the top agency on the list.

Sauntering in, she asked the receptionist to connect her with an agent who handled television and talk show hosts. The receptionist told her no one would see her without an appointment, so Mai said she’d sit in the lobby until someone cancelled. No one cancelled. But former talk show host and comedian Wanda Sykes did see her headshot, struck up a conversation with Mai and, in less than 30 minutes, Mai was meeting with Sykes and her agent.

Fast Facts

Title: The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore

Host: Larry Wilmore

Nightly players: Shenaz Treasury, Ricky Velez, Mike Yard

Production company: Busboy Productions

Produced by: Larry Wilmore, Jon Stewart

Created by: Jon Stewart

Format: 30 minute panel talk show

Broadcast information: Comedy Central, weeknights, 11:30 p.m.

Tapes: Weekdays, originating from studios at 513 W. 54th Street, New York City.

Brief history:

In the spring , after it was announced Stephen Colbert would replace David Letterman on CBS’s Late Show and bring an end to The Colbert Report, Comedy Central and Daily Show host Jon Stewart’s Busboy Productions  began looking for a new program to follow The Daily Show.

Larry Wilmore, who first appeared on The Daily Show’s as the show’s “senior black correspondent” and became one of the program’s breakout satirical voices, was named the host of the new program.

Wilmore, born and raised in Los Angeles, got his start in stand-up comedy and with small roles on television and film. His big break came when he stepped behind the camera and applied his sharp wit to writing and producing.

He started as a staff writer on In Living Color, a sketch comedy show on Fox led by Keenen Ivory Wayans and Damon Wayans. Success on the show led to more writing opportunities, including writing for Sister, Sister, an ABC sit-com starring twin sisters Tia and Tamera Mowry, now a co-host of The Real.

Wilmore created and produced The Bernie Mac Show, for which he won a writing Emmy. Wilmore also created and produced Whoopi, the short-lived NBC sit-com starring Whoopi Goldberg.

Finding the right name

Without question, there are a lot of people wondering if The Nightly Show can have the same sort of impact that The Colbert Report had. Some may have thought the show was taking some short steps when it changed its name early on. But there was good reason for that.

The Nightly Show was originally titled The Minority Report with Larry Wilmore. Because another network planned to develop the 2002 Tom Cruise movie titled Minority Report into a television show, Wilmore and Busboy chose to change the name to avoid legal and brand issues.

In short, they wouldn’t be able to refer to the title in short. No Minority Report or The Minority Report. Hard to do when you want to be quick and conversational.

Wilmore later told The New York Times that he preferred the new name.

“It was never intended to be a show only about minorities,” he said in the report. “It’s a show about underdogs, and that happens in a lot of different forms, whether it’s race, gender or whatever.”

In a conversation with MSNBC, he added that he wants to “elevate new and overlooked voices,” some of whom will be minorities. Many will simply be fresh and thought-provoking.

Wilmore added the new title allows the show to define itself, rather the original title, which, while creative, tended to define the show.

Familiar format feels fresh

Viewers of The Nightly Show will likely sense the program is a bit of a callback to another successful Comedy Central talk show that, in many ways, still exists today. That show, Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher, proved that panel talk shows that mixed politics and comedy could have both popular and critical appeal.

The Nightly Show puts a fresh spin on the panel talk show, less recreating the genre than showing it can do the genre really well.

It also combines some of the best aspects of The Daily Show and The Colbert Report, that being the opening “newscast” – those first 10 minutes or so when the host comments on current events, weaving comedy and criticism together in an entertaining and enlightening way.

As we come up on Jimmy Fallon’s one-year anniversary as host of  The Tonight Show, it’s probably about the right time to share my perspective on how the late night program and its host have changed. And here it is:

I think The Tonight Show is really a daytime talk show parading around in late night.

Hold on, hold on. Let me explain a bit.

First, I love Fallon. His Tonight Show is infectious, and he is one of the most likable late night hosts in recent memory. I would readily compare him with Johnny Carson. He’s cut from the same cloth. Needle sharp, born funny and alarmingly charming.

Second, It’s safe to say his version of Tonight has rejuvenated late night television, too. Few would question the dearth of late night viewers even just two or three years ago. By late September 2014, The Tonight Show and Late Night with Seth Meyers were pounding Jay Leno’s Tonight ratings and its weaker lead-in to Fallon’s Late Night.

(Over on ABC, Jimmy Kimmel Live has steadily increased ratings while CBS’s Late Show and Late Late Show were in decline, according to a September 2014 Variety report. Is it any wonder David Letterman decided it was time to retire and Ferguson moved to daytime?)

So what’s the dif?

Let’s go back to Carson. Like Fallon, Carson could charm an audience with a smile and a wink. Celebrities warmed to his interview style. Comedians longed for his approval. Fallon is all these things, though I would substitute musical acts for comedians.

But Carson’s sense of humor was wicked. It was sharp and pointed. He could easily dish an underhand comment to an unruly or troublesome guest. Sometimes to a guest he felt just couldn’t keep up with him, too. Letterman, in many ways, is cut from this same cloth.

Fallon’s not. And that’s okay. In fact, it’s more than perfectly fine. As a guy who is regularly criticized as being “too nice,” I get it and respect Fallon’s feel good nature.  

That difference, though, makes for a different kinda late night. The show, out of the 11:30 p.m. hour, is more akin to a daytime show.

Maybe that’s not fair. Maybe I get that vibe because Fallon’s Tonight Show reminds me of The Ellen DeGeneres Show. Fallon and DeGeneres both enjoy engaging their guests in party games – charades, lip syncing contests, Never Have I Ever and what seems like countless board games.

In a way, this style of interactivity was made popular by DeGeneres and has popped up on many a daytime show for time to time. And now it’s become a mainstay on Tonight.

Wrong? Heaven’s no. It’s perfectly fine.

It’s just. Well, it’s just that today’s Tonight would work just as well during the day. Because it doesn’t carry that same late night edge I’m used to. The edge Stewart delivers. The edge Handler handle. The edge Letterman made famous.

There’s the rub. The Tonight Show isn’t edgy. And it used to be the definition of edgy. Paar was edgy, Carson edgy. Leno a bit, but in an entirely different way. Fallon doesn’t have that edge.

But after decades of edge, maybe it’s time we smooth things out anyway.

Born:

May 13, 1964

Quick Stephen Colber Facts:

• Stephen Colbert was born in Washington, D.C., and raised in South Carolina.
• He studied theater and improvisational comedy at ImprovOlympic and Second City, both in Chicago.
• In 1995, Colbert co-created and starred in the sketch comedy show Exit 57 on Comedy Central.
• In 1997, he joined the cast of The Daily Show as a correspondent.
• Colbert reunited with his Exit 57 cast mates to create and star in Strangers With Candy, which ran from 1998 to 2000.
• In 2005, Colbert left The Daily Show to host his own comedy news show on Comedy Central, The Colbert Report.
• In 2008, he briefly and unsuccessfully ran for President.

Stephen Colbert’s Net Worth:

Stephen Colbert has an estimated net worth of $75 Million.

Stephen Colbert Overview:

Stephen Colbert might just be the best fake right-wing pundit in America. As host of his own comedy news show, The Colbert Report on Comedy Central, Colbert has made famous his perfectly assured (even when wrong), outspoken conservative character. Colbert’s background is in improv and sketch comedy, making him incredibly quick-witted and fast on his feet. Combining absurdity with heady intellectualism, his satirical take on punditry has made him one of the country’s leading political comedians. The world needs more of his brand of truthiness.