Why is Oprah giving Michael Moore the brushoff?

If you had your TV and radio blaring Wednesday, it was pretty much impossible to avoid seeing or hearing Michael Moore everywhere you turned as the portly filmmaker made the media rounds, touting his new film, "Capitalism: A Love Story," which opened that day in New York and Los Angeles. (It goes wide Oct. 2.) Moore was on "Good Morning America" and "Larry King Live," along with Howard Stern's radio show and Martha Stewart's syndicated TV show.

But what happened to his appearance on "Oprah," the show that every filmmaker, author and pop star would kill to appear on, since having Oprah's de facto endorsement sells more books, films and CDs than any other piece of TV real estate? When I turned on "Oprah," all I saw was Mackenzie Phillips, plugging her new book, which largely seems newsworthy because it reveals that as a teenager she frequently had sex with her father, John Phillips, the deceased founder of the Mamas and the Papas.

Oprah seemed sympathetic, repeatedly furrowing her lovely brow, but I have to admit that all I could think about was -- hey, where's Michael Moore? You may recall that we reported earlier this month that Overture Films, who's releasing Moore's film, had embargoed all interviews until this Wednesday, since Moore was scheduled to appear on "Oprah" Sept. 22. Eager to protect its exclusive, La Winfrey wanted all of Moore's appearances and interviews held until after he appeared on her show. (Moore was on Jay Leno's show last week, but that was scheduled before the Oprah appearance had been booked.)

But guess what? The embargo fell apart at some point in the past few weeks after Oprah mysteriously backed out of the Moore interview. While Overture hasn't given up all hope, insiders acknowledge that Moore is no longer on the Oprah schedule and say that its doubtful that a full-scale interview will ever occur.

The "Oprah" brain trust hasn't given any official reason for giving Moore the cold shoulder, But there are two theories floating around. No. 1: With his gift for gab and fondness for controversy, Moore is a great guest for most talk shows, but not "Oprah," which prefers some sort of dramatic revelation -- like, say, having sex with your pop -- which allows its host an opportunity to either empathize or offer a stern rebuke. No. 2: As one of the richest women in America who has turned herself into a hugely successful commercial brand, Oprah may have decided that she might leave herself open to charges of hypocrisy by hosting a show promoting a movie that preaches against the evils of capitalism.

I wouldn't worry about Moore, who has an unfailing knack for attracting media attention, so I suspect he'll still log plenty of more TV appearances in the coming days. But "Oprah," the Moby Dick of media opportunities, increasingly looks like the one that got away.  

PREVIOUSLY: MICHAEL MOORE AND OPRAH: A LOVE STORY?

PREVIOUSLY: HYPOCRISY WATCH: MICHAEL MOORE'S 'CAPITALISM' PREMIERES IN NEW YORK'S BIGGEST CAPITALIST OASIS

Photo of Oprah Winfrey by Chris Pizzello/AP.

Comments

[DAO]

Good for Oprah. I never seen anyone hate his own country as much as Moore. idiot! He also owns stocks in many of the companies he states are the problem; including the companies that sell to the military. He Lies! He only cares about making money from the fools who can't think for themselves.

[DEX]

"Portly"? I'd love to know why anyone felt that was necessary to the story.

[Robert Walcott]

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[Archie Haase]

When I saw a program of hers briefly and saw her smoozing the guy that owns Dole Fruit a billionaire it became clear she left her roots and started cheering for the people that enslave poor folks. Her little school (a toy) in South Africa was to lesson her guilt.

Are Americans too dumb to get this? Must be because there is a large group of Americans who think Sarah Palin knows what she is talking about.

[a]

1st

[Sal]

Can't say I blame Oprah! A man who makes a living looking in other people's wallets and then makes moral judgments based on their net worth seems to know QUITE WELL the benefits of capitalism!! Oprah is a billionaire but of course I'm sure that bothers Michael because according to him no human being should be allowed to have so much money. However, telling poor people what they want to hear as a means to sell movies tickets and make millions himself is perfectly acceptable in Michael's mind. People like this are simply hilarious!!

[Stever Robbin]

I am very impressed by Oprah. She is a force of nature, and arguably the most successful female entrepreneur in history. Her words carry the force to change how our culture thinks and acts. She's quite impressive.

Given all that, the reason Oprah didn't interview Michael Moore was that Oprah is the epitome of capitalism. Proof?

1. Oprah's magazine ("O") is packed with things to buy, many of which we don't really need or want. The "O" magazine issue that dealt with the recession was chock full of "discounted deals", suggesting that recession or not, you can buy your way to happiness.

2. Oprah sells. That is, her endorsement sells products. That's very well known.

3. Oprah mentors others in creating their own consumer empires. Phil McGraw was but more than a psychologist running a Texas-based trial consulting firm when he met Oprah. Now? He's Dr. Phil, brand extraordinaire. Mehmet Oz was a cardiac surgeon. now? He's Dr. Oz. Harpo Productions produces - and profits enormously - from these shows.

Methinks that once Oprah really got hold of what Michael Moore's film was about, she - or her producers - found a way out of a potentially embarrassing, heavily ironic mess.

My vote. Michael 1, Oprah 0.

[cbk16]

Maybe Oprah has realized the hyping of Socialist Obama has done the country a lot of harm, so she doesn't want to push another radical on the country.

[Del4594]

Oprah has the common sense to know that Moore is a total fraud. He is borderline morbidly obese but does a movie on heathcare. Then he goes to the big talk shows to promote his new movie to enrich his personal fortune which exposes the evils of "capitalism". But the real reason is that Oprah a woman who flies around in private jets, lives in multiple mansions all over the world, has a full time staff to take care of her every need, has created a one woman empire and is considered to have a net worth around a Billion dollars. She would look stupid talking to a mean spiritied bitter blowhard on how the economic system in this country is so horrible even though we have the highest standard of living in human history, people are living longer healthier lives than ever and have more liberty than any other country. His "class warfare" claptrap would be even more moronic telling it to a woman who has no doubt created jobs for hundreds if not thousands of people through her many businesses and has given millions to charity.

[S Williamson]

Maybe she didn't want him because he is a jerk (that is a nicer word than I originally wrote) and he would turn off a majority of her viewers? That is my opinion and I think I am right.