Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Oprah didn't scrap dated Obama scoop

After a morning of agonizing, Oprah yesterday aired her interview with President Obama -- taped nearly a week ago -- without mentioning the stunning news that Osama bin Laden had been killed in a daring raid ordered by the president.

"Trying to decide what to do about tomorrow's show with prez that was taped last week. Show will feel dated because we taped last week. Not even a hint of Osama's demise," Winfrey tweeted Sunday night.

It was a sticky spot for the queen of daytime, a former TV news anchor who does not like to be shown up by events.
OOPS: Oprah's interview with the Obamas was taped last week so there was no mention of Osama Bin Laden's death.

But the show aired, uncut and without an Oprah intro explaining what had happened since it was taped.

The only indication was a line on the screen, "Previously recorded," that appeared several times during the show.

"The decision was made late [Sunday] night to air the original show as taped . . . with the inclusion of a notification to our viewers that the program was previously recorded," said a Harpo spokesperson.

Was there any discussion of yanking yesterday's show altogether?

"There was discussion about how to remind our viewers that today's show was pre-taped," the Harpo spokesperson said.

The interview was taped last Wednesday in Chicago.

Subjects ranged from Obama's release that morning of a copy of his long-form birth certificate to the secrets of a healthy marriage to his re-election campaign. But no mention was made during the hour of the war on terrorism.

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