Hey! A Big huge thank you to everyone for watching Oprah's Big Give! It's so exciting. We are grateful you made this the number one show on Sunday night. To be called the "must-watch of the week" by Entertainment Weekly and "ingenious" by The New York Times is quite a thrill.

I have been bombarded with questions everywhere I go—so here are some answers to a few of those most frequently asked…

How were the people getting a Big Give chosen for Episode 1?
UCLA medical student Eric Jackson was nominated by a reverend at the First A.M.E. Church in Los Angeles. A neighbor and close friend of AJ Egan's brought her story to our attention, plus we saw her story on the news. Karen Newman wrote in about her High Hopes program, and we thought, "What a wonderful program." Shante McVey was recommended by the well-known and respected Los Angeles organization called A Place Called Home. A Place called Home is a safe haven for youth in South Central Los Angeles. Their doors have been open for 15 years. The people in charge there said they had the perfect candidate for a Big Give. Karl Newman came to us through Wounded Warriors, a nonprofit that supports the families of those who have been injured, wounded or killed during combat operations. With so many women and men coming home from serving our country and having to face a new life, this hero's story is all too familiar.

Each of their stories moved all of us on the team for different reasons. It's eye-opening when you really look at how many people, probably some right in your neighborhood, are in need of a Big Give.

And for those of you who don't agree with the people who received a Big Give on the premiere, I say emphatically: That's missing the point! The idea is not to judge who needs what, but to be inspired to get up and do something for someone!

Were contestants able to use Oprah's name to get people to give big?
Well, wouldn't that be easy? But when you do a show like this, all kinds of legal types and broadcast standards and practice experts spend weeks writing up rules of the competition. Just so you know, here's a look inside the Big Give rulebook:
"Interaction With Third Parties: Participants are prohibited from invoking the name of Oprah Winfrey to obtain assistance in completion of their Challenges. Participants are permitted to reference the name 'Harpo' and 'Harpo Productions.' Participants are expressly prohibited from making any promise to any third party on behalf of Harpo, Profiles or ABC (or any related entities or individuals associated with those companies)." In other words, they could never say Oprah's name, but they could say "Harpo." When asked by a third party if they meant Oprah, contestants were instructed to respond, "It's Harpo or ABC."

If you had cameras there already, why did the 10 contestants act so shocked when Oprah called to say they were chosen to be on Oprah's Big Give?
Spending my life as a TV producer, I can tell you this: We know how to capture a surprise. Here's how we did it: Contestants were told we were doing more extensive on-camera research and background stories as the casting was narrowed down. This is something that is frequently done when pulling off a surprise. I can't tell you how many times we've told someone that a delivery was coming and to make sure to be home when I worked on The Oprah Show.

Did Jamie Oliver cook for the crew?
Absolutely not! Get this—the guy flew back and forth from England each week during the filming of the show. But I will reveal this—the guy knows the best restaurants in every city.

Do I have a favorite contestant?
Absolutely, YES! And I want to hear what you think. Who are you rooting for?

Was I ever frustrated by the ideas the contestants came up with to give big?
Yes—but most of the time I was blown away and so impressed! These were real people, not celebrities. Regular folks who had to come up with their own idea with the clock ticking in an unfamiliar city. NOT EASY. Ask yourself, as I did, "What would I have done?"

Why did we choose to eliminate contestants?
Nothing inspires people more than a little good ol' competition. And remember—the key point—they absolutely did not know there was a prize. Yes, I know some of you say, "Hey, it's Oprah, like she would not give anything." I guarantee you—because I was there every step of the way—it was never mentioned, never brought up, and I believe the contestants weren't motivated by the hope they would get a prize.

Everyone who was on the show knew the deal and was excited by the challenge of being the Biggest Giver. I look at it like this, if I was in need of help, who would I want to be my giver? Plus, we've already had thousands of people who want to audition if we do it again.

Any scoop on what's next?
In episode 2, our nine contestants are dropped in the middle of a major U.S. city, where they don't know anyone! Oprah gives them only 48 hours to give big, and they are on their own. Watch as they scramble to give away bundles of cash in the most creative and dramatic ways. Who will get the money? Who will they find to help? Here's an inside scoop—in the middle of the show, Oprah delivers a surprise twist that dials up the pressure even more! I was so anxious to see what the contestants would do. You either give big or go home. Who leaves this week? It's an emotional elimination…and tears start flowing. Don't miss a moment of Oprah's Big Give. Tune in Sunday nights at 9/8c on ABC.