16 Outstanding Oprah Show Openers

Season 19: "Season Premiere: Wildest Dreams with Oprah"

Of her first 19 season openers, Oprah says her "Wildest Dreams" season premiere—which aired on September 13, 2004—was the most fun she'd ever had. In this infamous episode, 276 audience members each got a free Pontiac® G6™.

"The audience had been secretly hand-picked by my staff, in part because each one needed a car. The crowd went berserk. Just for the occasion, we brought in EMTs who were standing by in case someone's heart started palpitating a little bit too quickly," Oprah said. "Even now when I think of the shrills of pure joy I heard on the show that day, my own heart rate rises all over again."

Look back at this historic Oprah Show