How do you kick off the final season of an epic show? By unveiling plans for an epic adventure, featuring:
- 8 days in Australia,
- 302 "ultimate viewers,"
- 198 harried Harpo staffers,
- 249 Sydney schoolboys,
- 43 camera crews,
- 30 sailboats,
- 6,000 Aussie audience members,
- 3 helicopters,
- 2 international rock stars, and
- 1 unexpectedly frisky koala.
Next: View photos from the trip, starting with the big reveal
The Big Reveal
"Oprah believes it's always better to share things. So for the season premiere, we filled the audience with 'ultimate viewers,' who had written to us with beautiful personal stories about their connection to the show. Seeing their reaction when we told them they were going with Oprah Winfrey to Australia—well, let's just say it really was amazing." —Jill Van Lokeren, senior supervising producer
G'day, Mate!
"I flew with Oprah from Chicago to Connecticut for an interview; then to D.C., where she was being honored at the Kennedy Center; then to her house in Maui for a night; then to Australia. We touched down on Hamilton Island, on the Great Barrier Reef. Seeing it from the air, I knew our long trip would be worth it." —Libby Moore, Oprah's chief of staff
Shrimps on the Barbie
"We had the great Australian chef
Curtis Stone prepare a barbecue on a pristine white stretch of beach for the whole group. Oprah made a spectacular rock-star entrance via helicopter. When they saw her chopper coming through the clouds, the viewers were crying and laughing at the same time. I was watching it all from another helicopter, with Gayle, who was squeezing my hand for dear life."
—Jill Van Lokeren
In the Mood for Love
"Before we went to Australia, I told Oprah,
'I want to see a koala.' We met Elvis and Phoebe on our first day Down Under. Of course, I was so caught up in their cuteness and cuddliness that I didn't realize how sharp their claws are—they really dig into your shoulders! And when Elvis tried to have his way with Phoebe right in front of the cameras, it was totally unexpected by everyone. She clearly was not interested, but he was oblivious."
—Gayle King
A Moving Display
"The Aussies lit up a huge
O on the Sydney Harbor Bridge every night we were in town—this picture doesn't do it justice. We had a party at an outdoor venue on the water, and Oprah told all the viewers they were each here in Australia for a reason. It was like a mini
Live Your Best Life seminar. She had an amazing connection to this group. Then we went out to the boardwalk and watched the most spectacular fireworks I've ever seen."
—Libby Moore
Warm Welcome
"There was an outpouring of emotion from the people of Australia. They lined the streets just to get a glimpse of Oprah. She kept saying, 'All these people are here for me?' They loved her—and she loved them right back." —Libby Moore
Feeling the Heat
"Right before Oprah arrived, we added a last-minute stop to her itinerary:
Uluru, a rock in the middle of the desert that is Australia's spiritual heart. Paul Simon had told her she had to go. When we went to scout it out, though, it was 120 degrees, we were dive-bombed by flies, and we started freaking out about the lack of air-conditioning and the lizards. But Oprah ended up having a wonderful time. Her heart was wide open to the experience."
—Amy Coleman, supervising producer
Sails Conference
"Oprah went sailing with Russell Crowe, and 29 other boats in the harbor all raised their sails at the same time; the sails read OPRAH: THE FAREWELL SEASON. It was a complete surprise, and one of her favorite moments on the trip. I'd been exhausted that morning, so I skipped it—and she actually reprimanded me later on! She said, 'You should never miss an opportunity like that!'" —Libby Moore
Rocking Out
"U2 happened to be in Australia at the same time we were, and seeing the band live was definitely on Oprah's bucket list. She went backstage with Bono before the show, and he gave her a guitar. Later he also threw her a private party at the hotel. I remember thinking, 'It's 2 A.M., I'm in Australia, Oprah's over there talking to Bono and the Edge—life is good.'" —Andrea Wishom, senior supervising producer
Close-Up
"I took this picture at Icebergs on Bondi Beach, where Oprah, Gayle, Oprah's stylist JoJo, and I had lunch. There was no one outside when we arrived, but by the time we finished, thousands of people had lined the streets. A helicopter with a zoom lens was even hovering above! Luckily, the Australian media were polite, unlike the paparazzi in L.A." —Libby Moore
Crisis Averted
"When Hugh Jackman crashed into a light above the stage while making his big entrance to the Opera House on a zip line, we were crying and flipping out in the control room. I mean, I'm a mom—I see blood and assume the worst. But when I rushed backstage, he was fine; he just had a scratch under his eye. And he apologized for going so fast. I can't imagine anyone handling that situation more graciously." —Andrea Wishom
Dream Come True
"Polly Dunning, a teacher at a school for disadvantaged boys, had written us a heartfelt letter saying
Jay-Z was a role model for her students. As luck would have it, he was in Australia opening for U2, so we asked him to surprise her kids. They erupted in joy when he walked into the school courtyard, and Polly had one of the best reactions I've ever seen in my 16 years working on the show."
—Tara Montgomery, supervising producer
Waiting Game
"Oprah climbed the
Sydney Harbor Bridge with her 302 American viewers so a helicopter could take a sweeping photo for television. Except the helicopter nearly ran out of gas trying to get the perfect shot—meaning everyone had to wait for a half hour while it went and refueled. It was one of those moments where you have a choice: Either you're annoyed or you embrace it. It took Oprah a minute, but she chose the latter. That's something I'll never forget."
—Jill Van Lokeren
A Day in the Life
"Over the years, on trips with Oprah, I've taken snapshots of moments in my work life. That's my BlackBerry, my glasses, a layout of the Sydney Opera House stage, Australian currency, a U2 ticket. The pace of this trip was insane, but what I'll remember is the spirit of the people. That's what made it extraordinary."
—Libby Moore
The 25 most unforgettable Oprah Show moments
From the June 2011 issue of
O, The Oprah Magazine.
