25 Oprah Show Episodes We'll Never Forget
"Remember the one where...?" A look back at The Oprah Show's iconic moments.
![1986: The show debuts 1986: The show debuts](/g/image-resizer?width=670&link=https://static.oprah.com/images/201106/omag/201106-omag-remember-1-284x426.jpg)
Photo: Courtesy of Harpo
1986
The show debuts with "How to Marry the Man/Woman of Your Choice," September 8.
![Oprah talks to West Virginia resident Mike Sisco Oprah talks to West Virginia resident Mike Sisco](/g/image-resizer?width=670&link=https://static.oprah.com/images/201106/omag/201106-omag-remember-2-284x426.jpg)
Photo: Courtesy of Harpo
1987
Oprah talks to West Virginia resident Mike Sisco, a gay man with AIDS who set off a firestorm of fear and rage by swimming in a public pool.
![Oprah with a wagon loaded with 67 pounds of fat Oprah with a wagon loaded with 67 pounds of fat](/g/image-resizer?width=670&link=https://static.oprah.com/images/201106/omag/201106-omag-remember-3-284x426.jpg)
Photo: Courtesy of Harpo
1988
After losing 67 pounds, Oprah wheels out a wagon loaded with exactly that much fat.
![Oprah with Mary Duncan, her fourth-grade teacher Oprah with Mary Duncan, her fourth-grade teacher](/g/image-resizer?width=670&link=https://static.oprah.com/images/201106/omag/201106-omag-remember-4-284x426.jpg)
Photo: Courtesy of Harpo
1989
A surprise visit by Mary Duncan, Oprah's beloved fourth-grade teacher.
![Oprah with Truddi Chase Oprah with Truddi Chase](/g/image-resizer?width=670&link=https://static.oprah.com/images/201106/omag/201106-omag-remember-5-284x426.jpg)
Photo: Courtesy of Harpo
1990
Oprah is moved to tears by Truddi Chase, a woman with 92 distinct personalities.
![Susan Lucci with one of her TV husbands Susan Lucci with one of her TV husbands](/g/image-resizer?width=670&link=https://static.oprah.com/images/201106/omag/201106-omag-remember-6-284x426.jpg)
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1991
Susan Lucci, a.k.a. All My Children's Erica Kane, appears with her eight TV husbands.
![audience members wearing fabric collars audience members wearing fabric collars](/g/image-resizer?width=670&link=https://static.oprah.com/images/201106/omag/201106-omag-remember-7-284x426.jpg)
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1992
The show segregates the audience by eye color—with blue-eyed members given fabric collars and treated poorly—to illustrate the nature of racism.
![superfan Gladys Finley arriving by helicopter superfan Gladys Finley arriving by helicopter](/g/image-resizer?width=670&link=https://static.oprah.com/images/201106/omag/201106-omag-remember-8-284x426.jpg)
Photo: Courtesy of Harpo
1993
After years of requesting tickets, superfan Gladys Finley gets a special ride to a taping.
![Oprah with her studio audience in Philadelphia Oprah with her studio audience in Philadelphia](/g/image-resizer?width=670&link=https://static.oprah.com/images/201106/omag/201106-omag-remember-9-284x426.jpg)
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1994
Oprah takes her studio audience on a spontaneous trip to Philadelphia.
![audience members react to the O.J. Simpson trial audience members react to the O.J. Simpson trial](/g/image-resizer?width=670&link=https://static.oprah.com/images/201106/omag/201106-omag-remember-10-284x426.jpg)
Photo: Courtesy of Harpo
1995
After the O.J. Simpson trial, the show airs a four-part series on the verdict and the case.
![Oprah announces the first Oprah's Book Club selection Oprah announces the first Oprah's Book Club selection](/g/image-resizer?width=670&link=https://static.oprah.com/images/201106/omag/201106-omag-remember-11-284x426.jpg)
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1996
The first Oprah's Book Club selection: Jacquelyn Mitchard's The Deep End of the Ocean.
![Oprah dancing with Tina Turner Oprah dancing with Tina Turner](/g/image-resizer?width=670&link=https://static.oprah.com/images/201106/omag/201106-omag-remember-12-284x426.jpg)
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1997
During the Wildest Dreams tour, Oprah fulfills her own by dancing onstage with Tina Turner.
![Oprah and Dr. Phil McGraw Oprah and Dr. Phil McGraw](/g/image-resizer?width=670&link=https://static.oprah.com/images/201106/omag/201106-omag-remember-13-284x426.jpg)
Photo: Courtesy of Harpo
1998
Welcome, Dr. Phil!
![Oprah and Celine Dion Oprah and Celine Dion](/g/image-resizer?width=670&link=https://static.oprah.com/images/201106/omag/201106-omag-remember-14-284x426.jpg)
Photo: Courtesy of Harpo
1999
Celine Dion announces her "indefinite exit" from show business.
![Oprah and Nelson Mandela Oprah and Nelson Mandela](/g/image-resizer?width=670&link=https://static.oprah.com/images/201106/omag/201106-omag-remember-15-284x426.jpg)
Photo: Courtesy of Harpo
2000
![Oprah and guest during the "Islam 101" episode Oprah and guest during the "Islam 101" episode](/g/image-resizer?width=670&link=https://static.oprah.com/images/201106/omag/201106-omag-remember-16-284x426.jpg)
Photo: Courtesy of Harpo
2001
After 9/11, the "Islam 101" episode strikes a chord with viewers...
![During an episode titled "Is War the Only Answer?" During an episode titled "Is War the Only Answer?"](/g/image-resizer?width=670&link=https://static.oprah.com/images/201106/omag/201106-omag-remember-17-284x426.jpg)
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2002
...but an episode titled "Is War the Only Answer?" inspires an outpouring of anger.
![David Caruso in his new Porsche, a gift from Oprah David Caruso in his new Porsche, a gift from Oprah](/g/image-resizer?width=670&link=https://static.oprah.com/images/201106/omag/201106-omag-remember-18-284x426.jpg)
Photo: Courtesy of Harpo
2003
After David Caruso loses over 300 pounds, Oprah gives him a Porsche—the car he'd always wanted to fit into.
![Oprah with audience members who received brand-new Pontiac G6s Oprah with audience members who received brand-new Pontiac G6s](/g/image-resizer?width=670&link=https://static.oprah.com/images/201106/omag/201106-omag-remember-19-284x426.jpg)
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2004
All 276 audience members are given brand-new Pontiac G6s.
![Oprah during an episode on bra fitting Oprah during an episode on bra fitting](/g/image-resizer?width=670&link=https://static.oprah.com/images/201106/omag/201106-omag-remember-20-284x426.jpg)
Photo: Courtesy of Harpo
2005
![Oprah and Gayle during their cross-country road trip Oprah and Gayle during their cross-country road trip](/g/image-resizer?width=670&link=https://static.oprah.com/images/201106/omag/201106-omag-remember-21-284x426.jpg)
Courtesy of Harpo
2006
Over five episodes, Oprah and Gayle drive cross-country.
Related: Gayle King interviews Oprah about the end of her show
![Oprah and David Letterman Oprah and David Letterman](/g/image-resizer?width=670&link=https://static.oprah.com/images/201106/omag/201106-omag-remember-22-284x426.jpg)
Photo: Courtesy of Harpo
2007
David Letterman's six-year campaign to be on the show pays off.
![Oprah with Monica Jorge Oprah with Monica Jorge](/g/image-resizer?width=670&link=https://static.oprah.com/images/201106/omag/201106-omag-remember-23-284x426.jpg)
Photo: Courtesy of Harpo
2008
Monica Jorge, a mother who lost her limbs to a flesh-eating disease, tells her story.
![Audience members dancing to the Black Eyed Peas Audience members dancing to the Black Eyed Peas](/g/image-resizer?width=670&link=https://static.oprah.com/images/201106/omag/201106-omag-remember-24-284x426.jpg)
Courtesy of Harpo
2009
The season kickoff features a flash mob of 21,000 dancing to the Black Eyed Peas.
![Oprah during her final "Favorite Things" show Oprah during her final "Favorite Things" show](/g/image-resizer?width=670&link=https://static.oprah.com/images/201106/omag/201106-omag-remember-25-284x426.jpg)
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2010
In Oprah's final "Favorite Things" show—a two-part extravaganza—the audience receives gifts ranging from a Josh Groban CD to a 2012 VW Beetle.
What do you think was the most unforgettable episode of The Oprah Winfrey Show? Tell us in the comments!
Next: Oprah's Style: 25 Years of Fashion Hits & Misses
From the June 2011 issue of O, The Oprah Magazine