Oprah: One Pissed Off Black Media Mogul

Nan Talese will not be a guest at Oprah's next slumber party

Well, I have to hand it to Ope. She gave it good to the Frey. Every time he tried to dodge a question or answer something cryptically or call a “lie” a manipulation, she got all stern with him and pushed. It was priceless when she got it out of him that Lily did not hang herself but slit her wrists. She looked crushed. And I still don’t believe it. Most journalists and TV people ask a question and just take an answer and move on. But Ope was having none of that.

This was amazing television. I particularly loved when the entire panel was up there and they were all talking about James in the third person. He looked like a child in family therapy at a shrink’s office.

Nan Talese cracked me up. She and Oprah are from such different worlds and Nan’s entire existence is informed by the uber high-end literary circles she has occupied for decades. And she tried to spout the kind of hooey that would go over well at a lecture of intellectuals or a cocktail party for publishing executives but Oprah just was not having it.

Oprah was mad. She was lied to and disappointed and manipulated. It was fabulous. James Frey is either going to kill himself or write a book about the entire experience. And what is with him? He sits up there with his pained expression and puppy dog eyes and a million chicks that go for his type go wet. He bugs the shit out of me.

But Oprah impressed me. And she rarely does these days. When this story first broke I figured Oprah, who values truth above all else, would be one pissed off black media mogul. But she folded. And now she’s back. Love it.