By Jawn Murray, BlackVoices.com
Oprah Winfrey giveth and she taketh away!
The talk show titan has canceled her own show, opting not to bring back her debut reality series, 'Oprah's Big Give' for a second season.
In a shocking move, Winfrey, 54, asked ABC executives not to renew her weekly primetime show about charitable giving.
"We loved that show and absolutely would have loved to bring it back," ABC entertainment president Steve McPherson said yesterday during an upfront press conference. "But it was something [Oprah] didn't want to do."
Despite winning its time slot each week on Sunday nights, critics pretty much panned the feel-good series.
On 'Big Give,' an eclectic group of 10 contestants traveled the country attempting to outdo their opponents in helping unsuspecting people tackling a diverse array of extraordinary circumstances.
Each week, the judges – Jamie Oliver ('The Naked Chef'), Tony Gonzalez (NFL Hall of Famer) and Malaak Compton-Rock (wife of Chris Rock) – sent the ineffective giver home.
The show, which was hosted by 'Oprah' regular, interior designer Nate Berkus, also featured appearances by many of Winfrey's megastar friends like Jada Pinkett-Smith, John Travolta, Natalie Cole, Donald Trump, Jennifer Aniston and best bud Gayle King.
The winner of the series was Stephen Paletta, a 43-year-old contractor from
'Oprah's Big Give' was birthed out of an episode of the 'Oprah' show, where the billionaire TV talent gave audience members $1,000 and a video camera with instructions to give away the money to someone deserving.
Guests recorded their good deeds and they aired during a follow-up show weeks later.
1. I loved this show and am happy Oprah is not bringing it back. I always thought if she did, people would try to be contestants just so they could win something. In my opinion, she is doing the right thing.
TeYoJe at 3:32PM on May 14th 2008