FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 21, 2011
OWN: OPRAH WINFREY NETWORK ADDS NEW ORIGINAL PRIMETIME SPECIALS TO ITS JANUARY LINEUP
“Oprah’s Master Class” Returns as a Series of Specials Beginning Sunday, January 8 and the Special Event “Oprah and the Legendary Cast of ‘Roots’ 35 Years Later” will Air on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Monday, January 16
Jane Fonda from “Oprah’s Master Class” Photo Credit: OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network
Los Angeles, CA – OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network announced today two new additions to its January primetime programming lineup: “Oprah’s Master Class” returns as a series of specials beginning Sunday, January 8 (10-11 p.m. ET/PT) and an OWN special event, “Oprah and the Legendary Cast of ‘Roots’ 35 Years Later,” will air on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Monday, January 16 (8-9 p.m. ET/PT).
"Oprah's Master Class" will debut with Academy Award-winning actress Jane Fonda (January 8). Other masters profiled this season will include three additional award- winning actors Goldie Hawn, Sidney Poitier and Morgan Freeman; media mogul philanthropist Ted Turner; acclaimed musicians Reba McEntire and Jon Bon Jovi; and professional athletes Laird Hamilton and Grant Hill.
Celebrating the anniversary of the groundbreaking television series “Roots,” the primetime special event “Oprah and the Legendary Cast of ‘Roots’ 35 Years Later” offers an intimate reflection on the historic television miniseries based on Alex Haley’s novel which debuted in 1977 to record-breaking ratings. Hosted by Oprah Winfrey at her home in Montecito, California, the television event brings together many of the legendary cast members from the series, including Cicely Tyson and LeVar Burton, as well as Leslie Uggams, John Amos, Louis Gossett, Jr. and Ben Vereen. With original clips from “Roots” serving as their backdrop, the cast shares with Oprah their personal accounts of working on the extraordinary series, as well as taking part in television history. “Roots” forever changed television. For the first time, TV viewers white and black experienced a part of American history through the eyes of slaves. For many it marked an awakening…and for the participating actors and actresses, it was nothing short of a spiritual experience. “Oprah and the Legendary Cast of ‘Roots’ 35 Years Later” is produced by Harpo Studios.
“Oprah’s Master Class” tells the stories you’ve never heard from the people you thought you knew best. Hand-picked by Oprah Winfrey for their unique impact on the world, nine true modern masters from Academy Award-winning actors, to Grammy-winning musicians, to ground-breaking athletes, share the greatest lessons they’ve learned along the way. In an intimate setting, they share their successes, their failures, their triumphs, disappointments and heartbreaks. “Oprah’s Master Class” offers an unprecedented first-person insight into the brilliant minds of the famous people we love, respect and admire. “Oprah’s Master Class” is co-produced by Harpo Studios and @radical.media.
For a preview of “Oprah’s Master Class” (with embed code), click here: http://www.oprah.com/own-master-class/Sneak-Peek-Season-2-of-Oprahs-Master- Class
About OWN: OPRAH WINFREY NETWORK A joint venture between Harpo, Inc. and Discovery Communications, OWN: OPRAH WINFREY NETWORK is a multi-platform media company designed to entertain, inform and inspire people to live their best lives. OWN debuted on January 1, 2011, in approximately 77 million homes on what was the Discovery Health Channel. The venture also includes the award-winning digital platform, Oprah.com. For more information, please visit www.oprah.com/own and www.press.discovery.com/us/own.
### Media Contacts: OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network Wendy Luckenbill, Vice President, Communications [email protected] (323) 602-5566
Domenic Morea, Director, Communications [email protected] (323) 602-5516 “Oprah and the Legendary Cast of ‘Roots’ 35 Years Later”
Jessica Boyer, Manager, Communications [email protected] (323) 602-5624 “Oprah’s Master Class”