O Magazine's Countdown to Oprah's OWN Network Launch

Entertainment Tonight, Tuesday, December 21, 2010, 9:04am (PST)

As one adventure ends, another one begins for Oprah Winfrey, as her network is just weeks away from launching.

OWN, Oprah Winfrey Network, will go live on New Years Day featuring a lineup of familiar faces. "In recent years I started to feel that, 'Gee, television has lost its mind.' You used to be able to watch shows and come away with something that brought a little piece of light into whatever you were doing," Oprah told O magazine who's celebrating the new network in their upcoming issue.

Here's a glimpse, courtesy of O magazine, of what to expect from the cable channel's lineup:

"Oprah Presents Master Class" - On January 2, the biography series will share the life stories those who have inspired Oprah. Renowned poet Maya Angelou, actor and director Sidney Poitier, former "American Idol" host Simon Cowell and "Saturday Night Live" creator Lorne Michaels are a few people to be featured on the show. Oprah told O magazine of the series, "More than any other people on the planet, Maya and Sidney are my teachers. I wanted to share the life stories of these two wise thought leaders—and many others I admire -- because I believe any life well lived can inspire our own."

"Oprah's Next Chapter" - This show will have Oprah herself doing what she does best, interviewing! However, there is a twist. The queen of talk plans to take the interviews outside the confines of a studio and out into the wild world! Oprah described the series that is set to premiere in fall 2011, saying, "I'll still do interviews, but in interesting places -- in front of the Pyramids, the Great Wall, or in a village in Kenya. I know there are lots of people who will never be able to see the world, and I'm hoping I can help them see it."

"The Rosie O'Donnell Show" -- Rosie will return to TV three years after her stint on "The View" in fall 2011. She said of her new program, "The show will be about real people and real issues. I envision it being full of love and laughter." She explained why she decided to return to TV now, telling O magazine, "There was something about getting to do it for OWN, with Oprah's sensibility, her touch, her world presence -- what she stands for and who she is—that felt like a gift.

"The Gayle King Show" -- Oprah's best friend and O magazine's Gayle King is bringing her radio talk show to TV on January 10, 2011. “I don't want people to feel on guard when they come on my show or call in. I want them to know that even if they're going through something awkward, it's a safe place to have a discussion," she said of her program.

"Your Own Show: Oprah's Search for the Next TV Star" -- Oprah is looking for the next big thing and on January 7, ET's own Nancy O'Dell is helping her do just that! In the latest issue of O, Nancy offers up some tips to being in TV, saying, "Do your homework. Some people say, 'Don't go to a party without reading the front page of USA Today.' That way you'll have things to say beyond, ‘I love your shoes!' Although sometimes that works, too."

Other shows to hit the network include "Ryan and Tatum: The O'Neals," "Finding Sarah" starring the Duchess of York Sarah Ferguson, "Our America with Lisa Ling," "Why Not?…With Shania Twain" and "Ask Oprah's All-Stars." To get a sneak peak of the new network, check out the latest issue of O magazine, on newsstands now!

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