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Last week, A-list stars and fans alike descended upon Chicago to wish talk show and media icon Oprah Winfrey farewell during the taping of her final episodes of the Oprah Winfrey Show before going off the air for good. In addition to stars ranging from Madonna and Beyoncé to Halle Berry and Tom Cruise, tens of thousands of spectators, including BlackEnterprise.com’s own Karen Taylor Bass, took to the United Center to witness the end of an era. After taping her final show, which airs Wednesday May 25, Winfrey will continue building her media empire with cable TV’s OWN network and its roster of programming.
After 25 years on the air, the question remains: Who could possibly take the baton being passed by the $2.7 billion-dollar mogul and work toward becoming the new queen (or king) of media? Many have mentioned white media personalities, including Katie Couric, Anderson Cooper, and Ellen Degeneres. But, BlackEnterprise.com came up with five African American candidates who could be worthy heirs to Oprah’s throne or just savvy enough to build successful media empires of their own.Â
WENDY WILLIAMS
Unapologetic, bold and honest, Williams first made her mark on radio, attracting 12 million listeners in more than 10 markets to tune in to The Wendy Williams Experience for its celebrity gossip and social commentary. Now, the self-professed “Queen of All Media†and Radio Hall of Famer has expanded her multi-million-dollar brand into two New York Times bestsellers and Debmar-Mercury’s top-rated daytime talk show, The Wendy Williams Show. Initially launched as a six-week limited trial run, the show was renewed for its third season this year due to high ratings among women ages 18-34. After increasing her brand exposure as a contestant on Dancing with the Stars, Williams also hosts GSN’s Love Triangle, which premiered this past April. Wendy clearly has a following and her best friend personality makes her a charming distraction for those going through Oprah withdrawal.
TYRA BANKS
Supermodel-turned-entrepreneur Banks has built a
more than $90 million multi-media brand–from having a successful five seasons of Emmy award-winning The Tyra Banks Show; to executive producing the CW/UPN network’s America’s Next Top Model (in its 16th season); to co-producing ABC’s True Beauty; and several other projects under the umbrella of her Bankable Productions company. She recently upgraded her Web presence, adding to her brand with typeF.com, a fashion and beauty platform that offers interactive applications, content and advice from industry experts. More recently, Banks enrolled in Harvard Business School, taking an executive education course geared toward entrepreneurs–a definite boss move that will help propel her into the ranks of successful media maven.
TAVIS SMILEY
The talk show host, author, and activist’s resume boasts a range of media highlights, including host of BET’s top-rated Tonight with Tavis Smiley; host of NPR’s The Tavis Smiley Show, where he interviewed President Barack Obama, among other notable figures; and commentator on radio’s top-syndicated Tom Joyner Morning Show. Today, Smiley continues building his brand as host of a PBS late-night show that bears his name,
and with his company Smiley Radio Properties, which recently teamed up with Public Radio International in a deal for weekly broadcast of Smiley and West, his radio program with Princeton professor, Cornell West.
MO’NIQUE
Veteran comedienne. Top-rated host. Academy and Golden Globe award-winning actress. Mo’Nique has star power in her favor, giving her the potential to continue climbing up the television and entertainment ranks. After starring in multi-seasons of UPN’s The Parkers, host of Showtime at the Apollo, and appearances on Russell Simmons’ Def Comedy Jam, Mo’Nique has continued her ascent as host and executive producer of Mo’Nique’s F.A.T. Chance, a beauty pageant for plus-sized women, and host of VH1’s successful reality TV franchise, Flavor of Love Girls: Charm School. In 2009, she became the first African American woman with her own late-night talk show, The Mo’Nique Show, created along with her husband, Sidney Hicks, via their production company, Hicks Media. The show had more than 1.5 million viewers watching its October 2009 premiere alone, and continues in its second successful season.
CATHY HUGHES
Hughes is a media powerhouse, having taken her company, Radio One Inc., co-founded with her then-husband, Dewey Hughes, in 1979, and building a multi-million-dollar media empire. The company owns 53 radio stations in 16 urban markets and Reach Media, Inc., (think radio’s uber-successful Tom Joyner Morning Show). Radio One went public in 1999, making it one of the few Black-owned companies listed on the NASDAQ. Keeping the success rolling, in 2004, the company launched TV One, creating the nation’s largest Black-owned cable TV network, with a roster that includes the top-rated Lisa Raye: The Real McCoy and Hughes’ own show, TV One-on-One, where guests have included President Barack Obama, Queen Latifah, and Aretha Franklin.