The Susie Show?

By Scott Smith in Arts & Entertainment on Sep 28, 2006 8:00PM

Yesterday Oprah Winfrey spoke at a Women's Business Development Center luncheon at Navy Pier and the most interesting tidbit she divulged was that, early in her career, a news director suggested she change her name to … Susie.

That's right. Susie Winfrey.

However we might feel about her, we're glad that she's named Oprah. Because the name Susie just brings to mind that episode of "Seinfeld" where Elaine's officemate mistakenly calls her Susie. And of course "Susie" eventually gets shortened to "Suze." And nobody named Suze is going to get people to read an Elie Wiesel novel.

Speaking of Oprah, by this point, we’re pretty sure everyone is familiar with the Oprah For President “controversy." Seems the Big O is a bit chagrined that her lawyers went after Patrick Crowe for daring to suggest she might make a good President. We can only hope that this ridiculousness has been finally laid to rest. Do we really want a Chief Executive who’s this clueless about pumping gas? Oops. Too late.

Of course Oprah had been in the news earlier this week because of the launch of her new XM satellite radio channel. Oprah & Friends Radio will broadcast 24 hours a day and feature cronies like Gayle King, Bob Greene and Maya Angelou. Now if only XM could bring together Oprah and Bob Dylan, who's already got a radio show, we think they'd really have something worth listening to.

Thanks, Rob!