Oprah in touch?

I had to DVR Oprah today because Beyonce was going to have a big announcement. It's not that I can't pass up anything Beyonce, but I like her music and I was intrigued by the commercial teaser. It turned out that Beyonce and her momma, Tina Knowles, are coming out with a clothing line. The premise is to offer affordable designer clothes to the general public. Some of it was cute. Slutty. Whatever. The point is that when Oprah asked them what the cost is, they said that jeans start at $118 and blouses at $100!!!!

Now, I've watched Oprah on and off since I was a kid, mostly on. My mom and I used to watch her when I'd get home from school when I was in junior high. And even with my mom's limited English at the time, we could bond over Oprah. We'd cry over the inspirational stories of people overcoming great odds, reunions of students with their favorite teachers, heroes being rewarded, etc. But in the last 7-8 years or so, Oprah has seemed a little more removed from the general public for me. There were the seasons where she sang the theme song herself -- you're talented, Op, but there are some things you should just let be; the too NewAgey for me Remembering Your Spirit sessions at the end of the show; calling $500 handbags "reasonable", etc. Even today, she chuckled about how much money she was making in 1984 - $24,000. Hey, I know plenty of people who make it on 24 Gs per year - combined!!! That's right...in 2006!!

So I was pleasantly surprised to hear Oprah question the price tag on this new clothing line by saying, "So you have to work to buy these." (Not that I think people shouldn't work to buy their clothing...but, really, me & $118 at Ross or Marshall's can fill up a Hefty bag {I once bought an entire business outfit, including shoes, for $50} [oh, and it takes quite a bit of time for most of us to earn $118, anyways]) And Momma Knowles says, "That's affordable, Oprah."

What? I don't think I can even go on. How out of touch can you get?