🎤 Oprah Winfrey vs. Ellen DeGeneres  vs.  The Best Talk Show Host on :

Okay, let's begin the debate:

**Round 1**

**Oprah:** Hello everyone! Oprah Winfrey here. Tonight we're discussing the essence of being the "best talk show host." I believe it’s about genuine connection. It’s about using your platform to empower, to uplift, and to facilitate a deep understanding of the human experience. It's about helping people tap into their potential, to live their best lives. Are we not all here to connect with each other? Let us embark on this journey together with grace and wisdom and, dare I say, maybe a few “Aha!” moments along the way.

**Ellen:** Hi Everybody, it's Ellen DeGeneres! Oprah, that's all lovely and very inspirational. But being the *best* talk show host, in my humble opinion, isn’t just about empowering or getting “Aha!” moments. Let's be real, people want to be entertained! It’s about bringing laughter and joy into their living rooms. It's about the dance moves, the games, the surprises, the pure unadulterated FUN. It’s about making people feel good. Shouldn't a good host put a smile on your face and dance right along with them?
**Round 2**

**Oprah:** Ellen, of course laughter and joy are important! But superficial fun alone isn't enough. The "best" talk show host cultivates real change. Yes, give them the laughter, give them the silliness. But weave within the tapestry of light-heartedness, opportunities for deeper understanding, introspection, and acts of kindness. True fulfillment, lasting impact... these aren't birthed from a silly dance move. Let’s use our influence to lift people not only up from their couches, but out of their circumstances as well. Isn't lasting change more important?

**Ellen:** Oprah, darling, nobody is saying we can't be deep sometimes! But, lets be honest, how many folks tune in every day for a lesson about finding enlightenment versus wanting a laugh, a quick escape from the serious burdens of life, or, say, to win something for a home improvement project! Lightness shouldn't be underestimated; pure laughter can actually alleviate stress. Isn’t that helpful? Isn’t that empowerment in its own, slightly silly way? Let's spread smiles as a path toward enlightenment, starting, of course, with the conga!
**Round 3**

**Oprah:** But Ellen, focusing primarily on laughter can feel... fleeting. Temporary. True satisfaction stems from grappling with difficult conversations, offering guidance and understanding, shining a light on social issues. Giving people resources that can actually lead them to changing lives is incredibly powerful! Do you feel it’s responsible for hosts with such reach to stay confined to strictly comedic relief? I ask because in order to create real change you must take on harder topics and it starts within our very industry and the need for serious social change.

**Ellen:** Oprah, taking on hard topics can be impactful and important; no arguments from me on that front. But comedy in and of itself IS NOT frivolous. Humour is how humans connect when confronting stressful moments. So I make light, make people comfortable, even amidst their struggle! It opens doors. When folks come, smile, maybe have a chance to win something, doesn't that ease the seriousness. But what about how we treat folks behind the scene is far more paramount! This is how people are empowered with the industry and in life and a huge conversation as of late, let's get on with changing it now, Oprah!

**Round 4**

**Oprah:** Precisely! That very culture, that commitment to kindness, especially behind the scenes – it must permeate everything. You can’t preach one thing on-air and practice something else off-air. Our values should align from our treatment of staff to the guests that grace the stage to topics discussed. The best talk show host embraces total authenticity, recognizing their actions create a chain reaction, one act impacting countless lives. But are you being your true, genuine self. Being authentic allows connection that creates healing which opens a space for social progress. Don't you think?

**Ellen:** Preach, sister! Authenticity. That resonates deep with me, of course, authenticity is where comedy often shines in its very purest form. Authenticity breeds connection! And, Oprah, yes, absolutely to leading by example. However, sometimes "keeping it real" means recognizing some folks respond more positively to lighter delivery, it disarms before the important stuff goes down. It's all connected: Humor, joy, connection and honesty! Ultimately, my way, it comes down to bringing humanity together in an accessible and welcoming way with silly games along the way. Right?!

**Round 5**

**Oprah:** But is accessibility necessarily the ultimate goal? Or is it challenging viewers to broaden their perspectives, consider new possibilities, even when that means wading through discomfort? Is entertaining to be held with greater value to challenging perspectives? That deep transformative work isn’t always easy. We should take our commitment to authentic representation and hard-hitting reporting for lasting solutions. When we only chase a pleasant exchange we become trapped, settling for good rather than demanding *better*. Should a true "Best" talk show host do otherwise?

**Ellen:** Of course the talk must be transformatrive with all of the platforms the hosts possess, BUT entertainment doesn't automatically exclude challenging perspectives, Oprah. There's subtle power in bringing diverse voices into everyday life and letting their humor resonate before we hit the "hard stuff," and it creates inclusivity for everyday people who will now relate to diverse voice and experience that they otherwise would not consider. We sneakily sneak those perspectives into people’s living rooms via relatability. Doesn’t that soften things for transformative dialogue while letting their laughter be apart of transformative solutions, right?

**Round 6**

**Oprah:** Now that's an interesting point Ellen. Integrating critical content with lighter comedic relief certainly has merit. Softening difficult moments for a better, more welcomed exchange could lead to deeper understanding and compassion. Perhaps I may have previously sold you short... but my intent has been and will continue to create lasting effects. That can include bringing voices that need to be heard for the masses or shining light onto darker sides that are swept away far too many times. With any influence and voice you can transform so many people. It's not the games that truly last at the end of the day.

**Ellen:** High-five to you Oprah, it is always a tight rope between entertainment and lasting transformative change. One of us on entertainment with laughter or the "real" you to get it across could easily create backlash in moments like those. But a light heart isn't necessarily a closed mind or just an escapism! Using humor cleverly CAN sometimes get important perspectives across much easier when everyone can find at least SOMETHING relatable with a person from another background that you may have judged, creating less barrier in between them. How can either way make more people understand and come together through us?

**Round 7**

**Oprah:** Indeed, that approach has an undeniably crucial role to play in societal progress! It isn’t about one single format but instead recognizing each has the potential to reach and influence differing audiences effectively. Your approach introduces viewers to conversations that wouldn't happen otherwise. My path ensures difficult subjects are still being heard. I do see our shared goal now more clearer and what it can bring when it collides with one another in ways! However a great person to note, must come from and give out great actions always because what you create can inspire and have some ripple affects... wouldn't you agree, my sister friend?

**Ellen:** Absolutely Oprah! If anyone here says they are better and does the other path terribly. .well... then one can make better judgement! One person alone CANNOT create the biggest transformative shift. The key here is respecting different avenues of influence! When all kinds can collide is the time you create a domino of powerful voices that reaches across society from all angles possible - especially with social media where that ripple now is at it's very grandest! One will bring them in one and another will have them understand, both is the greatest influence and best approach one can use! That ripple can change our culture.

**Round 8**

**Oprah:** So in these ways then both the ability to delve deep into crucial conversations and offer humor for welcoming diversity, it then lies less on methodology. Then wouldn’t it require absolute responsibility towards using your influential status with intention, creating opportunities for social reform and representation, no matter the comedic/transformative nature one creates? After all you always speak of what should be happening! You shouldn't stay too content or stagnant especially if the culture is demanding of your participation as people change with how we evolve or should be involved to influence their lives now to where the demands lead for people for a grand new and great opportunity to flourish?
**Ellen:** Responsibilities. I want people from so many diverse backgrounds to all come out and find some relatability no matter if that means they relate through games I conduct for laughter OR the message for acceptance you conduct that may also impact me from different perspectives that I need! You and I have both always evolved our influences and representation whether that may mean if my show creates more diversity, than yes! No standing or stagnancy will exist. So yes, one must bring intent as your life reflects the path for other people now to do more. Both comedy or transformational shows, the choice remains. No stagnancy

**Round 9**

**Oprah:** If it all goes well between the two, wouldn’t you agree that is how culture becomes elevated? To go further towards a space of understanding, action, acceptance... when influence brings intent... the most critical aspect of holding our platforms is for an obligation and dedication that promotes these fundamental values above mere popularity. How can influence with power lead so many now for even greater opportunity with one another for cultural evolvement if the responsibility lies? A great host can conduct one side of both the funny, silly things versus what they feel! Responsibility makes it not just popular, right my friend?

**Ellen:** Yes! What's important for those to feel and see how influence with responsibility can show one how not just being funny helps. Popularity can happen without intent of impact! Both intent of impact for diversity on my show makes the games not meaningless nor shallow OR an amazing speaker such as yourself Oprah creating even impact makes the most boring, uneventful episodes meaningful for many people's lives. Popularity can create opportunity sure; we get money that could go far OR being able to change one perspective. But responsibility is far more critical here.

**Round 10**

**Oprah:** I concede. In summary then, the truest measurement for determining The "Best" talk show host has more layers as much deeper in thought: Intent and creating actionable steps, genuine compassion over all the things we talk, but moreover influence of those impacts created with action to make people understand and take their best self through even if it gets bad! Those combined lead all those great impacts for not ourselves. but for making them believe, their very lives through yours will shift too; for only then does great transformation begins, now... am I wrong when saying all that now for everything in the longrun, Ellen my darling dearest bestest?
**Ellen:** NO darling bestest Oprah friend Oprah... my only response.... Now Everyone Let's Dance!!!!!!!!