FED:Countdown on for Oprah's Opera House show

AAP General News (Australia)
12-14-2010
FED:Countdown on for Oprah's Opera House show

SYDNEY, Dec 14 AAP - US talk show host Oprah Winfrey and her disciples are poised to
descend on the Sydney Opera House for the hugely anticipated filming of her Australian
shows.

The event is the culmination of Oprah's trip Down Under which began when she touched
down in Sydney last week and will wrap up the 25th and final season of her program.

Two episodes of the Oprah Winfrey Show will be taped on the forecourt of the Opera
House on Tuesday - one each in the morning and afternoon - in front of 6000 fans.

Among them will be 300-odd guests Oprah brought with her from the US, and the remainder
mostly Aussie followers who won tickets through an online ballot system which received
more than 350,000 requests.

Guests have been advised on Oprah's website to "come prepared for the day's weather.

We will tape the show rain or shine."

The Sydney Opera House has warned sightseers against turning up for the tapings.

"There will be no public access to the site for non-ticket holders," its website said.

"It will not be possible to see or access The Oprah Winfrey Show taping from the Royal
Botanic Gardens."

It was confirmed on Monday that actor Russell Crowe, Bindi Irwin, Hugh Jackman, Nicole
Kidman, singer Keith Urban and Olivia Newton-John will all appear on Tuesday's shows.

Rock legends Bon Jovi and rapper Jay-Z are slated to perform and Aussie musician John
Foreman will feature in a finale.

An additional show will feature the excursions Oprah and her US guests have taken since
arriving in Australia.

The episodes are scheduled to air in the US and Australia in January.

AAP bzs/jfm

KEYWORD: OPRAH (REISSUES)

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