Oprah for president

"George: Why do I get pesto? Why do I think I'll like it? I keep trying to like it, like I have to like it.
Jerry: Who said you have to like it?
George: Everybody likes pesto. You walk into a restaurant, that's all you hear - pesto, pesto, pesto.
Jerry: I don't like pesto.
George: Where was pesto 10 years ago?...

...Jerry: He's from a.. Yakima, right?
Elaine: Seattle.
Jerry: Everybody's moving to Seattle.
George: It's the pesto of cities."

Jim and I are currently involved in an on-going debate. At the core of it is the question: Seinfeld v. Friends.

I argue that Friends, because it's slapstick humor, will always be funny. For generations to come, those that enjoy that type of comedy will enjoy it. Seinfeld, however, is situational humor, and is becoming more and more dated.

For example, in the Bubble Boy episode of Seinfeld, what makes it so funny is that Jerry and George don't have cell phones, so they lose each other when traveling to the boy's house. It's this whole dysfunctional road trip, all because they can't get in contact with one another. Today, it's much more common that people don't have landlines. Everyone has a cell phone. In a few generations, they won't even know what a home phone is. The show won't be relevant.

Jim argues that this is not the case. He thinks that although they're both dated (look at the clothes!), they're both funny enough that they'll be watched regardless.

As Oprah begins the end of her career, I can't help but wonder if she'll also become irrelevant. Will we still care about the same issues in 20 years? Will we still want to buy certain products because they're her favorites?

With followers like Robyn Okrant, it seems like Oprah will remain relevant for years to come.

Okrant has spent the last year "Living Oprah". Oprah told viewers to do a vegan cleanse, so she did it. Oprah suggested every woman own animal-print flats, so she invested. Oprah told her to jump, she asked how high...

So who knows? In 15 years, we may still be loving Queen Oprah. Or, there may even be people who have never even heard of her book club.

...Psh. Yeah right.