Advertisement

Oprah Winfrey ‘bummed’ her Edmonton hotel doesn’t have OWN

All eyes were on Oprah Winfrey last week as she grilled Lance Armstrong about his doping scandal -- but was the former Queen of Daytime TV able to tune in herself?

"Hotel doesn't carry OWN. Called ahead they said they did. #bummed" Winfrey tweeted about her Canadian hotel on Sunday.

The 58-year-old iconic TV talk show host and life coach is embarking upon a cross-Canada tour of her Lifeclass series, and her first stop is is Edmonton, Alta. Winfrey then sets off for Calgary and Vancouver on Tuesday and Thursday to share her "aha" moments with fans."

"It is surreal. I imagine I will run through all the emotions from laughing to crying," Edmonton ticket-holder Allison Hopkins told Metro.

See also: Oprah's family feud

Winfrey is coming off of a groundbreaking week for OWN that saw 3.2 million viewers tune in for her exclusive interview with Lance Armstrong, in which he answered questions about his disastrous doping scandal. During the two-part interview last week, the former seven-time Tour de France-winner and former Livestrong chairman admitted to using performance-enhancing drugs for most of his career.

In Part One of the interview, Winfrey got Armstrong to admit to using EPO, blood transfusions, testosterone and cortisone while competing in professional cycling. Afterwards, they discussed the doping culture in professional cycling and Armstrong's accused leadership in perpetuating that culture. The second half of the interview centred around his personal loss after he was found out, including the reaction from his family, the implication for his cancer awareness foundation Livestrong, and the loss of his endorsement deals.

"It was win at all costs. When I was diagnosed [with cancer] I would do anything to survive. I took that attitude -- win at all costs -- to cycling. That's bad," Armstrong said at one point during the interview.

See also: Celebs react to Lance Armstrong interview

Oprah may have considered it "the most important interview of her television career," but media critics are split as to whether she was the right person to take Armstrong to task. Some say that Armstrong's choice to appear on Winfrey's show cements her lifelong status as a TV icon that appeals to viewers from all walks of life, while others say she let Armstrong leave some questions unanswered. As the lucky interviewer to get the Armstrong scoop, Winfrey was watched almost as closely as the disgraced cyclist and philanthropist himself.

Let's hope that Canadian CBC host George Stroumboulopoulos steps up his game when interviewing the famous TV host during her Canadian Lifeclass tour. And based on Winfrey's discovery at her Edmonton hotel, it's clear she's learned to triple-check the TV network offerings at her future travel destinations!