14 DAY TRIAL // She's already admitted that launching OWN, her own network, was a mistake because she rushed into it when she wasn't prepared, but Oprah is yet to give up trying to save it. She's turned to her A-list friends for help, it has emerged.
Oprah is asking her A-list, Scientologist friends to agree to do reality shows to help her with the ailing ratings.
She's already approached the likes of John Travolta and wife Kelly Preston, Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes, and Will Smith, The Enquirer says in its latest print issue (story via CB).
While Oprah's reality shows are more of the documentary variety, neither of these stars is rushing to accept her offer, even if that would mean helping out a friend in a time of need, the tab claims.
“Finally realizing C-listers like Rosie O’Donnell ain’t gonna save her OWN sinking ship, Oprah Winfrey’s seen the light and… reached out for divine intervention for her gone-to-hell network from her closest A-list pals on the 'S-List' – Scientologists Tom Cruise, John Travolta, Kirstie Alley, plus super-Scientology friendly Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith,” The Enquirer writes.
“Sources say Oprah combed desperately through her heavy hitter list, and the first she called were Scientologist pals John Travolta and Tom Cruise,” the report further argues.
She pitched ideas that would not come to ruin the image they worked so hard for, but rather that would soften it, a source confirms for the same media outlet.
“Oprah pitched John on the idea of doing a reality series that would focus on him and Kelly Preston raising their new baby,” the spy explains.
“They she phoned Tom, wondered if wife Katie Holmes might be interested in doing a fashion and shopping show,” adds the source.
Even so, no one is jumping at the chance, The Enquirer notes. So far, the only answer Oprah got from all her friend was a “We'll think about it.”
In March this year, Oprah admitted defeat and fired a lot of her OWN staff after it became clear that she could never get the network off the ground with that formula, as we also reported at the time.