If there’s one good thing to come out of this whole late night television war between Jay Leno and Conan O’Brien, it’s that because of it, Oxford resident Jean Popa finally got to meet Oprah Winfrey last week.
‘I’ve been trying to get on the show for like 10-15 years and I finally got on,? said Popa, who teaches preschool at Lakeville Elementary. ‘I still can’t believe it. I can check it off my bucket list.?
Following the Jan. 28 airing of Winfrey’s pre-taped interview with Leno, Popa was among the audience members who were invited to take part in a discussion about the late night controversy that was shown at www.oprah.com.
‘I ended up in the front row with a microphone on,? she said. ‘She asked me some questions and I answered. It was fabulous.?
Popa’s journey to the front row of ‘The Oprah Winfrey Show? began Jan. 22 when she e-mailed her opinion of the Leno/O’Brien mess to the show’s website.
Two days later, she received a telephone call asking her to submit a photo of herself. The next day, the phone rang again and this time she was asked if she could be in Chicago on Thursday to be part of the audience.
‘I was like three feet away from her,? Popa said. ‘I couldn’t believe how good she looked, and how nice and down to earth she is.?
In terms of the late night debate, Popa is firmly entrenched in Leno’s camp.
‘There were so many people for Conan O’Brien and I was for Jay. They all thought Jay Leno pushed Conan out, but I didn’t feel he did,? she explained. ‘It wasn’t his fault. They (NBC) asked him to come back . . . Conan’s ratings had dropped 49 percent.?
‘I think Jay Leno’s going to be an icon like Johnny Carson. If they wanted him back, he should be back and let him do 30 years,? Popa continued. ‘Conan O’Brien should just keep his mouth shut and move on.?
As a souvenir of her experience, Popa purchased an Oprah sweatshirt, which she proudly wore to school Monday.
‘She’s actually a wonderful, wonderful woman.?