Episode 35: Kirstie Alley: Inside Her Big, Big Life
OK, says Oprah, she can tell that Kirstie has lost weight because she has her strut on. When you loose 20lbs you start that strut thing. Kirstie says she’s working on it. The tabloids are obsessed about her weight, so Kirstie has made it into a new series. She says that she is good at making lemonade out of lemons. She says that everyone focuses on the before and afters, and she wants to focus on the everyday, what really happens. Oprah talks of the grazing moment in front of the refridgerator. Kirstie says that everyone focuses on the befores and afters when you diet in the public eye- remember the bikini- Oh God, says Kirstie. The new reality show is what happens in between. Cameras follow her wherever she goes; never one to hide in the shadows, she’s coming our swinging with cameras of her own to film the paparazzi. Her quest to reach the size that’s right for her is the focus of Kirstie Alley’s Big Life, her new A&E reality show. Along for the ride are Lily and Drew, Kirstie’s two teenagers. Her loyal assistant Kelly and assistant in training Kyle have their work cut out for them. Add to the cast Kirstie’s own wild kingdom of 25 animals. Her handyman Tim becomes her chubby buddy, as he’s otherwise a bad influence.
Oprah asks why do a reality show when Kirstie always says that the cameras bother her? Kirstie wanted to control them- there are usually 10 paparazzi outside her house at any moment, but when they are filming there are none- so you don’t film their license plates. Oprah asks if it’s been cathartic? Kirstie says that it has been joyous, actually, she talks of the poem Invictus with the last two lines I am the master of my faith and the captain of my soul. Kirstie says that she had forgotten that she is the captain of her soul. Oprah asks how she can forget that? She’s Kirstie Alley, living in Hollywood, Nate did her kitchen… Kirstie says that it’s hard not to succumb to the pressures around you as a celebrity because it’s so open. She loves being open, but you get so vulnerable when it’s too open, its hard and you can start seeking approval. Oprah asks why is it different this time, because cameras following her around aren’t a big enough reason to loose weight. Kirstie says that she knows she can’t use the F word on Oprah, but she doesn’t give a f- (beep). You don’t, says Oprah. No, says Kirstie. Once she realised who she is- the girl with 2 beautiful children, a great career in acting, all these awards and friends and families and her health. She just thought who are all these (beeeeeep) who are trying to bring her down and make her less? They’re not going to do it again. The crowd cheer. They show footage from Kirstie’s show of a photographer taking pictures of her in her garden- and the photo landed on the front page of a tabloid a couple of weeks later. Oprah says that is not the sort of photo that you want on the front page. Kirstie says you don’t know what to do, you’re already fat then they pad you with a bush in front of your stomach. Then youll be in the grocery line the next day and people will say you’ve done well and lost weight. She says that it is cathartic, because you have to face yourself. Oprah asks if Kirstie is relieved when other celebrities are going through things to take the pressure off her? Kirstie says she is in good company. Kirstie hates the paparazzi, she says that she’s not nice to them. If she’s at a restaurant or event that’s appropriate, but when they shoot her kids, who they’ve been stalking since they were babies, it makes her mad. And they are looking for shots of her being angry and the best way to do that is to shoot photos of her kids. Oprah says she can’t imagine how it is to have cameras following you, although she is going to do it for the last year of the Oprah show, how is it? Kirstie says she thinks Oprah will like it, the first few days she hated it but she was the producer and so she couldn’t cancel. Its a hybrid between a film and a talk show. They are so everywhere that Kirstie makes an announcement over the intercom that someone needs to get out of the bathroom when she needs to go. Oprah reminds her to take the mic off.
They show footage of her being weighed and disputing the amount, she asks for the amount in British stone as it sounds like less weight- she only needs to lose 6 stone. Oprah asks her if 90 lbs of weightloss is the goal; yes. Oprah asks why a weight and not a body thats right for you. Kirstie says she took some of Oprah’s advice that she normally doesn’t take, but she doesn’t know yet where that magic point is where she will feel vibrant and alive and beautiful. Kirstie says she’s 59, she’s been fat for 5 years of her life but you’d think she’s been fat for 50 years of her life. At 140, 145, 150lbs she was good. Oprah says that working out adds bulk, Kirstie asks Oprah what the number should be. Oprah says its a feeling, not a number. Kirstie says that when she struts around for most of the day, she’s done. She’s been doing this for 7 weeks and lost 20ish pounds. It’s her decision but her muse is Mr Jamie Foxx, Kirstie likes to imagine herself with Mr Jamie Foxx- she disrobes and thinks yeah, or Jamie turn the light off. She loves Jamie Foxx, she Twitters about him, because he is so talented; brilliant actor, musician, funny… Oprah doesn’t know if Kirstie is aware of it, but Oprah and Jamie are special friends. Kirstie is not aware of that. Oprah says that he is a dear friend, and she got a Valentine from him and he sends the best presents. Kirstie says maybe when he sees this show he’ll send her a present. Oprah says for her birthday he sent this amazing, one of a kind statue of her mentor, and years ago he had an amazing portrait done of her by this great artist. Kirstie says she is so happy for Oprah. Oprah says that anybody who is going to be with Jamie needs to be able to share, as there will be other girls. Kirstie says she doesn’t envision matrrying him, but maybe being in Italy with him for three weeks. Oprah asks what she’d most like to do with him, Kirstie nodds wistfully and is silent. She says that her daughter is sitting in the front row but that her muse could be her icebreaker. Oprah says that she heard Kirstie told People magazine that she wants a bootie call from Jamie. Yes, says Kirstie along with 3 million other women. Oprah says that she and Jamie have a special relationship, but she desn’t want a booty call. A flatscreen TV slides into place on the set behing them, with Jamie Foxx live by satellite.
The crowd whoop, Kirstie turns around and screams, she covers her eyes and says oh my God. Jamie says that he will be a bootie call with Oprah’s permission. Kirstie goes to kiss him and touch the screen. Jamie says that he won’t go too wild as her kids are in the audience. He says she is all beautiful, stop worrying about what she weighs, just focus on “being you, wonderfully you”. Kirstie says that’s why she loves him. Kirstie tells him that she loves him because he is not just good looking, he’s talented, generous, thoughtful , funny… Jamie sings that he’d like to drive down her alley tonight… Oprah says that she told Kirstie that Jamie was going to come to the studio but he’s working on his album. He says that he ia making some beautiful love music, so we can all have love and make love. Kirstie says she knows somewhere where he could use that music. Oprah asks Kirstie what she means when she calls herself a Foxhound. She won’t say it in front of Jamie. Jamie was aware of this crush because years ago he went to Kirstie’s dressing room and expressed what a fan he was. He is always a fan and is rooting for her, he says they can do a bootie call segment as a weightloss motivator. Kirstie says he can be her icebreaker. Oprah thanks Jamie for having her on his radio show, the Foxhole. Jamie makes a plug for his show, says they pass out gift baskets for everyone on Monday that they talked about on Friday. Kirstie wants to go on the Foxhole, Jamie says anytime. Oprah thanks Jamie, says that she is friends with both Jamie and Kirstie, Jamie wishes Kirstie good luck on the show and says that even if she doesn’t loose any weight, she is still beautiful. Kirstie thanks him and blows kisses.
They show footage of Jim, Kirstie’s handyman having dinner with Kirstie. She hasn’t been on a date-date for ten years. She didn’t want anyone telling her how to raise her children, but now they are older she would consider a boyfriend. Her motivation for weightloss is hating the way that she feels. Oprah clarifies the ten years issue- its been 10 years since she was in love. She wasn’t open to someone else’s interpretation of how to raise her kids, and she’s had so much fun being a mother and raising her kids. She’s an older mother and she wanted to spend quality time with them. She’s having a ball being at home with them while she does her show. Her daughter Lily in the audience says that she enjoys having the cameras there now. Kirstie says they film 4 days a week and they leave at 6pm, so they have a lot of time without the cameras.
She is loosing the weight this time, she created a weightloss line and she is using that, her new company Organic Liason is something she’s very proud of. The Rescue Kit focuses on suppotrting the body 24-7. they are a calorie based program. They are trying to get people to liase from regular food to clean food. She gets up at 7am, she’s a mono-eater so she has the same thing every day- an organic English muffin with an egg on it. Contrary to popular whatever she says, throwing away the magazine, she is very healthy with low blood pressure, cholestorol etc. She drinks Rescue Me, then eats something at 10am, a little Greek yogurt with Stevia and cinnamon- its like the richest yummiest thing in the world. Dinner is often barbeque chicken- 3 wings with skin, Oprah says that a skinless wing is a pitiful thing. Kirstie likes that you still have to work at them. She’s trying to eat less meat. She’ll eat a big salad which is a new thing for her. She’ll eat Green Soup 3 times a day, 60 calories a cup, the recipe is on their website, www.organicliason.com. The soup contains all kinds of organic greens, pureed, a chef from Australia helped her to formulate it. Oprah says that now Kirstie has created her own weightloss program, she doesn’t have to be a spokesperson for anyone else. Kirstie says that she speaks for herself.
On a previous show, Oprah hears that Kirstie has a long list of people who want them to decorate her house. She does, she can decorate a whole house in 4 hours but they can’t be there, she doesn’t want their opinion. Lots of emails came in asking Kirstie to do their house- she goes down to a family in Texas. Stephanie and David Summers show her around and promise to give her the keys to their house. It’s all beige except for one navy room, that they say is decorating gone bad. They decorated that room after being inspired by Kirstie on the Oprah Show. They swear that Kirstie can paint whatever color she likes in their room. Kirstie says that she is the fastest decorator in the world. Oprah can’t wait to see it, she hasn’t watched the footage yet. Kirstie doen’t like sayings on the wall, a room should make you relaxed, don’t do business or paperwork in your bedroom. Kirstie goes to Lowes and picks up everything she needs. She heads to Crate and Barrel, then back to the house with the construction crew. She gives the bathroom a facelift. By the next morning, it’s starting to come together. Kirstie is happy. The big reveal- the couple say Oh my word, Wow, wow, wow, that is too cool. They are very excited that the bathroom and bedroom are so beautiful and amazing, they realise the carpet is new and Stephanie starts crying. They really appreciate it. Kirstie says enjoy it, make another baby in here.
Stephanie and David join them by Skype, they haven’t yet made another baby. They like the bed, its beautiful and comfortable, they love it, love the color. Kirstie decorates fast as she has no time for bad ideas, all decorators have to be a little ditsy. Oprah wishes the Summers’ many happy days and nights and tells them to go ahead make a baby.
Kirstie Alley’s Big Life debuts on March 23rd on A & E. Over 135,000 have taken the no-phone zone pledge including almost every one of the Minford High School in Minford, Ohio. A teacher showed the class the episode and said that you could have heard a pin drop. The whole class took the pledge, followed by the rest of the school. Follow their lead and take the pledge at Oprah.com today, thank you everybody.
WHAT WE LEARNED TODAY:
Kirstie Alley has a new reality TV show that follows her daily weight loss journey.
Kirstie Alley swore on Oprah, twice, and was beeped out.
Jamie Foxx agrees to be Kirstie Alley’s booty call, with Oprah’s permission.
Kirstie Alley is also a speed-decorator.
Oprah says a skinless chicken wing is a pitiful thing.
A VERY QUICK SUMMARY:
Kirstie Alley has created her own weightloss program and is following it on her own reality TV show.