Oprah Winfrey paid homage to one of the most parodied moments in television history as she appeared at the 29th Annual Critics Choice Awards on Sunday.
The acclaimed talk show host, 69, took the stage to present the Best Actor Award, as she showed off her slimmed-down figure in a slinky purple dress following her recent weight loss.
‘So this year’s nominees for best actor are not just performing; they’re stepping into a character’s shoes, understanding their feelings, and channeling experiences that transcend the screen,’ she said.
Then, in a nod to her famous meme, she added: ‘All of you nominees are so good, I wish I could say – you get a trophy! And you get a trophy! And you get a trophy! But unfortunately, it doesn’t work that way.’
It was a reference to a moment from 2004, when she shouted to the audience of The Oprah Winfrey Show, ‘You get a car, you get a car!’ as she surprised each member by gifting them a vehicle.
Oprah Winfrey paid homage to one of the most parodied moments in television history as she appeared at the 29th Annual Critics Choice Awards on Sunday
The star showed off her incredible toned frame in a slinky purple gown
The acclaimed talk show host, 69, took the stage to present the Best Actor Award, as she showed off her slimmed-down figure in a slinky purple dress following her recent weight loss
Oprah presented the award to Paul Giamatti, 56, for his role in The Holdovers.
Oprah is one of the producers of The Color Purple. She previously starred in Steven Spielberg’s 1985 feature take of the Alice Walker novel.
The film was nominated in five categories, including Best Picture, Best Supporting Actress (Danielle Brooks), and Best Acting Ensemble, but did not take home any of the trophies.
In 2015, the chat show host revealed the reason for her memorable ‘you get a car’ outburst.
She explained to Entertainment Tonight that far from being an instantly happy surprise, for a brief moment there was total confusion among audience members, which she was trying to clear up.
The Queen of daytime television explained at the time that there would be only one car given away, and the keys would be hidden inside one of the boxes which every audience member had been given.
The billionaire broadcasting legend continued: ‘That moment of “You get a car” – I was saying that because people were screaming so loudly they didn’t know what was going on and prior to that moment I had said “open up your boxes – ONE person has a key,”
‘So when I looked at the faces of the audience, they go, “But I have a key…but she has a key.” So that’s why I said, “You get a car! You get a car!” to try to clarify, because they all looked so confused: “Everybody gets a car!”’
‘So this year’s nominees for best actor are not just performing; they’re stepping into a character’s shoes, understanding their feelings, and channeling experiences that transcend the screen’
In a nod to her famous meme she said: ‘All of you nominees are so good, I wish I could say – you get a trophy! And you get a trophy! And you get a trophy! But unfortunately, it doesn’t work that way’
Oprah thrilled in a clingy purple gown onstage
It was a reference to a moment from 2004, when she shouted to the audience of The Oprah Winfrey Show, ‘You get a car, you get a car!’ as she surprised each member by gifting them a vehicle
276 G6 sedans were given out on September 13 2004 to her audience, each worth approximately $28,500 and donated by Pontiac.
Oprah skipped the red carpet at the Critics Choice Awards, but was later pictured inside as she showed off her trim figure following her recent weight loss.
In one snap she was seen laughing it up with actor David Oyelowo, 47.
In December she confirmed using weight loss drug to help her shed pounds while being an ambassador for Weight Watchers.
Oprah has been open about her weight struggles over the years, and previously shared her highest weight was ‘237lbs.’
She has been working with weight loss support group WW since 2017, and previously stated drugs like Ozempic would be ‘the easy way out.’
However, last month she told People ‘I now use it as I feel I need it, as a tool to manage not yo-yoing’ – though she did not name the drug that she uses, and said she was ‘done with the shaming’ after losing more than 40lbs in recent months.
Oprah said of weight loss drugs: ‘The fact that there’s a medically approved prescription for managing weight and staying healthier, in my lifetime, feels like relief, like redemption, like a gift, and not something to hide behind and once again be ridiculed for.
Oprah (pictured with David Oyelowo) skipped the red carpet at the Critics Choice Awards, but was later pictured inside as she showed off her trim figure following her recent weight loss
Oprah is one of the producers of The Color Purple. The film was nominated in five categories, including Best Picture, but did not take home any of the trophies; Seen with Fantasia Barrino
She cozied up to Danielle Brooks who was nominated for Best Supporting Actress for the Color Purple but lost out to Da’Vine Joy Randolph (The Holdovers)
(L-R) Brooks, Oprah, and Scott Sanders
She enjoyed the soiree with the Color Purple cast
Oprah beamed while classing for one of the honorees
In December Oprah confirmed using weight loss drug to help her shed pounds while being an ambassador for Weight Watchers
‘I’m absolutely done with the shaming from other people and particularly myself’ and added she had actively recommended the weight loss aid to other people before deciding to take it herself.
The star revealed she had taken the medication before Thanksgiving as she knew would have ‘two solid weeks of eating’ and credits the drug for causing her to only gain half a pound rather than eight pounds, adding it ‘quiets the food noise.’
Winfrey said she is now seven pounds away from her goal weight of 160lbs but said ‘it’s not about the number.’
She said undergoing knee surgery in 2021 kickstarted a journey for her to improve her health and live a ‘more vital and vibrant life.’