Black Voicesentertainment oprah winfreyqueen sugar

Oprah: It Doesn't Make Good Business Sense For OWN To Pick Up 'Underground'

"I can’t afford ‘Underground,’” she said.
Open Image Modal
By 

Pop Culture Editor, HuffPost

Open Image Modal
BET, OWN and Hulu were named among the possible networks to pick up the canceled series.
Marcus Ingram via Getty Images

Fans of “ Underground ” can scratch the Oprah Winfrey Network from the list of reported networks that are considering acquiring the canceled hit series.

During a press event on Tuesday for her network series “Queen Sugar,” Oprah Winfrey told a group of media attendees that the estimated production costs for the WGN America series preclude OWN’s consideration, according to Refinery29.

”I can’t afford ‘Underground,’” she said. “It cost twice as much to make as ‘Queen Sugar.’ As a matter of fact, my dear friend John Legend called me personally and asked me about it, but we’d already been talking about how we could make it work ... It’s like $5 million an episode, so we can’t afford it. It’s not cheap, I think because it’s a period piece.”

Winfrey went on to add that she thinks the series is “a good show” and she “really tried” to save it, but it didn’t make “good business sense” for her to take it on.

In early May, Sinclair Broadcast Group announced its purchase of WGN’s parent company, Tribune Media. Sinclair CEO Chris Ripley said at the time that WGN would be shifting away from original scripted programming; WGN America announced the cancelation of “Underground” on May 30. 

Following last month’s abrupt news, “Underground” executive producer John Legend rallied the show’s fans on Twitter to encourage networks to pick up the series.

Prior to Oprah’s comments, BET, OWN and Hulu were reported to be among the possible networks that would pick up the series.

Our 2024 Coverage Needs You

As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.

Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.

to keep our news free for all.

Support HuffPost

Before You Go

Oprah's Hair Through The Years
1956(01 of19)
Open Image Modal
Oprah says she's not the only one who had this hairstyle at 2 years old. "Every black woman of a certain age will notice this," she says. "Notice the bangs aren't really cut? They're rolled and tucked because in our generation, my grandmother would say, 'Your hair is your crowning glory.' You were never allowed to cut your hair. So I wanted the bangs like the little white girls had. But you couldn't have the bangs, so they would roll up your hair and then pin it so you could have a pretend bang. So that's a pretend, fake bang. That's why I look so sad." (credit:OWN)
Oprah As A Young Child(02 of19)
Open Image Modal
Pigtails! (credit:OWN)
1967(03 of19)
Open Image Modal
Oprah rocks a side ponytail at age 13. (credit:OWN)
1971(04 of19)
Open Image Modal
"That's my graduation picture," Oprah says. "Press and comb." (credit:OWN)
Oprah At WLAC In Nashville(05 of19)
Open Image Modal
Oprah poses for a WLAC photo in Nashville. "That was my first job working in television," she says. "I could now afford a relaxer." (credit:OWN)
1983(06 of19)
Open Image Modal
This hairstyle helped get Oprah hired when she auditioned to host a Chicago morning show. Watch Oprah's original audition tape. (credit:OWN)
1988(07 of19)
Open Image Modal
Looking back over 20 years, there's only one interview that Oprah calls her worst: Elizabeth Taylor. "It's still painful to watch," she says. "For many reasons -- including my bad hair." Right before the interview, Liz asked Oprah not to ask her anything about her relationships. "That's kind of hard to do when you're Elizabeth Taylor and you've been married seven times," Oprah says. Liz's responses were so terse that Oprah couldn't help but tease, "You're so revealing -- you just tell everything! I declare, you've got to stop talking so much, Ms. Taylor!""To her credit, she later apologized to me," Oprah says. One of the reasons why that interview seemed so painful is because Liz was in a lot of hip pain and back pain at the time. (credit:OWN)
1999(08 of19)
Open Image Modal
Oprah wears a longer, straight style. (credit:OWN)
2002(09 of19)
Open Image Modal
Oprah wears her hair short once again. (credit:OWN)
2003(10 of19)
Open Image Modal
Oprah's hair is longer and flipped up on the ends. (credit:OWN)
2004(11 of19)
Open Image Modal
Oprah's hair is shoulder-length and straight. (credit:OWN)
2005(12 of19)
Open Image Modal
Oprah wears a curly 'do. (credit:OWN)
2006(13 of19)
Open Image Modal
Oprah wore braids during her cross-country road trip with Gayle. (credit:OWN)
2006(14 of19)
Open Image Modal
Oprah wears her hair in a ponytail. (credit:OWN)
2007(15 of19)
Open Image Modal
Oprah pulls her hair back in a curly look. (credit:OWN)
2009(16 of19)
Open Image Modal
During a taping with Chris Rock, Oprah wears her real hair. She credits Andre for helping her keep her real hair for 24 years. "In the summer, I braid my hair," she says. "I wear weaves. I've worn weaves on the show. I've worn weaves on the magazine covers. I have done pretty much all of it because in order to keep your hair, you can't put heat in your hair every day."Watch Chris Rock's reaction when he finds out Oprah's hair is real.
2011(17 of19)
Open Image Modal
Oprah and her hairstylist, Andre Walker, were wishing they had more time for this style to set before "The Oprah Winfrey Show" finale taping. Watch Oprah take her show's stage for the last time. (credit:OWN)
2012(18 of19)
Open Image Modal
Oprah appeared on the cover of O's September 2012 issue with an au naturel 'do that required no blow-drying or straightening. She says that wearing natural styles makes her feel unencumbered. (credit:OWN)
2013(19 of19)
Open Image Modal
This style, which Oprah wore to the 6th Annual Essence Black Women in Hollywood event, reminds us of one of her favorite music icons, Diana Ross. (credit:Getty)
Suggest a correction
|
Submit a tip