Chicago Area Local News

CHICAGO (CBS) ― Fans who attended Friday's Oprah show were sad to see the talk show legend say she is done. They arrived at dawn and marveled at their good fortune. Members of Oprah Winfrey's studio audience got their tickets weeks ago, long before they knew there would be a big announcement today.

"I flew in from San Antonio for this show, and then it turns out it's going to be a real special show, so I'm just delighted," said Jane Willenberg.

CBS 2's Jim Williams reports that it was a frenzy outside Harpo Studios. There were national and international TV crews, and dozens of reporters interviewed those with tickets. Police officers were directing traffic.

Winfrey saved the announcement for the end of the show, and right before she made it, in the last commercial break, she had a request for the studio audience.

Karen Channic was among them.

"There was a lot going on in there, but at the end she told us all to wish her luck before she did her final announcement," Channic said. "It was visible that she was nervous and emotional, and it felt really heartfelt."

Finally at 9:53 a.m. Winfrey tearfully confirmed, after much prayer and thought, that she would be ending her show in September of 2011.

"These years, with you, our viewers, have enriched my life beyond all measure," Winfrey said.

Why do it then? Winfrey said it came down an important milestone: the end of her 25th season.

"Twenty-five years feels right in my bones and it feels right in my spirit," she said. "I intend to soak up every meaningful, joyful moment with you. Thanks everybody and I'll see you on Monday."

SLIDESHOW: Oprah Winfrey: Then And Now

CBS 2's Ed Curran spoke with fans outside Harpo Studios, where they seemed to support Oprah's decision to go out on top, even though they will miss her.

"I really thought it was great that she decided to make the change. I think that's important. We all need that," said an Oprah fan. "But it was really sad. But she really spoke from the heart, and being a Chicagoan my whole life, that's what meant the most."

Across the street from Harpo Studios, at Wishbone restaurant, diners watched the announcement they knew was coming, yet couldn't quite digest.

"I'm kind of sad, you know, because she went from the bottom up, and she is quite the woman," said Joanne Zoellner. "But we haven't seen the last of her."

Earlier Friday morning, nearly four hours before Friday's live show, the line began forming; lucky Oprah fans holding tickets to an historic television show.

"My girlfriend called me, and I was like, 'you have got to be kidding me.' I have been trying to get tickets for the Oprah show as long as she's been here, and I've been in Chicago all my life, so it was a great feeling," said Adrian Ray.

There was no shortage of those who have been inspired by Oprah's Chicago-based rise to fame.

"She is a person that causes people to gravitate towards her, and for the positive," said Gloria Marshall-Figueroa. "And the color didn't matter with her because she spoke from the heart, she spoke about the truth, and the kindness that she showed towards human beings, I think that's the key thing that draws people to her."

After the live broadcast, audience members said they were emotional with her.

"It was a quiet and slightly somber experience," said Jen Wonderlick.

"Very tearful. Everybody was very much emotional," said Crystal Williams.

"I had a tear in my eye. I totally admit it," said Courtney Hedderman. "She was crying, and it's hard not to feel that emotion for her at the same time. So I felt happy for her, but sad too."

Just as important as what Oprah Winfrey said was what she did not say. She did not say whether she will be moving from Chicago nor did she indicate what's going to happen to her Harpo Studios, which has helped revitalize the West Loop.

Winfrey did not address the future of her Chicago-based employees, as she plans to launch her cable network.

CBS 2's Ed Curran and Jim Williams contributed to this report.

(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

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