May 26, 2016
Oprah Winfrey is now widely regarded as one of the most popular and successful media personalities ever, but she didn't reach that pinnacle overnight. Before eventually hosting her own long-running daytime talk show, she bounced around local TV stations as a reporter and anchor.
But there was one gig Oprah didn't land on her journey: anchor for WPVI in Philadelphia.
Lisa Thomas-Laury, a longtime anchor at WPVI (aka 6ABC), retired Wednesday. The station celebrated her 38 years of on-air work, on their website and on social media over the past week or so, including posting a video featuring none other than Oprah.
In the video, Oprah recalls meeting Thomas-Laury in Nashville, Tennessee, during the 1970s. According to WPVI, the two quickly became friends.
But both eventually aimed for the same job at WPVI, and in the video, Oprah explains they picked Thomas-Laury over her.
Oprah also congratulates her on an "extraordinary career" and calls her a "breakthrough woman."
Watch the video below:
