Oprah primed for ABC Winfrey sells two reality shows to network

The queen of daytime is headed for primetime. Oprah Winfrey has sold a pair of reality skeins to ABC via her Harpo Prods. banner. Despite her involvement in everything from magazine publishing to satellite radio, projects rep the first time Winfrey has attached her name to a weekly primetime series.Skeins are the first productions to emerge from Harpo's recently formed TV development group, headed by exec VPs Ellen Rakieten and Harriet Seitler.Deal reps a major coup for ABC Entertainment prexy Steve McPherson and alternative topper Andrea Wong. For years, ABC execs have subtly tried to woo Winfrey to primetime -- but have had to accept her decision to produce only specials and a handful of highly rated "Oprah Winfrey Presents" movies and minis. "Oprah Winfrey getting into series TV is monumental," McPherson said. "These two shows are a perfect fit for our alternative brand, with their focus on wish fulfillment and making lives better." First project, dubbed "Oprah Winfrey's The Big Give," has an eight-episode order from ABC. Skein follows a group of 10 people who will be handed money and resources -- and then challenged to find dramatic and emotional ways to use the coin to help others. Contestant field will be winnowed down each week, with the winner getting his or her wildest wish granted. ABC also is teaming with Harpo on the tentatively titled "Your Money or Your Life." Each self-contained episode will focus on a family facing a crisis. An "action team" will move in and give the family a total money and life makeover. ABC is developing the projects with Harpo's Chi-based TV development group, which Winfrey launched in September. Seitler and Rakieten said Winfrey decided to get into the reality business herself after years of watching others "borrow" ideas from her show