Texas minister still in running for own show on Oprah’s network

Dr. Tony Roach is minister of the Minda Street Church of Christ in Abilene, Texas. (Photo by Tina Phan, Abilene Reporter-News)

We reported last summer on Texas minister Tony Roach’s bid to host his own talk show on Oprah Winfrey’s new network.
Roach, minister of the Minda Street Church of Christ in Abilene, Texas, remains in the running.
He’s one of 10 finalists featured in “Your OWN Show,” a reality program that premieres Friday, Jan. 7, on the Oprah Winfrey Network.
The Associated Press reports:

NEW YORK (AP) — Oprah Winfrey’s new network has announced the 10 contestants competing on “Your OWN Show: Oprah’s Search for the Next TV Star.”
The would-be hosts include a travel guide who’s in a wheelchair, a comedian who thinks the U.S. needs a gay best friend, and a businesswoman aiming to make a show about money both informative and fun.
The finalists were chosen from more than 9,500 online audition videos and thousands more hopefuls at open casting calls, the Oprah Winfrey Network announced Thursday. More than 143 million votes were submitted online, OWN said.
The winner will be selected on the show by judges including Dr. Phil McGraw and Gayle King, who will subject them to a range of TV-host-related challenges.
The winner gets a show airing on Winfrey’s cable channel.

Entertainment Weekly describes Roach this way:

Dr. Tony Roach, Abilene, TX. As a teenager, Dr. Tony dropped out of high school to live on the streets. He ended up earning his doctoral degree in divinity from Abilene Christian University and travels the country promoting his message of self-esteem.

In a recent video, Winfrey highlighted the contestants. On the video, Roach says:

“I have been working for 25 years on material that I believe can help people to live their best life.”

Stay tuned.

• Feedback
  I thoroughly enjoyed both stories…the 9 yr. old boy and minister on Opray’s network.

  Patsy Walker

  January, 8 2011