The O and Iyanla Square Off

Before there was a Dr. Phil, Dr. Oz, Suzie Orman or even a Nate Berkus, there was Iyanla Vanzant.

An Oprah protege in the making, Vanzant dazzled Oprah's audience 11 years ago with her practical, common sense advice. Part spiritual leader, part psychologist, part motivational speaker and relationship coach, Vanzant's candid style, along with her sistah girl delivery that crossed racial lines, made her an Oprah fave, with a standing Tuesday slot on the O show every other week. Oprah didn't "make" Vanzant; she enhanced her, welcoming the author and self help guru to her audience of women worldwide.

Everyone was surprised, when, all of a sudden, it all disappeared. No more Vanzant. All we knew was that Vanzant was off Oprah's show and now had a talk show of her own, albeit short-lived. Rumors cropped up, especially after Oprah's success turning virtual unknowns into talk show host successes with syndication deals with Oprah's Harpo Studios.

Just what happened between Oprah and Vanzant? On Wednesday, Vanzant and Oprah set the record straight on her talk show. It was, according to Oprah, the very first time that the two had spoken.

Now, I wondered why this conversation couldn't have happened between these two women -- without the glare of the TV cameras and perhaps without the interference of attorneys.  And couldn't this conversation have happened, say, 10 years ago? Apparently, not, because Vanzant apologized to Oprah and Oprah recanted the story as she remembered it.

Oprah offered Vanzant a show. She wasn't really ready, but meanwhile, Barbara Walters offered how a talk show deal. Vanzant went to Oprah, told her about the deal, and Oprah felt like Vanzant was forcing her hand. Ultimately, Vanzant went on to do her show with Walters. The show failed miserably (Vanzant didn't even have an office).

On the show, Vanzant appeared just a tad bit disheveled and, I don't know, different. Hard to put my finger on it. No matter the back story, I think she gave us some lessons. Vanzant didn't feel she was "worthy," and sabotaged her own efforts subconsciously. The former abused welfare mother turned uber relationship coach was trapped in her old life, even with books on the New York Times Best Seller list and a looming deal with Oprah.

Today, Vanzant has a new book out and she's appearing on a Part 2 show on Wednesday.

I can't wait.