Oprah Winfrey's place in California history is now secure.
It was on her national TV show that the political career of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger took shape a couple of years ago. And it was on "Oprah," just last week, that the same career appeared as though it might be cut short when Maria Shriver called her man to come on home.
Maria told Oprah she would prefer that her hubby not run for president, if he is so inclined. And it didn't sound as if she wanted him in Sacramento much longer, either.
"I want him back home, actually," she told Oprah, giving the daytime soaps a run for their money.
I'm guessing Arnold will now appear on "Larry King Live" to respond, but in the meantime I've got a question or two.
Is that it? After all this buildup, an exhausting recall and a million and one bold promises, are we looking at a one-term flash in the pan? All this talk of revolution and blowing up boxes, and just when the going gets tough, Big Boy might come running home to Hollywood?
It can't be mere coincidence that Schwarzenegger's reform agenda was showing signs of coming apart and his popularity ratings were dipping, even as Maria made her plea.
I'm half tempted to resort to a "girlie man" line here, except that Arnold has already worn that thing out.
Schwarzenegger's promised "year of reform" looks like it's becoming the "year of oops." He pulled back a pension reform plan last week that would have stripped benefits for dead cops, a proposal that was neither his best nor his brightest. And his parole reform plan was scrapped, as well, after being called a flop.
Meanwhile, Maria was having her nationally televised therapy session with Oprah.
"I think that, while I was always raised to believe that public service is the most noble calling, it's all-encompassing," Shriver told the media maven.
Geez, you'd think a Kennedy would have known what to expect.
"And it's tough if you have young children. And it's a 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week job. I want him home."
It was blunt and direct. Not a suggestion, but a command.
I know, because I'm a married man. When my wife says, "I want you home," it means trouble.
It means: "We have to talk."
If they need a mediator, they might try Schwarzenegger spokeswoman Margita Thompson, who told The Times:
"He loves spending time with his family, but public service sometimes equates to personal sacrifice."
You're kidding.
