Oprah Winfrey signs off quietly, after quarter of a century

"We have hooted and hollered together," said Oprah Winfrey, her throat already catching, standing alone on stage in a girlish pink dress, her hair somewhat alarmingly blown back. It was possibly the most consummate Oprah moment ever in her 25 years on TV, one that summed up everything that her most devoted viewers, – all 7 million of them, daily – love about her.

The celebrity dazzle might have brought more media attention over the years: Tom Cruise on (and above) her sofa; James Frey shamefacedly admitting to his lies. But that is not the true Oprah appeal, what has made this former child of poverty into a billionaire and possibly the most successful woman, and certainly the most successful black woman, in the world. This appeal can be summed up, in true Oprah style, like a homestead recipe: take one cup of informality, two pounds of sentimentality, a scoop of mainstream feminine fashion, sprinkle in some intelligence amid the sweetness and glaze all over with the intimation of intimacy, taking especial care to cover up any awkward signs that your personal life is as far away from that of your average viewer as it is possible to be.

On Monday and Tuesday, to kick off her last week on network television Winfrey held what can only be described as an extravaganza, with apparently every celebrity in America popping by to ladle on the hyperbole even more thickly than Oprah – no slouch in that department, she – ever managed. Madonna said a prayer to her, Beyonce seemed to think Oprah was the president, Diane Sawyer announced that she is planting "Oprah trees" across America. Rumours that Winfrey's face is to be carved into Mount Rushmore were, at time of press, unconfirmed.

But for her last show, which had garnered so much pre-publicity that a 30 second advert was said to cost $1m (£614m), Winfrey returned to her base. She held a quiet show, in which she was the only person on stage – she is, after all, who her fans love most – and it revealed what Winfrey has taken the most pride in.

There were plenty of needlepoint truisms – "Do unto others as you would have others do unto you" – but she keenly emphasised the social issues she has focused on over the years (sexual abuse, alcoholism) and the words "Jonathan Franzen" were not mentioned once, nor, thank heavens, was any of the new age baloney she has increasingly peddled. Nor, tellingly, was OWN, her decidedly bland television network that she is now focused on to build up the so far disappointing viewer figures, bringing Winfrey her first professional setback.

"To God be the glory," was her final line, after a quarter of a century. And, you could almost see this admirably determined woman think, hopefully some more will come to her.