Bruce Springsteen, Oprah Winfrey give hope to oppressed Americans on 'The Handmaid's Tale'

Chris Jordan | Asbury Park Press

Show Caption Hide Caption Opinion: A reverse 'Handmaid's Tale' is just as horrifying Don't believe alarmists saying human population has grown too large, but don't go as far as 'The Handmaid's Tale.'

The voices of Oprah Winfrey and Bruce Springsteen gave hope to Americans fighting oppression on the Wednesday, June 27 episode debut of “Holly” on the Hulu dystopian sci-fi series “The Handmaid’s Tale.”

“Holly” is the name of the baby June (Elisabeth Moss) delivered by herself in an abandoned country house. Before the birth, she found a car on the property and turned on the radio.

It was Winfrey’s voice.

“And now, this news. The American government in Anchorage today received promises of economic aid from India and China, and in the United Kingdom additional sanctions against Gilead were announced, as well as plans to raise the cap on refugees relocating from Canada,” Winfrey said. “And now a tune to remind everyone who’s listening, American patriot or Gilead traitor, we are still here. Stars and stripes forever, baby.”

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“Gilead” is the name of a new American patriarchal government that subjects fertile women on “The Handmaid’s Tale.” It’s all based on a novel by Canadian author Margaret Atwood.

The Springsteen 1980 hit “Hungry Heart” played during Winfrey’s speech and over the episode’s closing credits, too.

“The radio segment (Winfrey) recorded was inspired by the free radio of the Allies from WW2,” said showrunner Bruce Miller in a statement. “It was an absolute honor to have Oprah featured on the show, and especially thrilling as she was the one who presented us with the Emmy last year.”

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Springsteen and Winfrey are no strangers. They vacationed on a yacht with President Barack Obama and wife Michelle Obama last spring in French Polynesia. Winfrey also attended “Springsteen on Broadway” and raved about it on “CBS This Morning” on Oct. 18.

“It was the most searingly beautiful performance I’ve ever seen a person give,” Winfrey said. “You come away feeling more like a human being.”

Chris Jordan: cjordan@app.com. Twitter: @chrisfhjordan