Oprah Winfrey doesn’t like surprises. That’s because she’s known to freak out. Big time.

Case in point: In 1997, Winfrey’s show producers shocked the daytime host with an unannounced visit from her longtime television idol Mary Tyler Moore. (See Oprah lose her sh– at the 2:42 mark in the video above.)

But before she bawled her eyes out and flailed her arms in excitement over her surprise guest, Winfrey tossed to an adorable reenactment of “The Mary Tyler Moore” intro — famed hat toss and all.

Also Read: How Mary Tyler Moore Changed TV's Dress Code for Women... by Wearing Pants

“I wanted to be Mary Tyler Moore,” Winfrey said, explaining the intense level of her fandom. “I wanted to live where Mary lived, I wanted Mr. Grant in my life, I wanted my boss to act like that, I wanted Ted,” she added.

Once Moore hit the stage, a rattled Winfrey told the feminist icon of TV: “You have no idea what you’ve meant to me… I just want to say, there’s many times in our lives when there are those of us who only had the television for inspiration, and you were one of those women who was a light. You know, Maya Angelou says there are some people who have a certain way of being in this world, and that’s what you brought to this character.”

Also Read: 11 Classic Shows You Didn't Know Mary Tyler Moore Was Involved With Behind the Scenes (Photos)

Six-time Emmy-winning Moore died at the age 80 on Wednesday following a bout of pneumonia, according to her family.

She was best known for her starring roles in “The Dick Van Dyke Show,” her Oscar-winning turn in the film “Ordinary People,” and, of course, “The Mary Tyler Moore Show.”

Mary Tyler Moore's 11 Best Roles, From 'The Dick Van Dyke Show' to 'Flirting With Disaster' (Photos)

Mary Tyler Moore passed away on Wednesday at the age of 80 after a long, successful career, which included seven Emmy Awards, an Oscar nomination and roles on two of the most iconic TV sitcoms of all time.
CBS
"The Dick Van Dyke Show" (1961-66)
Moore's breakout role came on the CBS sitcom "The Dick Van Dyke Show," playing Van Dyke's wife for five seasons.
CBS
"Thoroughly Modern Millie" (1967)
Moore co-starred alongside Julie Andrews in the 1967 George Roy Hill musical featuring a memorable scene of the two actresses tap-dancing in an elevator.
Universal
"Change of Habit" (1969)
Moore played a nun torn between her faith and Elvis Presley in the King's final acting role.
Universal
"The Mary Tyler Moore Show" (1970-77)
Following the end of "The Dick Van Dyke Show," Moore starred on her own groundbreaking sitcom which earned her three Emmy Awards.
CBS
"Rhoda" (1974)
After Valerie Harper became the star of her own "Mary Tyler Moore Show" spinoff, Moore appeared in five episodes during the show's five-season run.
CBS
"Ordinary People" (1980)
Moore earned an Academy Award nomination for her work in Robert Redford's directorial debut "Ordinary People," which also starred Donald Sutherland, Judd Hirsch and Timothy Hutton.
Paramount
"Mary" (1985)
Moore's return to the TV sitcom came in 1985 after the short-lived variety series "Mary" and "The Mary Tyler Moore Hour."
CBS
"Stolen Babies" (1993)
Moore took home her sixth Emmy Award for her role as the head of a black-market baby ring in Lifetime's 1993 original movie.
Lifetime
"Flirting With Disaster" (1996)
Moore played Ben Stiller's neurotic adoptive mother in director David O. Russell's second feature film.
Miramax
"That '70s Show" (2006)
Moore guest-starred on several popular TV comedies throughout her career, including a role on "That '70s Show" as a local TV news anchor.
Fox
"Hot in Cleveland" (2013)
The five main actresses from "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" reunited in 2013 on Betty White's TV Land series "Hot in Cleveland."
TV Land

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Legendary actress died on Wednesday at the age of 80

Mary Tyler Moore passed away on Wednesday at the age of 80 after a long, successful career, which included seven Emmy Awards, an Oscar nomination and roles on two of the most iconic TV sitcoms of all time.

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