Rielle Hunter Talk Show Shot Down By Oprah Network

Former political videographer Rielle Hunter won headlines and contempt when she gave birth to the illegitimate daughter of shamed ex-Senator John Edwards, but she’s never been more “crushed” than the day she got snubbed by The Queen of Talk.

Oprah Winfrey, who will unveil The Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN) on cable Jan. 1, shot down a pitch for a TV talk show hosted by Hunter, industry snoops tell The National Enquirer.

“Rielle really thought Oprah would love her talk show idea, which was a combination of The View and a self-help format, but Oprah told her, ‘I loved having you as a guest, but I can’t hire you,” blabs one Enquirer insider. “Rielle was devastated, but Oprah knows a show with John Edwards’ mistress at the helm would never go over well with her mostly female audience.”

Rielle, 46, gave her first TV interview to O in April, opening up about her romance with the married Edwards, their daughter, Frances, and the couple’s buzzworthy sex tape. (Brain Bleach!) For Hunter, the interview was the beginning of a “friendship” with Winfrey that she hoped would lead to a new gig.

So imagine Rielle’s surprise when her OWN chat show pitch died in a hail of bullets fired by Oprah herself.

“Rielle thought her appearance on Oprah’s show gave her an edge at landing a TV gig,” the insider divulged. “She believed that she’d connected with Oprah and there was a good chance Oprah would find a place for her on her network.”

Ain’t happenin’, Sister! Rielle, however, remains undeterred. Snoops say she’s determined to fug up showbiz in one way or another…Whether the rest of us like it or not. In fact, she’s hired an agent, publicist, and spokesperson as she continues to try an “land some kind of TV gig.”

Ladies, hold on to your husbands.

Note to Rielle: If all else fails, we hear UPS is hiring….