You’d think Oprah Winfrey would be too bothered by a certain you-know-what to mention it at a high-profile event like New York Women in Communications’ annual Matrix Awards. Yet, she says, it’s her ‘MSF’ (mother sister friend) Gayle King who has needed the most consoling.

“May I say the last week was a rough week for Gayle when a so-called biography came out. Every day she was getting herself more and more worked up about all of my new daddies. Somebody saying ‘Hello, daughter. Call me. I need a new roof.’”

Watch an excerpt from Winfrey’s speech below and follow the click for a round-up of quotes from this year’s honorees and presenters.

Oprah Winfrey on pulling rank at O:

Excuse you. I do not see a ‘G’ on this cover.

On King leaving her job in television news to become O‘s editor at large:

There would not be an ‘O’ without the commitment and the heart of the ‘G.’

Gayle King on Oprah:

She is the best friend a person could ever have.

On their both wearing orange at the event:

I’m wearing my orange dress. I’m wearing two body slimmers, and I am IN it.

NBC’s Brian Williams:

There is an elephant in the room… I don’t know why a man was chosen to host this luncheon.

In his closing remarks:

We need you to remain seated until Oprah’s plane clears New York airspace.

Actress and writer Tina Fey:

It’s great that women support each other, but “do not try to get a job from me today.”

On her “twin” that day:

When Sheryl [Crow] and I were getting dressed this morning…

Katie Couric:

While we are here with a few network queens — No, Brian. We are not talking about you.

Marissa Mayer, vice president of search products & user experience, Google:

Geeks are people who love something so much that all the details matter.

Sheryl Crow, singer:

“New York was there for me when I was without a country. It was 1997, and I was at the end of the second of my three engagements. I love being engaged.”

Susan Shira, foreign editor, The New York Times:

I dared to want two things: work and family.

SNL’s Seth Myers:

I’m half the writer Tina Fey is, but twice as good having worked with her.

On the Matrix Awards:

My mother told me learn good table manners, ’cause you never know when you’re gonna eat in front of a thousand women.

Anna Quindlen, author and journalist:

[Ina Garten] is the best friend of home cooking… She wants us all to be happy and full and to have dessert afterwards.

CBS’ Lesley Stahl:

[Doris Kearns Goodwin] is an expert on, I think, just about everything. You could just hear her on Jeopardy: ‘Alex, I think I’ll take all human knowledge for $1,000.’

Related: The New York Women In Communications 2010 Matrix Awards Red Carpet