Kathy Griffin talks about The View

Chron.com: Kathy Griffin Interview

Kathy was a guest-host on The View the day after Rosie O'Donnell and Elisabeth Hasselbeck had a 10-minute on-air argument that led to Rosie's leaving the show three weeks ahead of schedule.

I wanted to know if Kathy took sides: "Yeah, I would be team Rosie. I love her. I think she's a hero, and I think she's smart and provocative and evocative and does her own thing. Honestly, I think there's nobody like her. I think she's really great."

Did she want the permanent co-host gig that went to Sherri Shepherd?

"I don't think that show would be appropriate for me," she said. "But I enjoy doing that show very, very much. I get a huge kick out of Barbara. You know, I would probably be getting into trouble a lot. I don't think I could censor myself that much."

So, the question is, will she ever be back to co-host? It's been a long time since she was on the show. I'm sure she'll be back as a guest at least in June 2008 to promote the new season of My Life on the D-List.

The embarrassment that is Sherri Shepherd

First she spoke out against evolution, then she thought the world might be flat. Now she claims nothing came before the Christians. Here's Anderson Cooper's report:

Elizabeth article

The Boston Globe weighs in on Elisabeth's contribution to The View in the article "Conservatives left without a voice on 'The View'". Click here to read it.

The View in November

PRESS RELEASE: In November, ABC's Emmy Award-winning talk and entertainment program, "The View", will debut a variety of new series and segments.

Some of the scheduled guests include: Jerry Seinfeld ("Bee Movie"), Peter Krause (ABC's "Dirty Sexy Money"), Keri Russell and Jonathan Rhys Meyers ("August Rush"), Ethan Hawke ("Before the Devil Knows You're Dead"), David Spade ("Rules of Engagement"), Teri Hatcher (ABC's "Desperate Housewives"), Jessica Seinfeld (author, "Deceptively Delicious"), Steve Martin ("Born Standing Up"), Jason Bateman ("Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium"), Jorja Fox ("C.S.I."), Molly Shannon ("More of Me"), Marcia Cross (ABC's "Desperate Housewives") and music from Celine Dion, Brooks & Dunn (ABC's broadcast of "The 41st Annual CMA Awards"), Trisha Yearwood and Andrea Bocelli. Pop music superstar Jessica Simpson returns to co-host "The View" on Nov. 15-16.

Beginning Thursday, November 1 and each subsequent Thursday, viewers will be treated to a dance from couples voted off ABC's hit reality show, "Dancing with the Stars."

East Side. West Side. Uptown. Downtown. Sherri Shepherd is on a quest to see and learn all she can about New York City on Monday, November 1. Whether riding the subway or waving down a yellow taxi, from glorious sky scrapers to the heart of Times Square, join Sherri's surprise meeting with an influential New Yorker, her visit with a "Great Lady" and her walking tour of Little Italy with a former star of "The Sopranos."

The week of November 5-9 "The View" will showcase a variety of "must-have" items from each of the co-hosts.

"Budget Week" kicks off Monday, November 12 with affordable fashions from top retail stores, a full hour of "Hot Topics" and guest co-host Laura Ingraham.

Co-host Sherri Shepherd and our grand-prize winner return from their weekend trip at the 12th annual "ABC Super Soap Weekend" sponsored by Colgate Total toothpaste at Disney-MGM Studios in Orlando. A first look at all the glitz, glamour and excitement, including Sherri's one-on-one interviews with Susan Lucci (Erica Kane of "All My Children") and Erika Slezak (Victoria Lord of "One Life to Live") and musical highlights from a concert featuring ABC stars, hosted by Sherri, Monday, November 12.

On Tuesday, November 13, "The View" celebrates Whoopi's birthday with laughter, music and a few special surprises. Bill O'Reilly is the featured guest.

In October, Whoopi Goldberg announced her desire and intention to quit smoking. On Thursday, November 15, as part of her on-going series "Whoopi's Kickin' Butts!," the show marks the American Cancer Society's Great American Smokeout as they check-in with Whoopi and monitor her progress. The Great American Smokeout is part of the American Cancer Society Great American Health Challenge, a year-round initiative that encourages Americans to adopt healthy lifestyles to reduce their risk of cancer.

Upcoming Schedule: Week of October 29

29/10: Kaley Cuoco ("Big Bang Theory"); Whoopi's Kickin' Butts: How to Quit Smoking.

30/10: Guest co-host Merry Miller; Tim Daly (ABC's "Private Practice"); David Foster.

31/10: It's a 'roaring' good Halloween with live music, thrills and plenty of surprises.

1/11: Guest co-host Carrie Ann Inaba (ABC's "Dancing with the Stars"); Ethan Hawke ("Before the Devil Knows You're Dead"); couple voted off ABC's "Dancing with the Stars."

2/11: David Spade ("Rules of Engagement").

Upcoming Schedule: Week of October 22

"The View" co-host Elisabeth Hasselbeck will begin her maternity leave next week, earlier than originally expected, as she heads to Arizona with daughter Grace and NFL Quarterback husband Tim, who just signed with the Arizona Cardinals. Mrs. Hasselbeck had planned to work until Nov. 8 or 9, but after confirming the news last week on "The View," she said she will depart the popular talk show on Tuesday, October 23. "I have to take early maternity leave so that I can get there and actually introduce the doctor to my parts, before she pulls a child out of me, but I'll be back after ("The View") hiatus," she told the audience. Mrs. Hasselbeck announced her pregnancy live on "The View" in April. While on leave, Mrs. Hasselbeck's chair will be filled with guest hosts.

22/10: Ricki Lake ("Matters of Life and Dating"); musical guest The Wiggles; "Whoopi's Kickin' Butts: How to Quit Smoking."

23/10: Co-host Elisabeth Hasselbeck's last show before maternity leave; Mariah Carey; Lance Bass (author, "Out of Sync").

24/10: Guest co-host Kassie DePaiva (star of ABC's "One Life to Live"); George Carlin ("All My Stuff"); James Lipton (author, "Inside Inside"); musical guest Feist.

25/10: Guest co-host Samantha Harris (host of ABC's "Dancing With the Stars"; Julianne Moore ("Freckleface Strawberry"); couple voted off of ABC's "Dancing with the Stars."

26/10: Guest co-host Samantha Harris (host of ABC's "Dancing With the Stars"; Bob Saget (Broadway's "The Drowsy Chaperone"); Deborah Norville (author, "Thank You Power").

Elisabeth to take a break from next month

Associated Press: The 'View' Co-Host Going On Leave

NEW YORK (AP) - Elisabeth Hasselbeck, a co-host of ABC's "The View," will go on maternity leave next month, a show spokesman said Saturday.

Hasselbeck, 30, will leave the popular New York-based daytime talk show beginning Nov. 8 or Nov. 9, spokesman Karl Nilsson confirmed.

Various celebrity guests will fill in for her while she is on leave, he said.

Hasselbeck, who was a contestant on the reality show "Survivor: The Australian Outback," is pregnant with her second child.

She's married to NFL quarterback Tim Hasselbeck, who was recently released by the New York Giants and played at Boston College, where the two met.

They have a 2-year-old daughter named Grace.

Hasselbeck announced her pregnancy in April.

Sherri Shepherd developing sitcom

Sherri is developing a sitcom for the CW network which will mirror some circumstances from her own life.

Variety.com: View host plots show - Shepherd sets up CW sitcom

Sherri Shepherd -- who just landed a plum spot on "The View" -- is plotting a primetime comeback.

Comic-thesp is developing a half-hour sitcom for the CW that's loosely based on her own life experiences. She's set to produce and star in the project via ABC Studios-based producers Nina Wass and Gene Stein. Dave Flebotte ("Will & Grace") will pen it.

Untitled skein will revolve around a married woman who discovers her husband has been cheating on her and has an illegitimate child. She agrees to let the child and her mother move in with the family.

Shepherd has talked openly on "The View" about her marital difficulties, including her husband's infidelity and the child that resulted from that affair.

If the CW project goes forward, it wouldn't be the first time that a morning talkshow host has done double duty. Kelly Ripa juggled "Live With Regis and Kelly" and her ABC laffer for three seasons. And former "View" moderator Rosie O'Donnell had a recurring role on "Nip/Tuck" during her tenure with the talker.

It's a good bet the Shepherd project would lense in Gotham, allowing Shepherd to keep her chair on "The View."

Shepherd is a sitcom vet, most recently snagging a recurring role on NBC's "30 Rock." She also co-starred in the ABC Studios-produced "Less Than Perfect," which was produced by Wass and Stein.

Exec producers of the Shepherd project will be Wass, Stein and Flebotte. Flebotte is currently on the staff of FX's "Dirt"; his other credits range from "Ellen" to "The Bernie Mac Show."

Photo: Meredith's return

Poll Results

Here are the results from the latest poll...

What is your favourite line-up?

31% Barbara, Joy, Elisabeth, Rosie (9)
27% Barbara, Meredith, Star, Joy, Elisabeth (8)
27% Barbara, Joy, Elisabeth, Whoopi, Sherri (8)
10% Barbara, Meredith, Star, Joy, Lisa (3)
3% Barbara, Meredith, Star, Joy, Debbie (1)

Statistics:
27.5% of respondents preferred the current line-up
72.5% of respondents preferred an earlier line-up

Upcoming Schedule: Week of October 15

Whoopi Goldberg, moderator of ABC's "The View," revealed last week that she has a dirty little secret, one she has in common with millions of Americans - she smokes. Through her series of weekly segments, beginning Monday, Oct. 15, viewers will be taken on Whoopi's personal journey as she reveals for the first time how long she has smoked, why she smokes, how much she smokes and why she has finally decided to quit. Whoopi will be given tips from staff members and advice from medical experts on living a smoke-free life.

15/10: 2008 Democratic Presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton; Whoopi Goldberg launches "Whoopi's Kickin' Butts," her personal campaign to quit smoking; musical guest Evanescence.

16/10: Susan Lucci (ABC's "All My Children"); musical guest Amy Grant.

17/10: "Special Edition" theme show focusing on breast cancer awareness, early detection, prevention and breast cancer survivors.

18/10: Juliette Binoche ("Dan in Real Life"); Jerry Springer ("The Jerry Springer Show"); 2008 Democratic Presidential hopeful Chris Dodd.

19/10: Guest to be announced; Donny Deutsch ("The Big Idea with Donny Deutsch").

The latest View articles

TMZ.com: Photo of Star Jones and Barbara Walters outside restaurant yesterday

NYDailyNews.com: Rosie claims she was fired by Barbara Walters

ExtraTV.com: Meredith Viera says she won't read Rosie's book

BroadwayWorld.com: Joy Behar attending Rosie's art exhibition opening

Upcoming Schedule: Week of October 8

8/10: Meredith Vieira (host, "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire" and "Today"); Michelle Ryan ("The Bionic Woman").

9/10: Anderson Cooper ("Planet in Peril"); musical guest Paul Anka.

10/10: Tracy Morgan ("30 Rock").

11/10: Anne Heche (ABC's "Men in Trees"); Alan Greenspan and Andrea Mitchell (authors, "The Age of Turbulence").

12/10: Angie Harmon ("Women's Murder Club"); musical guest Sara Evans; Doris 'Granny D' Haddock.


Do you think maybe one day they might bring back Court TV's Star Jones? Ok, maybe not anytime soon.

Whoopi on Larry King

I missed Whoopi's appearance on Larry King last week. For those others who didn't catch it either you can read the transcript here.

Is Larry right about The View? Is it still the newsmaking program it was last season? I don't think so. Rosie was the lightning rod. She was what made the show politically relevant. Now they're just sitting at the table hoping no-one realises what's missing from the recipe. Here's a hint Barbara: It's not sex talk that's going to make the show interesting. It may have been taboo back in your day - now it's just boring.

Attack of the Conservatives

Sherri Shepherd needs to stop going on about God, honestly. She made it clear on her MySpace page earlier this year that if she got the co-host job she would use it to spread the word of God. Great. We're not interested love. Save it for Sundays.

The act of marriage at it's core is about legal recognition of a relationship. It's a legal document. If you happen to be religious then you make a commitment to God in your heart. But the actual signing of a document before a witness and the recognition of a union is legal to the core.

And Elisabeth seriously you need to shut up. She proposes that straight people who don't take up the option to get married are slapping gay people in the face. WTF? Straight people who don't get married still have legally recognised de-facto status (equal to marriage in the eyes of the law). Gay people aren't all desperate to get married in the eyes of God. It's about not being discriminated against, about having the choice and not being arbitrarily black-listed. How dare she drag gay relationships into her assertition that the choice to live a non-married life is socially wrong.

And Elisabeth...you look like a raccoon.

Another Elisabeth interview

Elisabeth has been interviewed by Good Housekeeping. The article entitled 'Having Her Say' can be found here.

More Rosie Revelations

USA Today has more interesting details from Rosie's memoir 'Celebrity Detox'. You can find the article here.

On Elisabeth: "She continued to apall me with her almost glib comments about torture, and who is right and who is wrong, but the feeling of baseline love stayed."

On Barbara: "What I wanted is what any sane person would have wanted: an intimate heart to heart, but Barbara doesn't do intimacy."

The View: Breast Cancer "Special Edition" show

On October 17th "The View" will broadcast a live one-hour special edition theme show focusing on breast cancer. It will be dedicated to awareness, early detection, prevention and breast cancer survivors. In addition to this they are releasing a limited edition pink ribbon mug on October 1st. The mug features "The View" logo embossed on the front and a pink ribbon, ABC and Yoplait logos on the reverse side. 100% of the net proceeds of the $25 mug will be donated to Susan G. Komen for the Cure. The co-hosts will use the mugs throughout October.

The View's ratings may not be so hot

The following article is from Rosie O'Donnell's blog. It was written by one of her associates on her behalf as a response to ABC's claim that the show is doing better than it was one year ago. Is she just being bitter, or is the network not telling the whole truth?

TRUTH IN ADVERTISING BABY!!!
Posted by ro on September 25th at 5:10pm

While im all about creative use of ratings, I think we need to do something with the lovely people at the view insisting that the ratings are up without rosie when in fact they are not. Please check out perez hilton from yesterday stating their ratings are up +16% versus YAG.

Here is the real data based on live plus same day viewing:

P2+ 3,576 + 7.8%
HH 2.8 rating versus 2.66 YAG + 5.3%
W 18- 49 1.47 versus 1.6 YAG - 8.8%
W 25-54 1.77 versus 1.92 YAG - 8.5%
W 18-34 1.03 versus 1.23 YAG - 19.4%
W 50+ 2.3 versus 2.13 YAG + 8.0 %

Note that the show is bought from an advertising perspective which is their only revenue stream on either the W 18-49 or 25-54 demo meaning they are LOSING revenue versus YAG. Also, the most valuable demo is the younger one 18-34 which is really hemmoraging. They are picking up older viewers 50+ which are of less value to advertisers.

Again - they should really use the ACTUAL REAL numbers in their press statements and if they don’t, then maybe we should...

TRUTH IN ADVERTISING BABY!!!

* YAG = year ago

Vintage View: The Original Cast

New poll

The new poll is up on the right side of the page. Have your say. What is your favourite line-up of co-hosts?

Upcoming Schedule: Week of October 1

1/10: America Ferrera (ABC's "Ugly Betty"); Chris Matthews (author, "Life's a Campaign"); Nick Kroll (ABC's "Cavemen").

2/10: Nancy Pelosi, current speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives; musical guest Faith Hill.

3/10: Sarah Silverman ("The Sarah Silverman Program"); Lee Pace ("Pushing Daisies").

4/10: Marcia Gay Harden ("Into the World"); Jack Cafferty (author, "It's Getting Wild Out There"); musical guest Annie Lennox.

5/10: Jason Schwartzman ("The Darjeeling Limited"); Ty Treadway ("Merv Griffin's Crosswords"); Cesar Millan (author, "Be the Pack Leader").

Talk show recaps

CNN has transcripts of Larry King's recent interviews with Kathy Griffin and Joy Behar.

And the official website for the Star Jones talk show has four clips of Whoopi Goldberg's appearance.

View news...

MSNBC.com has an article up entitled "What the hell is wrong with 'The View'? Morning gab-fest has nasty habit of turning well-liked women into pariahs". You can read it here.

Also some of you may have seen the View ladies making appearances on other talk shows this week. Joy appeared on Conan O'Brien and Whoopi joined Star Jones on her new talk show yesterday.

The results are in...

The poll is now closed. Here are the results...

How will Sherri's time end?

45% Departure after a feud (10)
27% Arrested by child services (6)
9% Booed off stage (2)
9% Evolved into another species (2)
9% Struck down by God's divine hand (2)

Sherri Shepherd was a trashy Oprah guest

TV Guide has done a very interesting interview with Sherri Shepherd. It's lengthy so I've only included the questions here that I think are the most noteworthy. To read the whole interview visit TVGuide.com.

TVGuide.com: Sherri Shepherd Discusses Her View Deal.

TVGuide.com: You were always a front-runner. Were you surprised at all that you got the Star Jones seat?
Sherri Shepherd: Yeah. I thought they would ask me to rotate with Kathy Griffin, but they said, "No, we want you to do it full-time."

TVGuide.com: The deal making took months and even halted for a while. What was the problem?
Shepherd: I was giving up a lot. I had to move to New York with my son, who has special needs. When you do sitcoms and movies, it pays a little bit more than doing a talk show. You know what the rents are like here in New York! That was a rude awakening. I was like, "Oh, we gotta go back to the table!"

TVGuide.com: Is it true you asked for $2 million a year?
Shepherd: If you ask for something too low and they go, "Yeah," then you sit here in New York paying a big old rent and you get evicted going, "Damn it! I'm doing The View and I'm homeless."

TVGuide.com: Somehow I don't see that. But you're saying you did throw out the $2 million figure?
Shepherd: Yeah! And there's nothing wrong with that. We came to a very, very happy medium.

TVGuide.com: Did Rosie or Star reach out to you?
Shepherd: Totally. Star was so supportive, and when I was wavering, Rosie said, "You gotta be able to tell your son you tried to do this."

TVGuide.com: Griffin really wanted the job. Still friends?
Shepherd: Actually, Kathy called and said, "Sistah, if they call you, you'd better take that job." And I said, "Oh my gosh, I don't know." And she said, "I'm going to kill you if you don't."

TVGuide.com: Where are you on the show's political spectrum?
Shepherd: I'm a Christian but that doesn't mean I'm going to vote Republican. I'm all about morals, but don't be talking about morals and then put your feet underneath somebody else's stall! This is very cool for me, because when I grew up as a Jehovah's Witness, we were encouraged not to be involved in politics. So I'm having a lot of fun researching the candidates. I'm OK sitting at the table and going, "I don't know what you guys are talkin' about."

TVGuide.com: Who do you most want to meet on the show?
Shepherd: Oprah, of course. I was on her show many years ago, back when it was like The Jerry Springer Show. I was on there snapping my fingers and hollering and screaming. When I meet Oprah, that is not what I will remind her of. Don't want it in her head that I was one of her ghetto guests.

A few things...

* Does anyone actually believe Sherri when she says she misheard the question about the world being flat? The video is up on the official site. She goes into a detailed reasoning for why she won't commit one way or another including a) She's never thought about it and b) If her son asks her she'll take him to the library to learn more. Does that sound like someone who didn't hear the question "Do you think the world is flat?" She should be careful too. That's the same library that's going to have books filled with information (and lies!) about evolution. I wouldn't be surprised if the reason she tried to clarify her statements today was because the producers pulled her aside. They should be worried.

* Joy claims there are people who won't appear on the show because of it's liberal co-hosts. Interesting. Whoopi announced that Manilow will appear in the future though. We'll see how that goes. And Elisabeth claims Alicia Silverstone called her to say she didn't deliberately snub her a few months back. Whatever Elisabeth.

* Bitsy is featured in the current issue of Pregnancy magazine. You can see her on the cover below.

Star Jones new show

If you haven't checked out the website for Star Jones new talk show you can find it here. The tagline really sums it up I guess. She's...topical.

Star Jones Health Problems

This was reported at MediaTakeOut.com. Hopefully it's not true.

MediaTakeOut.com: Star Jones Deadly Health Scare!!!

MediaTakeOut.com has learned that Star Jones has developed a potentially life threatening condition. According to reports, the former View talk show host is suffering from a severe breathing disorder. And the problem, experts say, needs to be treated immediately.

One prominent doctor who saw video of Star Jones' breathing problems is quoted as saying, "I would advise Star to see a doctor as soon as possible." The doctor continued, "It appears she has a high pitched sound with aspiration. This would suggest damage to her upper airway."

Another doctor has a far more grim diagnosis. MediaTakeOut.com learned that Dr. Bruce Nadler suspects that she may have complications from her gastric bypass surgery. Dr Nadler states, "Star is taking short breaths because she lost her ability to take a deep breath." The doctor explains, "Your ability to take a deep breath is dependent on the flexibility of your diaphragm. After gastric bypass surgery, scar tissue can develop on the intestines just below the diaphragm. The scar tissue is hard and can restrict the diaphragm's mobility."

Best Friends Forever!

Best Friends Forever...or until the inevitable feud followed by a tell-all book.

Here's a couple of promotional pictures of Barbara and Whoopi. They've been released for a while but I haven't seen them anywhere. Poor Sherri and her prolonged contract negotiations...no cast photo for you.


Click the images to see them larger. Remember all images are subject to copyright and belong to the multi-national billion dollar company Disney/ABC. These images are used for promotional purposes only. Enjoy the show.

Larry King update

Star Jones will be appearing tonight to discuss the new OJ Simpson drama. Joy Behar will now appear on Friday. Three View* mavens in one week!

*I'm counting Kathy :P

How it is

Love me some Whoop.

Manilow fallout

Barry Manilow is now on Barbara's enemy list. On her radio show today she sang a mocking version of "I Write The Songs" whilst adding the word 'liberal' to the lyrics. Meow...biatch.

And here's what Bill Geddie had to say about Manilow on Barbara's radio show:

"He said, 'I'll do Barbara and Whoopi or I'll do Whoopi and Sherri or some combination, but I won't sit with Elisabeth,' and I said 'Well, then you won't be on the show. He's not going to call the shots. You're not going to tell me how to produce the show."

All I can say is bring on the celebrity snubs!

Sherri Shepherd is a joke

Sherri Shepherd is not a comedian. She is a joke. Today's discussion on evolution and the world has confirmed that Sherri is a complete idiot. What an absolute blunder on the part of the shows producers.

She doesn't believe in evolution. Ok so thats nothing new from her. But when it comes to whether or not the world is flat she won't commit one way or another? Come on. And she quotes from the bible like it's a historically factual document. Jesus Christ! Someone take her off the show, seriously. She needs to go. What an embarrassment. Where is the intelligent discussion?

Manilow will not appear because of Elisabeth

Barry Manilow was originally scheduled to appear this week however that will now not happen. According to TMZ this is due to his personal dislike for Elisabeth Hasselbeck. In a statement to TMZ Manilow said, "I strongly disagree with her views. I think she's dangerous and offensive. I will not be on the same stage as her." (Brilliant!)

TMZ clarifies that he will not appear because the show's producers decided against having him as a guest after his people requested Elisabeth be absent. You can read the full artile here.

I'm a Fanilow.

UPDATE: The IMDb reports a longer quote from Manilow...

"I strongly disagree with her views. I think she's dangerous and offensive. I will not be on the same stage as her... I cannot compromise my beliefs." He adds, "I had made a request that I be interviewed by co-hosts Joy Behar, Barbara Walters or Whoopi Goldberg, but not Elisabeth Hasselbeck. Unfortunately, the show was not willing to accommodate this simple request, so I bowed out."

Image: Sherri Shepherd shakes it

Sherri Shepherd at The Blank Theatre Company Young Playwrights Festival 2006. Foxy.

Upcoming Schedule: Week of September 24

24/9: Jimmy Smits ("Cane"); 2008 Democratic Presidential candidate Joe Biden (author, "Promises to Keep"); Zachary Levi ("Chuck").

25/9: Jenny McCarthy (author, "Louder Than Words"); Joey Fatone ("The Singing Bee").

26/9: Kate Walsh (ABC's "Private Practice"); Christopher Titus (ABC's "Big Shots"); anti-aging products.

27/9: 2008 Democratic Presidential candidate Barack Obama (D Ill).

28/9: Jason Lee ("My Name Is Earl"), ABC News' Diane Sawyer ("Good Morning America").


Looks like a big week as far as politics goes. Senator Hillary Clinton was originally scheduled to appear on September 12th however that did not occur.

Rosie on Elisabeth: More from 'Celebrity Detox'

ETOnline: Rosie O'Donnell's New Book: The Inside Scoop

ROSIE O'DONNELL's blistering new tell-all, Celebrity Detox, is stirring up big-time controversy - and ET has a first look at what's inside!

In the book, out October 9, the former "View" co-host opens up about her relationship with BARBARA WALTERS, saying that they didn't always get along - and sometimes even fought over certain issues of control.

"I did not do whatever Barbara Walters asked," says Rosie on page nine. "In fact, I did very little of what she asked."

In the book, Rosie prints a letter that she wrote to her brother in which she clearly didn't feel she was allowed to be herself on the air. She writes, "There is no way I can stay on this show. It is everything I am not. It's called 'The View,' but that's a misnomer; it's really a view, one view, ABC's view, and I'm not a parrot or a puppet...I'm never going to be accepted here."

Rosie also sent Barbara an advance copy of her book, in which she suggests the "View" clan matron should retire, saying, "At some point, a person gets tired. It's inevitable."

Last May, Rosie exited "The View" three weeks earlier than her planned departure, just days after she and conservative co-host ELISABETH HASSELBECK got into a heated on-air dispute regarding the war in Iraq that, at times, turned personal.

On Elisabeth, Rosie writes: "Elisabeth, antiabortion, pro Bush, pro war, believes in everything I don't, and I believe in everything she doesn't. She's as slender as I am fat, as restrained as I am vociferous, as polite as I am frank," adding, "Right from the start I could see in this slip of a girl so different from me, I could see something fierce, a fist in the frill, and I liked that. But we had no language in common."

As for Rosie's much-publicized battle with DONALD TRUMP, she writes: "I started to feel somewhat sorry for him. I also started to see that he was not a man. He had once maybe been a man, or a boy, but that human spirit seemed to have gotten lost to a mechanical repetitive meanness, a push-button person with its circuits askew."

Another stunning revelation leaked from the book has Rosie writing about using a bat to break her own bones as a child, saying, "My hands and fingers usually. No one knew. It was my secret."

Why would she do such a thing to herself? Rosie writes that she did it as "proof I had some value, enough to be fixed." She also writes, "There were many benefits to having a cast. In the middle of the night, it was a weapon." But she never addresses why she might need a weapon.

Stay tuned to ET for more!

Reasons to watch Larry King

Joy Behar will be appearing on Larry King Live on September 19th. As previously mentioned, Kathy Griffin will appear on September 17th. Be sure to tune in.

Elisabeth and Sean Hannity really grate my cheese

How can Elisabeth admire and defend Sean Hannity? He just did a segment called 'Exposing Al Gore' which showed footage of Al Gore getting off a private jet. How can you tear someone down who's trying to fight for a good cause? Gore may have a big carbon footprint but is that not offset by the good that he's doing? Who knows how many trees Gore is buying to offset his carbon emissions or what other small things he's doing on a personal level. The guy is trying to promote change on a global scale. If all of our energy was supplied through renewable and environmentally friendly means it would make a huge difference. That's what he's promoting and campaigning for. Only a nitwit would seek to destroy someone trying to protect our future.

Rosie criticizes Barbara

People: Rosie O'Donnell Tells Barbara Walters to Retire

Rosie O'Donnell has some words of advice for Barbara Walters: Go, already.

In her upcoming memoir, Celebrity Detox, which sheds light on, among other episodes in her life, the TV star's tumultuous stint last season on The View, O'Donnell, 45, addresses Walters, 77, to say, "And Barbara. At some point, a person gets tired. It's inevitable," the New York Post reports.

"Barbara Walters is almost twice my age," the book (which is to be published Oct. 9) is quoted as saying. "At some point it becomes necessary to step back. Everyone has to go. Going is part of the gig."

O'Donnell also reportedly states, "I would be less-than-honest if I were to say that there is no trouble between Barbara and I. I mean, our differences are obvious."

O'Donnell writes that during commercial breaks on The View, audience members would sometimes shout out, "I love you, Rosie" – "and Barbara politely tells them in a schoolteacher tone, 'It is impolite to say I love you to one person when there are four of us up here.' "

In a statement on Tuesday, Walters says, "Rosie has written a very sad book, but I choose to focus on the happier times we had and hope to have in the future."

In the Q&A section of her Web site, O'Donnell responds to a couple of inquiries about the book. "[I]t hurt her feelings," O'Donnell answers about Walters's reaction. Asked if she's "ready for the storm that will surely follow the release," she advises, "engage deflector shields."

As might be expected, O'Donnell's book also tosses barbs at her old feuding partner, Donald Trump. Of their fight, which started when she commented on his handling of the Miss USA scandal, O'Donnell writes, according to the Post's Page Six column, "I honestly did not anticipate the malice of his response."

This time defending Walters, whom Trump called a "liar," O'Donnell reportedly writes, "I did not anticipate that he would be cruel enough to do what he did to Barbara. She should have been left alone."

Asked for comment on what her former co-host has written, Walters on Monday told Extra, "Rosie sent me the book with a note telling me how much she loved me. I have read the book – and I would like to concentrate on the love that she sent."

O'Donnell's publicist, Cindi Berger, is also quoted as telling the Post, "Rosie loves and adores Barbara and always will."

For her part, rather than scaling back, Walters is, in fact, stepping up her professional activities. On Tuesday SIRIUS Satellite Radio announced that, staring Sept. 17, she will host Barbara Live, a weekly live call-in show on SIRIUS Stars channel 102, Mondays from 6 to 7 p.m. ET.

O'Donnell's blasts, meanwhile, arrive a week after Whoopi Goldberg, 51, made her debut in the chair vacated last May by O'Donnell and as the latest member of the show, Sherri Shepherd, 40, joins the panel.

Not that O'Donnell isn't squawking a bit about the book herself. As she posted on her blog last Thursday (spelling and punctuation hers):

so i just got my first hard copy of my new book
CELEBRITY DETOX
there on the front flap
in print

"when rosie odonnells mother was diagnosed with cancer in 1968, ten year old rosie thought fame could cure her"

i was born in 1962
my mother got sick in 1973

WTF !!!!!!!!!!

Meredith Vieira to appear on The View

Former co-host Meredith Vieira will appear on The View on October 8th to promote the forthcoming 'Who Wants To Be A Millionaire' DVD game. It will be her first appearance since she departed last year.

Kathy Griffin ROCKS!

As mentioned in Hot Topics today, Kathy Griffin is in hot water with Christians after her controversial Emmy Award acceptance speech. It included the following:

"A lot of people come up here and thank Jesus for this award. I want you to know that no one had less to do with this award than Jesus."

"Can you believe this shit? Hell has frozen over. Suck it, Jesus, this award is my god now."

Congratulations to Kathy on the win.

Barbara: Just Because

I just remembered this pic and thought I'd put it up again. She looks so proud.

FYI I didn't digitally alter her dress to make it off-the-shoulder. That chicken wing is all hers.

Sherri Shepherd's first day

I may have to eat my words...I'm actually coming around to the idea of having Sherri on the panel permanently. And I'm loving Whoopi as moderator. She's really together and considers things before she speaks. I'm looking forward to seeing the co-hosts gel together without Barbara. She's like Tom Cruise - total control freak. And poor Elisabeth...no one listens (you think she'd take a hint). Anyways, congratulations to Sherri Shepherd, I know she fought tooth and press-on nail to get the gig.

Upcoming schedule: Week of September 17

17/9: Mandy Moore performs; Mario Cantone's Emmy Wrap-up.

18/9: Joy Behar's new book; actor Dennis Haysbert. (Barry Manilow was originally scheduled to perform but will now not appear.)

19/9: Singer Gloria Estefan; Macy's fashion show.

20/9: Reba McEntire performs; Emmy dress look-alikes.

21/9: Actors Jessica Alba and Dane Cook ("Good Luck Chuck"); Leeza Gibbons.


President Palmer!

New poll

I've added a poll to the blog for the first time. Hope you enjoy it. Please everyone remember it's just a light-hearted thing, no real ill-will on my part. It's just a small way of protesting and entertaining at the same time. Keep it real :P

P.S. If you'd like to make any comments about the poll or the poll topic you can always post a comment reply to this blog entry.

Elisabeth's 'Glamour' interview

All we need is a strong gust of wind and...WHOOSH!

The latest issue of Glamour features an interesting interview with Elisabeth Hasselbeck in which she discusses - among other things - being a minority among liberals and the status of her non-friendship with Rosie O'Donnell. You can read the article 'How to come out on top' here.

Thanks but no thanks, Kathie Lee

Kathie Lee Gifford was approached to join The View. Is this interesting? If you think so then you can check out the article entitled 'Kathie Lee Shocker: The View Wanted Me' at The New York Post.

Coming soon

Sherri Shepherd wishes she was that shape! It looks more like Star Jones is returning after her successful gastric by-pass surgery.

New co-host to join The View on September 10th!

Barbara announced today that the new permanent co-host will be joining the panel from next Monday, September 10th. An insider has confirmed that the person will in fact be...Sherri Shepherd. Dammit. I so wanted Kathy Griffin.

Also read on for details of yesterday's ratings and Whoopi's response to the mini controversy surrounding her comments about dog fighting.

USA Today: ABC's 'The View' finds newest member

NEW YORK (AP) — Actress Sherri Shepherd will be introduced next week as a new cast member on The View, giving the daytime chat show its first full cast since before Rosie O'Donnell came and went.

The show's creator, Barbara Walters, said Wednesday that she would reveal the new cast member on Monday. That will be Shepherd, said a person close to the show who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Shepherd is no stranger to The View. She was a guest host more than a dozen times, many of them this summer as she tried out for a cast slot left empty since Star Jones Reynolds left last summer.

She appears in the upcoming film Who's Your Caddy. Her lengthy resume includes roles on Pauly Shore Is Dead and The Jamie Foxx Show. She even played God once on the CBS show Joan of Arcadia, although it's doubtful her new colleagues will give her the same voice of authority.

Published reports had Walters set to appoint Shepherd in late July, around the time Whoopi Goldberg was selected as the show's new moderator. But the announcement was delayed, perhaps a sign that hardball negotiations were taking place.

Meanwhile, preliminary Nielsen Media Research ratings found that 3.4 million people watched Goldberg's debut on Tuesday. That's one million shy of O'Donnell's audience for her first show last September. O'Donnell's stormy tenure on The View lasted less than a year.

Goldberg created headlines of her own her first day by defending NFL star Michael Vick in his dogfighting case. Goldberg said that where Vick came from in the South, dogfighting isn't unusual.

On her Wake Up With Whoopi radio show heard on New York's WKTU-FM on Wednesday, Goldberg said she wanted to make clear she didn't condone Vick's actions. The Atlanta Falcons quarterback admitted he provided money for a dogfighting ring that operated on his property and helped kill six to eight pit bulls.

"I do not think what Michael Vick was smart," she said. "I am thrilled that the cops took care of it."

The first day of season 11

Goldberg already in hot water

New York Daily News: Whoopi Goldberg defends Michael Vick's dogfighting in first day on 'The View'

So much for the sedate alternative to Rosie O'Donnell on "The View." Whoopi Goldberg used her first day on the daytime chat show Tuesday to defend football star Michael Vick in his dogfighting case.

Goldberg said that "from where he comes from" in the South, dogfighting isn't that unusual.

"It's like cockfighting in Puerto Rico," she said. "There are certain things that are indicative to certain parts of the country."

The Atlanta Falcons quarterback pleaded guilty to federal dogfighting charges last week, admitting that he provided money for a dogfighting ring that operated on his Virginia property and helped kill six or eight pit bulls. Vick grew up in Newport News, Va.

Goldberg was selected by series creator Barbara Walters to replace O'Donnell, whose stormy tenure on the ABC program lasted less than a year.

In the Vick discussion, Goldberg served notice that she won't shy away from controversy.

Co-host Joy Behar looked horrified at Goldberg.

"How about dog torture and dog murdering?" Behar asked.

For many people, dogs are sport, Goldberg replied, and it appeared it took awhile for Vick to realize that he was up against serious charges.

"I just thought it was interesting, because it seemed like a light went off in his head when he realized this was something that the entire country didn't appreciate," she said.

Vick has been suspended indefinitely by the National Football League and will be sentenced on the dogfighting charges in December. He apologized and asked for forgiveness upon entering his plea in federal court last week.

The 5th co-host will be announced soon

It has been officially confirmed that another new co-host will be announced soon.

Access Hollywood: As for the mysterious fifth co-host expected to join the show? Walters told Access Hollywood after today's taping, "We will shortly be adding a new member to the panel, and it's not George Clooney as some have suggested — but it is somebody the audience will know (already). That's all I want to say."

ExtraTV: With two comedians already on board, Barbara broke news to "Extra," revealing another one will soon join the permanent panel. "It will be somebody I think who will add to the humor," Barbara confessed. "I will give you no other clues."

Reuters: ABC confirmed Tuesday that the late-morning gabfest would have a fourth co-host by the end of this year. "We have a person in mind," executive producer Bill Geddie said Tuesday afternoon after the program had wrapped with only one guest, Danny DeVito, and the requisite talk by Goldberg, creator/part-time co-host Barbara Walters and co-hosts Joy Behar and Elisabeth Hasselbeck. Geddie said the new co-host could be on the set by the time Hasselbeck takes maternity leave in November.

These articles also reveal more details about Whoopi's first day on the job and the fact that she received phone calls from both Rosie and Star Jones before her debut. Access Hollywood and Extra also feature footage from the set.

The question is, who will the new co-host be? Given all indications the smart money is on Sherri Shepherd (aka Star Jones-Lite). Kathy Griffin seems like a long shot now since her name hasn't been mentioned for some time. Time will tell I guess.

Upcoming Schedule: Week of September 10

10/9: Dr. Phil ("Dr. Phil").

11/9: Susan Sarandon ("In the Valley of Elah"); Miranda Cosgrove ("Icarly").

12/9: Musical performance from Broadway's "Xanadu." (Presidential Candidate Senator Hillary Clinton no longer listed)

13/9: Martha Stewart ("Martha Stewart"); musical guest Kenny Chesney.

14/9: Michael Douglas ("King of California").

Regis and Rachel Ray followed by Dr. Phil and Martha Stewart. Who's next, Ellen and Oprah?

Whoopi Goldberg interview from TV Guide

You do movies, you have a daily radio show, you had your own talk show...so why The View?
I always liked the show. I always felt if there were a place for me, I'd love to be a part of it, but they always had their hosts. Then I started hearing little rumblings. It turns out that the timing couldn't be better and it all worked out.

Why is it a good fit?
I love to talk and I love these women. Because they have such diverse ideas about things, it's fun. Also it'll help me understand a lot more about what's going on in the world of pop culture. I don't know anything about American Idol or who's married to who and getting divorced from who.

Is there any subject you can't wait to sink your teeth into? Everything! We have an election year coming up, so to sit with all the candidates and hear what their thoughts are will be wonderful. There's a lot of great shows on television and some new ones coming up. There's so many exciting things happening out there.

Did Rosie's nemesis Donald Trump call you to congratulate you?
No, but Donald's nice.

You dress very casual. Will you change your style for the show?
Cleaner sneakers, neater shirts. That's me.

What's your catch phrase as moderator?
I am what I am. Me and Popeye.

More changes at The View

Details have been released about the new set and changes to the website.


From the Press Release:

Among the most highly anticipated and noted changes for the show this season is the addition of Whoopi Goldberg, a beloved star of television, stage and screen. Ms. Goldberg will serve as moderator, sitting alongside fellow co-hosts Barbara Walters, Joy Behar and Elisabeth Hasselbeck.

Additionally, "The View" set has been freshened this year with warm hues of yellow - both paint and fabric. The show returns to the signature wooden "Hot Topics" table from two seasons ago, replacing the recent acrylic table.

A new online destination for "The View" (abc.com/keyword: theview) rolls out Friday, August 31. Streaming video will be front and center so fans can watch "Hot Topics" clips and show segments while connecting with like-minded viewers in an intuitive and user-friendly way. Later this year the official online destination unveils progressive features and functionality that will serve the show's thriving and passionate online community.

A new stylized pop art designed official "View" mug will make its debut the week of September 10. Again this season the entire studio audience will receive giveaways and cookies courtesy of Keebler and juice courtesy of Apple & Eve.

The latest View-news

Both Barbara and Whoopi will appear on Good Morning America on Tuesday September 4th to promote the launch of the new season.

Also, People.com has an alternate cast photo, this one showing more of the co-hosts and Elisabeth's noticable baby-bump. There's an article that goes with it, which you can read here. It includes details about the photoshoot. The most interesting comment is from an ABC insider who says they're not focused on securing a fifth co-host immediately, "Right now, it's all about Whoopi."


And finally, if you're interested, here is a look at the fall 2007 mug:

New cast photo

ABC has updated The View's official site. Apparently they're "Whoopin it up". The ABC marketing people are so...is creative the right word? As for the new cast photo, what do you think? It's definitely very reminiscent of the one from last year.

Kathy Griffin returning to Larry King

Just a short note to say Kathy Griffin will appear on Larry King Live on September 17th. Be sure to check it out. I'm sure there'll be some mention of The View.

(Screaming like a maniac) I love you Kathy!

The View: E! True Hollywood Story is coming!!!

In some very exciting news it has been reported that The View will be the focus of an upcoming E! True Hollywood Story. The episode will air on E! this September 8th. The report of this news can be found at Black Voices Blogs. They also have up some sneak preview quotes from the special. Here's a sample:

Syracuse University Television Professor Robert Thompson on 'The View' – "The more we became invested in that family, the more interesting it became when they threatened to break apart, and, of course, the greatest moments of 'The View' are when the whole thing is going terribly wrong."

How true.

Schedule: Week of September 3

ABC has released the schedule for the first week of season 11.

Press Release
"The View," ABC's Emmy Award-winning talk and entertainment program returns, live, Tuesday, Sept. 4 (11:00 a.m.-12:00 noon, ET) for its 11th season with special guest star Danny DeVito.

Among the most highly anticipated changes for the show this season is the addition of Whoopi Goldberg. Ms. Goldberg will serve as moderator, seated alongside fellow co-hosts Barbara Walters, Joy Behar and Elisabeth Hasselbeck.

3/9: Celebrity guest co-host Maria Lark ("Medium"); Ashley Tisdale ("High School Musical 2"); Drake Bell and Josh Peck ("Drake & Josh"); musical performance by Alyson and Amanda Michalka ("Aly & AJ"); Jacob, Marki, Spencer, Alana and Kyle from "Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?"

4/9: Danny DeVito.

5/9: Tim Gunn (”Tim Gunn’s Guide to Style”); Larry David (”Curb Your Enthusiasm”). (Clive Owen will not be appearing as previously listed)

6/9: Regis Philbin ("Live with Regis & Kelly"); musical guest Patti Scialfa.

7/9: Rachael Ray ("Rachael Ray"); Monique Coleman ("High School Musical 2"); Glenn Howerton and Kaitlin Olson ("It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia").

I can't stand Rachael Ray. She's so fake peppy. Like her life's so f*ing perfect. And don't get me started on Oprah. If she's such a humanitarian why does she have so many mansions? How much does one greedy woman need? I'm not criticising her for having stuff (I'm sure she's a fan of capitalism), but she's not someone who's given all she can. She still likes her bubble baths, you know what I mean? Man she grinds my gears.

The latest View-news

The episode airing on Monday September 3rd is a new episode which has already been recorded. It features Medium's Maria Lark as guest co-host. Being just nine years of age she is the youngest co-host the show has ever had. She talks like she's fourty though, so aside from being short it shouldn't really make a difference.

Also, there's a couple of articles about The View in the current issue of Elle Magazine. First is an oral history which includes comments from former co-hosts (Meredith and Debbie) and former guest co-hosts (Perez Hilton and Margaret Cho among others). Second is an article about Rosie O'Donnell which you can read on the Elle website.

The latest on The View...

According to The New York Post Barbara Walters has approached Whoopi Goldberg about occasionally performing some of her stage characters in special segments for The View. Does Barbara really think this is what the public wants? I can't believe how out of touch she is on so many things.

And in Sherri Shepherd news, the buxom vixen is refusing to give in. Whilst on the set of a new game show she told Access Hollywood, "We're still in talks so hopefully you'll see me there in that chair in September."

She then joked she was on the show playing for a particular cause: "As a matter of fact, 'The View' is my charity that I'm playing for. I'm playing for the Barbara Walters Give Me a Job Foundation Fund." So...funny. Desperation is such a flattering feature.

She continued, "My theory and my philosophy is I'm going to be as aggressive as I can, and try to win this and get my charity some money." And if she doesn't win? "If not, you will see me on The View. [If] I'm not working, I'm homeless." Yeah, something tells me Sherri isn't really hard up for money. Maybe by Hollywood standards?

A 2nd new co-host WILL be announced...at some point

It's official. On today's show Whoopi Goldberg was announced as the new moderator of The View. Not entirely surprising of course. But she's a good choice and I hope she does well and sticks around.

So where was the other new co-host we were all expecting? Well it turns out - and I'm thinking God himself has intervened here - Sherri Shepherd is in the process of screwing herself out of the deal. Read on, gentle Viewers...

From In Touch Weekly:

Comedian Whoopi Goldberg wasn't the only new host that The View hoped to introduce to its lineup this week. In Touch has learned exclusively that Barbara Walters had planned to announce on August 1 that actress Sherri Shepherd would be coming aboard too. Unfortunately, negotiations between, Sherri, who starred on Less than Perfect and Suddenly Susan, and the ABC talk show stalled just days ago. "They just couldn't work out the money part of it," an insider tells In Touch. "They weren't willing to pay Sherri what she was asking for." It's speculated that Sherri demanded at least $2 million - which insiders say is what Whoopi will receive for her first year on the air.

Although the negotiations with Sherri aren't necessarily over, In Touch has learned that The View has also resumed its conversation with former CNN news anchor and syndicated radio host Jacque Reid, who has guest-hosted more than six times. Barbara and the other producers are committed to adding a fifth host to The View before the new season begins on September 4.

Sherri's rebuttal to E! News:

"I love being on The View," Shepherd told E! News Wednesday. "As far as we are concerned, talks are ongoing."

Shepherd also disputed an In Touch report claiming she wanted a $2 million deal. "The financial information that has been reported is inaccurate," she said.

Meanwhile, a rep for The View confirmed that producers are looking to fill the fifth seat, but that it won't necessarily go to Shepherd: "They are having ongoing discussions with several people."

OMG this about-turn of events is amazing. I'm stunned. Kathy Griffin is still probably out of the running (unfortunately), but it looks like Sherri's headed towards the door as well.

Double-D mugshot

In breaking news Sherri Shepherd has found herself in serious legal trouble. Her boobs have been arrested on suspicion of murder. This stems from her recent appearance at a church event in California where she was witnessed embracing a group of small children. It is alleged that whilst doing so she inadvertently smothered them, depriving the children of oxygen. Sadly, there were no survivors.

Eerily echoing Lindsay Lohan's mugshot, I bring you Sherri Shepherd's boobs (brought to you be Ford)...

I can't resist...

Remember those Chinese Crested dogs they had on the show last week? I'm sorry I can't resist this. Does she or does she not remind you of a Chinese Crested? I'm just waiting for her tongue to roll out.

Today's the day

Be sure to watch The View today. Barbara is set to make the big announcement. One host? Two? Whoopi? Sherri? Hopefully not Sherri. Maybe we could just refuse to accept that she's really there? It seems to work for her when it comes to evolution.

Argh. How can someone be so proud about being stupid? Maybe she'll be the new Paris or Jessica. Does anyone even remember Jessica? Fame...so fleeting.

Sherri Shepherd: pre-gastric bypass Star?

Linda Stasi of The New York Post has some straight-forward things to say about Whoopi Goldberg and Sherri Shepherd in an article entitled 'Big Whoop'.

On Whoopi: "Maybe you've forgotten how much of a lunatic, ranting raver Whoopi was before she got nice."

On Sherri: "[She] looks bizarrely like the pre-gastric bypass Star."

To read the full article visit The New York Post.

Elisabeth likes Whoopi...so does everyone else

Barbara has promised an announcement will be made some time this week as to who the new co-host(s) will be. So, is it just Whoopi? Or is it Whoopi and Sherri? The anticipation is really...not so much there. Just do it aleady, like a band-aid.

Elisabeth Hasselbeck has thrown in her two cents about Whoopi Goldberg saying, "She is soulful, has a world of experience to bring to the table, and I don't sense any sort of political agenda. She is so funny, but at the same time, she is one of the most thoughtful people that I've met." [The bold text is my effect. It just strikes me as funny that she would say that.]

You can read more of Elisabeth's comments at People.com.

Whoopi and Sherri all but signed

It's being reported all over the place now that Whoopi Goldberg and Sherri Shepherd are in the final stages of negotiation to join The View as permanent co-hosts. You can read all the latest at The New York Times website.

Also this week Sherri has set her MySpace profile to private. Guess she's gone into hiding now she's gonna be famous. Girlfriend (snap!).

New York Post rips Bitsy Hasselbeck

The New York Post has an interesting new article on Elisabeth Hasselbeck entitled: "The Survivor. Ignored, Insulted - And Not Budging. It's Bitsy's 'View' Now." Click here to check it out.

Excerpts:

Indeed, Hasselbeck has argued on-air that adulterers can't be good parents, that the morning-after pill is tantamount to abortion, and that, "especially in a time of war" (one of her favorite phrases), torture is necessary. She typically responds to information she finds discomfiting with "I'd like to research that." She has used the nonexistent word "desperacy" more than once. She has brushed off U.S. casualties of the Iraq war as "unfortunate," while noting the U.S. has an all-volunteer Army.

Walters does reiterate Hasselbeck's appeal among young women viewers, who relate to her as a wife and mother (the Hasselbecks have a 2-year-old daughter, Grace, and are expecting their second child in November). "She tells whhooon-derful stories about her daughter," Walters coos. "For example, on yesterday's show, she told this adorable story about having to borrow her daughter's diapers." (The short version: Hasselbeck peed in two of them after a long car ride to Jersey.) "It was a wonderful story."

Schedule: Weeks of July 23 & July 30

Oh my goodness, the show has been so average the last couple of weeks. The only person keeping the show alive at the moment is Joy Behar. Oh and here's a tip Barbara: it's not cute when you make out you have no idea about MySpace. Are you in touch or out of touch? Bless her for trying to stay current.

Okay, here's the schedule for the next two weeks (including today...oops I'm late). I'm looking foward to Chelsea Handler's turn as guest-host. It's pretty clear they've stopped looking for new potential permanent hosts though. Guess they're close to announcing a decision. I also like the line-up for this week with all the ladies from the entertainment news shows. Okies, here goes...

This Week:
23/7 Guest co-host Victoria Recaño ("The Insider"); Amanda Bynes ("Hairspray").

24/7 Guest co-host Maria Menounos ("Access Hollywood"); musical guest Minnie Driver; shopping with a conscience.

25/7 Guest co-host Giuliana DePandi ("E! News Daily"); James Marsden ("Hairspray"); Cheryl Ladd.

26/7 Guest co-host Dayna Devon (”Extra”); Martin Sheen; musical guest Billy Ray Cyrus.

27/7 Guest co-host Sherri Shepherd; John Travolta and Queen Latifah ("Hairspray").

Next Week:
30/7 Guest co-host Nancy Grace (CNN Headline News' "Nancy Grace"); Jason Priestley ("Side Order of Life"); musical guest SugarLand; an audience member wins a car.

31/7 Guest co-host Joan Rivers; George Lopez ("Balls of Fury"); Alan and Denise Jackson; musical guest Alan Jackson.

1/8 Jon Voight ("September Dawn"); a musical performance from the cast of Broadway's "Xanadu," summer gadgets for kids.

2/8 Guest co-host Chelsea Handler (E!'s "Chelsea Lately"); Julia Stiles ("The Bourne Ultimatum"); Zac Efron ("High School Musical 2" and "Hairspray").

3/8 "The View: Special Edition" - A preview of Fall politics, television, film and fashion from Anderson Cooper (CNN's "Anderson Cooper 360"); People, Entertainment Weekly and Nina Garcia ("Project Runway"), respectively; guest co-hosts Caroline Rhea and "All My Children" star Melissa Claire Egan.

The episode airing on August 3rd is the last episode for season 10. New episodes of The View will return on September 4th with a new co-host line-up and with a reportedly brand-new set! Perhaps Donald Trump will provide a re-inforced chair to support rumoured co-host Sherri Shepherd's boobs. Stay tuned.

Patti LaBelle: View co-host?

This article doesn't really confirm anything one way or the other. Apparently someone supposedly close to singer Patti LaBelle has revealed that she may or may not take the permanent co-host gig if it was offered. Brilliant. Theoretically she would think about it if she was offered. But she hasn't been offered. So who cares? Whatever. Here it is...

BlackVoices
Patti LaBelle: Ready to See 'The View'

Is Patti LaBelle the latest black notable in the running for a co-host gig on ABC's popular chat-fest 'The View'?

Possibly, a source close to the Grammy Award winning R&B legend told 'The BV Newswire' today.

"She would definitely consider it," the insider said about the prospect of having the Philadelphia soul sister shake things up on a daily basis with Barbara Walters, Joy Behar and Elisabeth Hasselback.

The motor-mouthed diva would be a far cry from some of the other black faces - including Whoopi Goldberg, Sherri Shepherd and Gayle King - the beleaguered Walters-helmed talker has rolled out as guest co-hosts lately.

Since the headline grabbing Rosie O'Donnell vacated her seat as chief moderator of 'The View,' in May, there are still two slots to fill to make up the quintet. The show's original co-host Star Jones-Reynolds "prematurely" announced that she was departing the show a year before, causing a media stir for Walters.

LaBelle, who is enjoying a near 50-year career in the music business (in 1958, she formed the quartet The Ordettes), is no stranger for the talk-show television format. Aside from being a featured guest on every major chat-fest, the woman formerly known as Patricia Holt-Armstead voiced the theme to 'The Oprah Winfrey Show' for a few seasons in the late 1990s, following her numerous and memorable appearances on the show, while promoting her best-selling cookbook 'LaBelle Cuisine.'
The 63-year-old former Labelle front-woman, who is known to be one of the more outspoken personalities in her class, also hosts her own TV One show, 'Living It Up with Patti LaBelle.'

A spokeswoman for LaBelle was not available at press time.

Star wants to interview Rosie!

Access Hollywood
Star Jones Wants Rosie's View
NEW YORK, NY (July 16, 2007) – Rosie O'Donnell has lashed out at a number of people over the years. In March of 2006, the lashee was Star Jones and in particular, her "View" predecessor’s incredible weight loss.

"I just don’t think, being a fatty myself, I don't think you can lose over a hundred pounds doing pilates," O'Donnell said.

At the time, Rosie was commenting on Star's significant weight loss, which the former "View" lady wasn't spilling the secrets on.

O'Donnell's little comment certainly didn't help things between her and Star, but more than a year later, it appears Star may be ready to forgive all as she extends a big invitation to Rosie.

"I could do so many ideal first guests, anybody from Michael Jackson, to Don Imus, to Rosie O'Donnell," Star told Access.

Yes, you have that correct – a much more studious-looking Star Jones-Reynolds wants Rosie O'Donnell on her new Court TV talk show – "The Star Jones Show."

The personal invite would put the two ladies face-to-face for the first time since reports surfaced of a bitter feud.

"I actually don't have a turbulent past with Rosie," Star explained to Access. "That's a very interesting thing - the world thinks that there was this big feud. There was never a feud at all."

In fact, it's Rosie's outspokenness that is behind Star's guest request.

"Rosie's provocative and smart and in your face and no, I don't agree with everything she says but I would love to have her sit down and talk current events with me and go toe-to-toe," Jones-Reynolds said. "If nothing else, that's going to be good television."

In related Star news, in the coming weeks, expect the thinned down star to finally reveal the truth about her weight loss.

"By the time we go on the air, every question you might have had, you'll have answers to," she said.

In fact, Star has dished on her weight loss to Glamour magazine. All her secrets will be revealed in their September issue.

Still love u Rosie

This is from Rosie's blog re: defacing Elisabeth on her homosexual cruise ship...

person writes:
i just saw what you did to a picture of elizabeth on your cruise.don’t you think that is very immature?

seth rudesky did it

Lee writes:
I know the defacement of EH was Seth's idea. But why do you condone that and add to the maliciousness? Just curious. It was beneath you.

yes i agree
a bad decision


FYI naysayers, I know the cruise ship isn't gay. I just like to decribe it that way.

Sherri Shepherd struck down mute

I was actually enjoying todays ep without being irritated by Sherri Shepherd. She had a lot of relevant personal experiences to discuss in Hot Topics. I thought I was gonna have to eat my words. Well, they're only half eaten. In the past she has on occassion sat back and not offered anything in discussions with guests. It happened again today, in this case it was with Carl Bernstein. I'm left to think either she had absolutely no thoughts or opinions to contribute to the discussion, or she's forgotten she's actually a co-host and not part of the audience. Sherri, wake up girl!

I really want her to say more cause I'm waiting for her to come out with some of her trademark outrageous/ignorant/ridiculous comments. It's both infuriating and entertaining. Anyways, today I will admit I am becoming more resigned and accustomed to Sherri's presence. She'll probably do something soon enough to get me going though.

Star Jones wants more colour

It's been 12 months since the show had a permanent African American presence and Star Jones thinks it's about time that changes...

TV Guide
Star Jones: The View Really Needs a Splash of Color

New Court TV host Star Jones didn't want to comment on the recent turmoil of her former on-air home The View. But she couldn't help herself. Speaking to reporters at the Television Critics Assoc. tour on Sunday, she said she was "disappointed" that the ABC daytime chatfest still doesn't have a regular black panelist. "There is no person of color that has been placed as a permanent member of The View," she said. "You need to make it look like a fabric from society. That’s the only thing I would encourage, is a permanent person of color that is a professional, [who] would bring facts to the table."

Since Jones left the show a year ago, The View has had a number of black guests panelists. Whoopi Goldberg, Sherrie Shephard and Gayle King have all appeared and are candidates for a regular spot. Asked about Rosie O'Donnell's turbulent stint on the talker, Jones described her as "one of the smartest people on television" because of her ability to draw attention. "We didn't get to work together," Jones said. "I think it probably would have been good TV."

Jones, who's new live talk show for Court TV debuts Aug. 20, also said she will reveal details about her weight loss in an upcoming column in Glamour magazine.

So Star wants "a permanent person of color that is a professional, [who] would bring facts to the table". Can we assume that she doesn't mean Sherri Shepherd?

Trivia Fact: "Coloured" means mixed race in South Africa, not black.

Perez Hilton

Today's segment with Perez Hilton was a little unexpected. It played out like an ambush. But the question is, do they really have that big a problem with what he does? Because that interview today was a massive promotion for his website.

And as for their whole "think of the children!" approach...come on! It's trashy entertainment - it's supposed to be. The poor humour and comments no one else would say are what make him so appealing.

For example when I saw that picture of Adam Sandler's baby daughter she does look chubby/fat. It's such a bitchy and inappropriate comment to point it out. People find that 'oh my God, he went there' humour funny. The kid's not obese by any means, but it's just humourous for what it is. And Celine Dion's daughter-son is ripe for ridicule. Yes it's in bad taste, yes they're children, but that is the price of being in the public eye. Everything about you - your children included - comes up for public inspection. Yeah I'm sure it sucks. But many celebrities are paid millions of dollars simply for their image - Nicole Kidman is a millionaire because she's Nicole Kidman. You make yourself a public commodity. If you don't like it, go get a real job. And if you feel so compelled to act, go join a regional theatre. But don't bitch and moan because you've made yourself a public icon and you've bitten off more than you can chew.

People are bitches. It's in their nature. You wanna be a celebrity, then this is what being a celebrity means. Don't make films, don't go to award shows, don't do interviews, don't draw attention to yourself. Then no-one will pay attention. Until then, you reap what you sew.

Humour is found in all sorts of situations. But the truth is, the more inappropriate and controversial a bitchy comment is, the more likely it is people will laugh.

EXTRA: Something else stood out for me in the Perez Hilton interview. Elisabeth made a point of saying that Perez was forming opinions about her "even though he doesn't really know me". Is this the same Elisabeth who forms opinions about Paris Hilton without really knowing her? The same Elisabeth who gushes how much she loves certain celebrities even though she doesn't really know them? This isn't a high school debate Elisabeth. If you're gonna make a point, at least build it on something solid.

As a TV host you present your true self to the world every day. That is what you are judged by.

Chemistry

Here is the cast of seasons 7, 8 and 9 in another Vintage View moment. You'll notice Star Jones in her 'Indian princess' phase.

ABC: to censor or not to censor?

Elisabeth used the word 'f*ggot' in a pre-taped episode and was not censored. But if she were to use the word 'n*igger' (even in context) wouldn't she be censored? Of course she would. What an obvious double standard.

In the US there are now laws to protect African Americans. It is a crime to discriminate against them and treat them poorly. But there aren't all encompassing laws to protect homosexuals. And the government openly discriminates against them (don't ask don't tell, constitutional ammendments, etc). So faggots are fair game apparently, let the word out into the public. America, home of blatant discrimination. Hang on, that's not what it's supposed to be. Is it?

ABC does like to bring out their editing scissors though. A couple of weeks ago there was a guest on who was of the opinion that society is too politically correct. The guy was a smarmy right-wing jerk in my opinion. He didn't think people should refrain from making insensitive or potentially hurtful comments because Americans are "sacrificing the individualism that's been the hallmark of our nation." Wasn't racism and slavery one of the hallmarks of your society a while back? It's called social progression, genius. Attitudes change. What was once acceptable can later be considered hateful and hurtful. People need to try and find the balance in free speech, without being condemned for looking at a solution to evil words and deeds.

Anyways, the guy's comments were edited when the episode was re-broadcast. It wasn't about politcal correctness though. Seems he was edited because he made a detrimental comment about someone connected to ABC...

Philly.com
Michael Smerconish: How I Got Snipped By 'The View'

I think I got muzzled while appearing on "The View."

Ironically, I was on to talk about the need for less censorship and more-free conversation on matters of public interest.

Two years ago, I wrote a book called "Muzzled," in which I argued that political correctness is so pervasive in the United States that it threatens our ability to win the war on terror. The book briefly made the New York Times best-seller list, and its recent paperback release accounted for my invitation for a discussion with Barbara Walters, Joy Behar, Elisabeth Hasselbeck and Kim Coles (in Rosie's old seat).

I had the good luck of being booked on a show headlined by recent "American Idol" winner Jordin Sparks and runner-up Blake Lewis. We taped the show on June 11 for a June 14 airing.

During my segment, I made the case that society needs a thicker skin, and a freer exchange of ideas. Words and actions in this country have been muted by those who assert their political correctness while sacrificing the individualism that's been the hallmark of our nation.

I argued that, in the past, this sanitization of what we say and do would have been debate-worthy, but only a minor irritant to our quality of life. But now it's a cancer that's metastasized into the war on terror, where it threatens our very survival.

The ladies of "The View" seemed receptive to my comments, and the audience was psyched when they were told they would each get a free copy of the book. So far, so good.

So I was pleased when I learned that the program would re-air on July 4, a day when many Americans would be home to tune in. I certainly did. But what I saw was a slightly different broadcast. About 20 seconds of my comments were edited out, and not seemingly because of a time constraint.

In the June 14 version of the show, I said that my disdain for political correctness didn't forgive the far-out remarks of Mel Gibson, Ann Coulter or Isaiah Washington, at which point I was asked by Joy Behar about Don Imus' recent comments.

I said: "I believe that Don Imus said something boneheaded, and that the public flogging that he was enduring was punishment enough. And I had a difficult time accepting Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson as the arbiters of good taste."

The crowd applauded. I continued: "And look what happened. Al Roker is the guy who called for [Imus'] dismissal. Have you followed what's up with Roker? Roker made a comment last week about folks with epilepsy. And all of a sudden, he's apologizing...one of those phony apologies...'To the extent that I offended anyone...'"

(Roker had made the joke about epileptic behavior while discussing a video featuring the logo for the 2012 Olympics, which some claimed triggered epileptic seizures. Roker apologized the next day, saying, "If anybody was offended, I heartily and really humbly apologize.")

Walters cut in and said she didn't think Roker meant to offend anybody. She then told me she had to "muzzle" me due to the time, and the show ended.

But when the episode was re-broadcast, my comments about Roker were gone, edited out.

What possible reason would ABC have for deleting my comment about an NBC personality?

Well, unknown to me, but brought to my attention by many of my radio listeners, is that Roker's wife, Deborah Roberts, is a news correspondent for ABC.

Sherri Shepherd shoe-in?

Just a short entry to say that the schedule for next week has been updated. And Sherri Shepherd is on three days. It's hardly going to be a surprise if and when she is named as the permanent new co-host. Whatever. It will be interesting to see if she lasts more than a year.

Also Paula Abdul is on as a guest-host next week. Guess she's not holding it against the show for the defamatory comments Rosie made about her. Paula's such a trainwreck. Should be a good episode.

Something else of interest in regard to Sherri Shepherd: Barbara was actually in the studio on the day that Sherri and Whoopi Goldberg filmed their two episodes last week. So Barbara wasn't otherwise occupied and they deliberately chose to have two guest co-hosts.