Shortly after Rosie O’Donnell made her much-anticipated debut this morning on The View, this instant-message conversation (over virtual instant coffee) took place at PopWatch HQ:
writer1: So, are ya feelin’ Rosie on the new View? I’d forgotten how natural and at ease she is in front of a daytime audience.
writer2: I can’t say that I was. I agree she’s a natural, but I felt like she sucked all the air out of the room.
writer1: She did steamroller the others, but she’s already my favorite.
writer2: Well, that’s not saying too much, but…
writer1: Meowch!
writer2: Seriously, Barbara was having a ”Glaaadiator!” moment for the whole hour, and Elisabeth and Joy just seemed a little afraid of Rosie.
writer1; Joy, not so much; she did tangle with Rosie a little, saying her kid sounded Japanese.
writer2: Call me crazy, but I found that mildly alarming.
writer1: Me too, but I thought Rosie handled it deftly, saying, ”And you all thought I was going to have problems with Elisabeth.” And then Babs chiming in with ”Trust me, you will.” Not exactly Oscar Wilde wit, but pretty good for java-fueled morning repartee.
writer2: The chemistry just seemed off. Of course, maybe it wasn’t just Rosie. It could be the hideous new set that threw them off. I don’t know why, but looking at the tops of their new chairs, all I could think was ”eggs.”
writer1: I don’t like the set either. It looks like American Idol meets Brazil, all those snaky tubes and ducts and all that blue light.
writer2: Totally! The hot topics table was tiny, and I miss Grandma’s beige couch.
writer1: The show looks like it’s being filmed in someone’s lower intestine.
writer2: Plus, the V in ”View” looked like it was about to split Jessica Simpson’s head in two.
writer2: Which still would have been less painful than hearing her sing live… I know she has a sore throat, but I’ve thrown down better vocals after pounding half a dozen Smirnoff Ices at karaoke night.
writer1: I actually felt sorry for Jess, for once, walking into that minefield on Day 1, having to talk about John Mayer and her puppetmaster dad.
writer2: Uff da. Her slip of the tongue calling him ”controlling” was awesome!
writer1: Yeah, loved it!
writer2: I dunno. I think part of the problem is they need someone really strong to take over Star’s seat. Otherwise it’s going to feel like Rosie and The View-ettes.
writer1: Exactly. I think once they find Star’s replacement, the chemistry will settle into place. Meantime, I’ll enjoy the tension and bruised egos.
writer2: And while I liked that Rosie was really comfortable and natural discussing her relationship with Kelli, there was a tad too much kid talk from everybody. It’s gonna take a week to shed the image of Elisabeth sitting in a pool of her child’s urine.
writer1: Yeah, way too many references to tampons for me, but then I lack the XX chromosome to appreciate that conversation.
writer2: I’ll probably tune in a few more times and see how the ladies jell, but at this point, I kinda miss Starting Over.
writer1: Bite your tongue!
writer2: Heh.
A friend of mine many years ago told he a food rule – add grapefruit to a fruit salad, and the grapefruit wins. Whether you like grapefruit or not, it’s pointless to add it to a fruit salad.
Rosie is grapefruit in a fruit salad. Like her or not, she’s just too strong a “flavor” to mix.
The conversation up top is strikingly similar to the one that ran through my head (I’ll be seeking help soon). Not awful, but lots of awkward. Firstly, GOOD GOD, that is the most hideous set EVER-genuinely claustrophobic! The View table was practically in the first row of the audience & the table seems 1/10 its former size. Also, was Rosie sitting on cushions, or is Babs shrinking? She looked like Rosie’s little pocket pal. The comment about Rosie and the View-ettes was dead on. She had some funny comments, but definitely was ready to do a whole spiel on every one, not used to being cut off and talked over. The comment and retort w/Joy were definitely the highlight of the day. I’m trying to figure out how many showers it is going to take to rid myself of Rosie & ELisabeth’s Tub Talk, I’m still a little queasy. However, I guess it was proof that the show hasn’t lost its wince-ability. They kept it safe on the first day to decent result, though Jessica, minus the Freudian slip, was pointless. I look forward to the live factor once the nice wears off.
I thought Rosie was AMAZING! She has already brightened up my day. I can’t wait for tomorrow!
I enjoy Rosie as a host. I love her interviews. I even admire her self-admitted unreasonable belief that a TV host could change the world. When do we get rid of the other ladies and return Rosie to where she should be?
I love Rosie, but I hope that the other View ladies get stronger in her presence. I have never seen Barbara or Joy as quiet as they were today. (Elizabeth might have been quiet as well – I just didn’t notice. I cringe every time she opens her mouth!)
C’mon, ladies! Open your mouths right along with Rosie!
If Babs had to hire Rosie, she shouldn’t have given her the moderator’s position. She doesn’t have the chops to keep things rolling smoothly and to not turn every subject into an antedote about her, or Keli, or the kids, or anyone else she knows. Someone has to be the intelligent, impartial voice of reason, and Rosie ain’t it.
i really miss starting over too..
luved seeing rosie back on tv. elisabeth just stinks up the place and that new “haircut” she probably did herself in one of her spoiled teenage moments, joy looks like she’s afraid to say the wrong thing and then pow! she indeed says the wrong thing.
barbara sneered at rosie after rosie said something off-putting. i can’t wait ’til things settle down so it doesn’t make it seem to tension-filled. as long as elisabeth is on the show however, i’ll always be somewhat turned off.
Yuck!! Rosie is a stinker. She is just too much. I sure could do without her less than mediocre singing. Oh well, they must be hard-up to put her on the view.
It’s like watching the ladies who go to the beauty parlor every week. who can out talk who, who gets the best chair, the ladies who’ve patronized the shop for years feel a sense of entitlement, and the owner (in this case-BW), can’t face the fact that their best work is behind them. The conversations are similar in that boring, catty, “I read it in the Enquirer”, sort of way.
Featured on BuzzTracker
Good Grief! Can Rosie keep the “fur” talk and other personal tidbits in her family? I though Kathie Lee damaged her kids, she was nothing compared to this screwed up Mother.
I thought the show was good but I thought the Ladies were Great!! I’m a big fan of Rosies (I MISSED HER)and I think for her first day she did good, we have to remember she was a one woman show for what six years and to be out of the spot light for four and to join the cast of three loud woman its going to take some time for her to adjust and the fact that they are down one co-host they’re all filling in for. Yes, we are going to hear about their kids Roise has five and Liz her one but still they will talk about them, BUT some of the conversations were a bit much – yeah hearing Roise talk about her fur isn’t pretty, lets say we skip that next time shall we!!
I’m glad to see Rosie back on TV with a bit more of an edge the Queen of Nice thing was great and all but I can’t wait to see how she blossoms in to her own on this show!
I wish Joy, Elizabeth, Barbra & Rosie another Ten great seasons!!!
OOH I FORGOT TO AGREE WITH YOU ON THE NEW SET!!! UGLY ITS TOO COLD AND STARK. I ALSO THINK THE OLD SET LOOKED TO MUCH LIKE GRANDMAS PLACE. WHAT THEY SHOULD HAVE DONE WAS HAVE A MODERN NEW YORK LOFT TYPE KITCHEN THAT THOSE LADIES WOULD REALLY LIVE IN HAVE THE SET DESINGER REDO!!!
Dumbs down to Rosie and the stupid View. I use to love this show but it’s time to go.