The one on yesterday’s The View I really feel bad for is guest panelist Sherri Shepherd. These Rosie-vs.-Elisabeth sandbox fights are kept under control when Barbara Walters is there to play kindergarten teacher, but when the substitute’s there, the kids get rowdy. The usually game Shepherd kept mostly quiet, outshouted by the others, while producers milked this wrestling match for all it was worth by airing it in split-screen (pictured) and refusing to cut to a commercial despite repeated pleas from Sherri and Joy Behar. Again, this wouldn’t have happened if Barbara had been around; I predict heads will roll, and they won’t be Rosie’s or Elisabeth’s.
I don’t want to go into the particulars of Wednesday’s face-off (which appeared different from previous O’Donnell/Hasselbeck arguments only in the producers’ willingness to let it drag on), except to say this: Joy started it. It began as a shoutfest between Elisabeth and Joy, who had kicked off the segment by reading a laundry list of criticisms of President Bush. At first, Rosie admirably refused to get involved, noting that when pundits discuss these skirmishes later, they distort them so that they seem to be about the personality clashes between Rosie and Elisabeth and not about the merits of their stated positions. (O’Donnell seems to be marking time until her tenure on The View ends in three weeks, hoping her last few shows will be trouble-free.) But finally, she couldn’t help herself and jumped in. Soon, this dispute really was about the personal, with Rosie accusing Elisabeth of being insufficiently supportive of her in public after the pair’s last dust-up. (It’s the same complaint she supposedly had about Barbara after Walters remained mum for too long about the O’Donnell-vs.-Trump war of words last winter.) You can watch a brief sample of yesterday’s fracas here; believe me, it’s plenty.
There have been rumors that, after yesterday’s fiasco, Rosie will leave the show before her final three weeks are up, but I guess we won’t know for sure until Monday. (Today, she’s scheduled to have a day off — it’s Kelli’s 40th birthday! — and Friday’s show is pre-taped.) If she does leave early, I’m going to stop watching now instead of next month. Unless Barbara moves quickly to announce a compelling new replacement for Rosie. Which brings me to my actual point: who should take Rosie’s place?
After all, as ugly and pointless as these arguments have been, let’s face it, they’re compelling television. (And the show’s ratings boost this year proves it.) With Rosie gone, who else could be opinionated, vocal, and fearless enough to keep this kaffeeklatsch interesting? I’m worried that Barbara will go back in the Meredith Vieira direction and hire someone more diplomatic to serve as moderator. But I’m hard-pressed to think of someone who could be as forceful as Rosie without being off-putting. My ideal choice would be Wanda Sykes, but who knows if she’d even want the job? Help Barbara out, PopWatchers, and suggest someone, because if it takes her as long to replace Rosie as it’s taken her to replace Star Jones (still waiting on that one…), the show will slump and never recover.
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cancel it, u can’t top Rosie. the show is pointless. u used to have a fair mix, journalist, lawyer, comic and the fab & inspiring Lisa Ling. now it’s 2 comics, a survivor loser and a liar (babwa). buh bye. but thanks rosie, u really were fearless & i loved it. only thing is … let joy talk more, she’s usually got your point of view.
if anyone took that job, they’d be stupid. it’s not worth it.
cancel it, u can’t top Rosie. the show is pointless. u used to have a fair mix, journalist, lawyer, comic and the fab & inspiring Lisa Ling. now it’s 2 comics, a survivor loser and a liar (babwa). buh bye. but thanks rosie, u really were fearless & i loved it. only thing is … let joy talk more, she’s usually got your point of view.
if anyone took that job, they’d be stupid. it’s not worth it.
cancel it, u can’t top Rosie. the show is pointless. u used to have a fair mix, journalist, lawyer, comic and the fab & inspiring Lisa Ling. now it’s 2 comics, a survivor loser and a liar (babwa). buh bye. but thanks rosie, u really were fearless & i loved it. only thing is … let joy talk more, she’s usually got your point of view.
if anyone took that job, they’d be stupid. it’s not worth it.
I made a list of my personal Top 10 choices here. I’m entirely serious about them, and I hope they continue in the disgruntled comedienne vein…
http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=59061162&blogID=260929510&Mytoken=8019AA63-FB8D-4500-9576B7F615529B8314942436
— Aj
Margaret Cho.
Sherri Shepherd has proved to be a funny and personable guest host. She should get a chair all to herself. I’d love for them to bring Whoopi on too – have to black ladies and give the show some more diversity. I’ve also heard that Kathy Griffin might want the job, but I think she’s kind of beyond that these days.
Cancel it. This kind of crap on daytime television almost makes me glad I work days.
Kathy Griffin!
Sarah Silverman
another lightning rod like roseanne or whoopie is needed for that OLD show who watched it before Rosie anyway!!!
even though i can’t stand Rosie as a person, I agree with her when it comes to politics…. Elisabeth does not know what she’s talking about
even though i can’t stand Rosie as a person, I agree with her when it comes to politics…. Elisabeth does not know what she’s talking about
Jeneane Garofalo
Laila Ali!! She does not seem to be one to back down and though I do not know her political views, her father’s checkered political past could provide an interesting dynamic. I think going with another comedian is a mistake. That is supposed to be Joy’s role and if Sherri Shepherd gets the Star Jones spot,2 comedians will be plenty. The moderator spot should be someone with gravitas.
Monique- the show could use an actual comedian without a political agenda
Mia Farrow – she may be vocal about her politics at times but at least she’s not obnoxious like Rosie.
Ohhh, I like Jeneane Garofalo as an option!
Jeanane Garofalo sounds perfect!
Osman… You can’t say that “Elisabeth doesn’t know what she’s talking about” because her political views are different than yours or Rosie’s. That’s the problem with Rosie – it’s been great for the show that it finally opens up a true dialogue with multiple “Views”, but she gets personal with the “Elisabeth is too young to understand” or naive because her view is different and she is younger, and calls her names like “coward”, etc. Both people are coming with in with preconceived opinions on these very violatile subjects. The debate should be out there, and you should open your ears when both talk and re-examine your own beliefs. The fact of the matter is, neither of them truly “know what they are talking about” because unless they’ve taken political and foreign policy classes, worked with world leaders, etc. I think they should put someone in there who speaks up, but recognizes there isn’t one right view, and who personally attacks and degrades those that don’t agree.
I cannot stand Elisabeth. I think she is the biggest tool to have a television gig. However, Rosie was a complete bully yesterday and I applaud Elisabeth for standing up for herself.
Hmmmmm, how about Melinda Doolittle? She’s got nothing to do now,,,ouch!
I obviously meant who DOESN’T personally attack those that have a different view. They already have Joy as a lightning bolt for the liberal side, Elisabeth is conservative, and they really need a person who can speak up as a voice for so many that watch the show that might agree with Joy one day, but agree with Elisabeth on other subjects. This country is far more moderate, especially the audience of that show, to not have a balancing voice. Not a person who caves, but not one that is so far on the opposite ends of the spectrum.
Preferably someone likeable and down-to-earth, because they’re really missing that on the show right now…
I think these fights are completely encouraged by the producers. It is just for ratings, they don’t get any press without fighting. It is like Jerry Springer, it’s so fake.
Jen, EH did not stand up for herself. The Trump reference was a low blow. When you defend yourself, you have to be insulted to begin with. When you say you defend Elisabeth, you say you are defending George Bush — because that is who EH worships.
What is it going to take to wake people up? The occupation of Iraq is wrong. Now, they “cleverly” use the word Al Qaeda to make sure everyone is convinced that AL Q is occupying Iraq. Nimrods like EH eat it up and defend it against an argument for ALL humanity. Wake up, people! Americans aren’t the only important human beings!
I find it very hard to take someone who has a FAKE tan wearing a ridiculous moo-moo dress seriously. I bet she would like to have BIll O’Reilly scrub her back with a loofah.
I love the View after Rosie joined them as a host and its not because I’m a Rosie lover. Its because she actually makes them talk about their actual Views. Im more of a Joy/Rosie way of thinking but i also like when Elizabeth says what she thinks. I might not like or agree with what she says but i love that they discuss it.
I tend to lean toward the liberal side of the political spectrum which would generally put me in line with Joy and Rosie. However, Rosie O’Donnell (sp?) tries to bully anyone who doesn’t agree with her. She’s entertaining but completely annoying at the same time. I’m not sure how I feel about her leaving but she’s been extremely compelling to watch this year. That’s my two cents.
I wish someone would realize that the fight was about more than politics. Yes, Rosie and Elisabeth fight about politics all the time, but that fight literally sounded like a high school bitchfest. Rosie was pissed that her friend didn’t stand up for her and defend her against the bullies. Well, first of all, its not Elisabeth’s job to comment on outside the show unless she’s asked and I don’t think she was asked. And Rosie also needs to realize that she needs to defend her own words once in a while instead of just counting on her friends to back her up and insulting people by calling them cowards.
If I were a conservative, I’d be embarrassed by people like Elisabeth Hasselback. Sure, Rosie is obnoxious, but at least she doesn’t mindlessly parrot what other pundits are saying, which is all Hasselback knows how to do. Ergo, she makes conservatives look mindless. Why do the networks have so much trouble finding a smart conservative for their shows?
Hasselback is nothing but a reality “star” who got lucky. She’s not qualified to be a TV host, much less a political commentator of any sort.
As for who should be on The View, Janeane Garofalo is an interesting choice. She’d eat Elisabeth for breakfast, that’s for sure. I also think Gayle King should replace Star.
But really, they should just cancel it. It’s run its course.