04/25/2007
Rosie O'Donnell Announces She's Leaving The View
For more on Rosie, click here.
The View is losing its best asset, as rumors that Rosie O'Donnell is leaving the show are true. O'Donnell and ABC couldn't come to terms on a new contract, so she'll leave in mid-June.
Said Rosie: "This has been an amazing experience, and one I wouldn't have traded for the world. Working with Barbara, Joy and Elisabeth has been one of the highlights of my career, but my needs for the future just didn't dovetail with what ABC was able to offer me. To all the viewers out there, I just want to say 'thank you' for opening up your hearts and your homes to me this past year. But you can always find me at rosie.com. Here's hoping there's more confetti for all of us going forward."
Barbara Walters, creator and co-executive producer, released a statement as well: "I induced Rosie to come back to television on 'The View' even for just one year. She has given the program new vigor, new excitement and wonderful hours of television. I can only be grateful to her for this year. I am very sad that ABC Daytime could not reach an agreement with her for a second year. We will all miss Rosie on 'The View,' and hope she will be back with us often next season. She remains for me a cherished friend and colleague."
And now, a few of Rosie O'Donnell's more memorable (and controversial) moments on The View:
Who do you think should replace Rosie?
Posted 11:04 AM EST by Andy Towle in News, Rosie O'Donnell, Television | Permalink
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Yeah, Son! ^5 @ Bill! :-)
Posted by: geisha | Apr 25, 2007 12:37:14 PM
Rosie absolutely is that show's best asset, followed closely by Barbara. Their views and standing bring something to that show which would otherwise just be "another daytime talk show". With that in mind, replacing her will not be easy.
Wanda Sykes and Margaret Cho both come to mind as possiblities. Both have an edge and an ability to break tension with humor when necessary.
Posted by: Alan | Apr 25, 2007 12:37:23 PM
all i can say is STAR JONES is having a party tonight.
ALL INVITED.
LOL
Posted by: johnosahon | Apr 25, 2007 12:40:29 PM
She was right about Trump--what makes us think that big, greedy, lying, evil blowhard should be judging the morals of teen-agers or young adults? She's right about Rupert Murdock. I think she's been right more than she's been wrong--and I don't always agree with her.
I don't watch The View because I work, but I have watched it in the past and without Meredith, without Rosie, I think the show is unbearable. Barbara (I used to be a serious journalist) Walters is another out-of-touch blowhard, the little blonde is basically there for the rest to pick on, and poor Ms. Behar looks like she's in Hell while she's sitting there.
I think rather than replace Rosie they should just put the damn thing out of its misery.
Posted by: Daniel | Apr 25, 2007 12:42:18 PM
Here's your hat, what's your hurry? It's got to be a great day at ABC to be shed of this loud-mouthed fool. I'm all for being outspoken, but she is an embarrassment for continually shooting off her mouth with little facts besides "I read it on the internet" to back them up.
Posted by: LincolnLounger | Apr 25, 2007 1:06:24 PM
I don't watch the View but I do know that Rosie leaving the show has been rumored for months before she drew the ire of Fox News 24hrs a day, 7 days a week. It won't stop them for taking credit for it though.
Posted by: Marco | Apr 25, 2007 1:08:38 PM
katie couric needs a new gig.
Posted by: A.J. | Apr 25, 2007 1:11:21 PM
In the past 10 years before Rosie, I may have casually watched The View less than a dozen times. Rosie made The View "Must See TV". I love Rosie and she'll be very much missed. The View's ratings will quickly fall back to pre-Rosie levels next season and back into oblivion from the entertainment news programs. Without Rosie, it's just another gab fest with no real reason to watch.
Posted by: Rob | Apr 25, 2007 1:36:27 PM
Rosie was the best thing to happen to THE VIEW.
AND, she's a voice the gay community needs. Unlike some of you, the majority of us are willing to stand up and say we should be treated equally. It ain't all about blow jobs and gay bars girls.
Posted by: Bobby | Apr 25, 2007 1:39:34 PM
Seeing as Barbara fucked Star with no lube for announcing her own dismissal, watching her scramble to fill 2 slots now will be a hoot. Everyone from Pia Zadora to Heidi Fleiss will get a turn at that table.
Posted by: 000000 | Apr 25, 2007 1:50:00 PM
Insider info:
Ro had decided to leave back in Jan for 3 reasons:
- Barbara didn't take her side when Trump came out against her until 10 days later
- She wanted to have control of her own show (Barb and Bill Geddie own 50% of the View each, and weren't giving any of that up)
- She wanted to have a package that would include a weekly variety show
She negotiated with ABC as required under her contract, but didn't expect them to make a deal that would work for her.
She is now free to make a deal with others, and will create her own show and package that she will have full control of, and will be back by 2008.
Posted by: Mark M | Apr 25, 2007 1:55:05 PM
Good riddance.
Rosie is possibly one of the most obnoxious and ill-informed people I have ever seen on television. Her loudness might be appreciated if she was shouting something worthwhile, but unfortunately she didn't. Rather, she cried homophobia where there was none (i.e. Kelly Ripa and Clay Aiken)and managed to alienate an entire race (i.e. the "ching chong" incident).
While it may be important to have a voice that represents the gay community, Rosie is NOT the ideal candidate for that job. She is very offputting. She does not speak for me.
Posted by: Eric | Apr 25, 2007 2:20:50 PM
I agree with midnight lounge and others that have said that Rosie is The View's greatest asset.
The reason why Rosie has garnered so much bad press is because she is an outspoken lesbian. Bill O'Reilly goes off on people all the time and doesn't recieve even close to the same amount of press as Rosie. When he went off on Geraldo the story lasted for 2 days. When Rosie said American Idol is weightist (which it is) and racist the story lasted for more than a week. Many Americans just can not handle a gay person that has opinions.
Over at TMZ they are running a poll of whether the ratings for The View will tank after Rosie. 69% "believe" it will not tank. They are wrong. The show will be gone in two seasons.
Posted by: Jack! | Apr 25, 2007 2:58:38 PM
Paging Ann Coulter.
I'm sure the people defending Rosie would be just as supportive of Ann.
Posted by: DoorHold | Apr 25, 2007 3:11:23 PM
Rosie made everyone nervous with her questions about 9/11 and building 7 (http://www.whatreallyhappened.com)
And the strange thing is she never accused the government, but simply asked questions that was enough to unleash the Fox attack dogs on her!
Posted by: rene | Apr 25, 2007 3:33:06 PM
I'm hardly a Rosie O'Donnell fan, but I have watched "The View" much more since she's been on. Love her or hate her, ABC has to be nuts not to give in on the one or three year contract deal. Three years is good, but one year beats the hell out of nothing.
I may disagree with some of the things she says and her constant name-dropping may get on my nerves but by God at least she's a gay person with a voice and an opinion rather than the whining little non-entities that usually represent our community.
Posted by: Dean | Apr 25, 2007 3:41:53 PM
OH... and as a replacement. Whoopi Goldberg would be WONDERFUL!!!!
Posted by: Dean | Apr 25, 2007 3:43:42 PM
No one can replace Rosie. "The View" was tanking in the ratings before she joined. It'll start tanking again when she leaves in June. The show's been on life-support and they just pulled the plug. Trust me. By June, 2008, "The View" will be gone and Rosie will have the most successful daytime talk show in history. The deal's already done.
Posted by: ArGee | Apr 25, 2007 3:59:36 PM
Psychedelic Pariah got a lot of shit for his Bermuda Triangle comment, and so did I for agreeing. Once again, I totally agree with you, and if we can't post our comment/opinion without being attacked, then what's the point of having a "Post A Comment" section.
Posted by: John | Apr 25, 2007 4:12:01 PM
John honey, if you're going to post you need to develop a thicker skin. Pariah's comments were nasty and people were nasty back. If you come on this site expecting love and for everyone to agree with you it'll just end in tears.
Posted by: Daniel | Apr 25, 2007 5:21:03 PM
Rosie was one of a kind. She rubbed many people the wrong way because she is one of the few "unfiltered" people left on TV. Like it or not, there are some people who are put off by women with strong views, i.e. Hillary Clinton.
Anyone thought about Megan Mullally as a possible replacement? Her own show tanked, but she seems very intelligent and is a great fan of Broadway like Rosie.
Posted by: Scott | Apr 25, 2007 5:39:42 PM
I love Rosie on the View. Ive actually been RECORDING it while im at work and watching it late at night..something i have never done with any other show ever. I hope she goes on to do many other things.. I know that she will be a reoccuring character on Nip/Tuck, and also has a documentary coming out called Stalkin Streisand and a another book called Celebrity Detox. The people at ABC are idiots.
Posted by: Chris in Seattle | Apr 25, 2007 6:03:18 PM
I was hoping it would have been sooner but I'm glad nevertheless. She is just kind of a bully--her way or no way. A friend of mine said;"What's the use of having an opinion if you can't change others'"(opinions). I don't agree with that.
Jane Pauly and Whoopi Goldberg????????????
Posted by: Dathan | Apr 25, 2007 6:26:54 PM
rosie was/is the only liberal, openly gay voice on broadcast television today. she is the only reason why i dvr the view on a daily basis. it's a shame that abc is so fucking cowardly to not be able to negotiate for another 3 years. i think rosie and margaret cho should do a daily talk show on logo or on the internet. that would be way cool.
Posted by: paul cabral jr. | Apr 25, 2007 7:53:07 PM
Rosie should pack it in and just write angry song lyrics for the likes of bands Strype or Welts On My Skin.
She would excel.
Good-bye, not soon enough.
Posted by: Stephen | Apr 25, 2007 7:53:13 PM