If you didn’t tune in to the Daytime Emmy Awards Friday night (which is probably highly likely), you might have missed a little announcement from Barbara Walters and her old friend Rosie O’Donnell. Starting in September, O’Donnell will join the cast of “The View” as Meredith Vieira’s replacement.
We all remember O’Donnell in her talk-show days when she hosted “The Rosie O’Donnell Show” from 1996 to 2002. The show was widely popular and O’Donnell even managed to pick up six Daytime Emmy Awards as best talk-show host.
Although she might have been a nice fit for a Jay Leno type talk-show, consisting of celebrity interviews and light humor, to Ed Board O’Donnell doesn’t seem like the best replacement for Vieira.
“The View” is just not the same type of show. While Vieira tends to act as a mediator for her co-hosts when they touch on the sensitive issues of the day, O’Donnell is more of the, well, vocal type. Although her point-of-views might mix things up a little bit and make it more interesting, sometimes O’Donnell takes it a little too far. Remember the interview with Tom Selleck when she slammed him for being a member of the NRA? We’re pretty sure he probably won’t be making an appearance on “The View” any time soon.
We liked the dynamics the cast of “The View” currently has and we’re a little scared that things might change. In the past, O’Donnell hasn’t been that diplomatic when she disagrees with other people’s views and she might just end up scaring off some guests. And it really wouldn’t surprise us if Elizabeth Hasselbeck gets jumped by October.
We’re thinking someone along the lines of Patricia Heaton would have fit the role better. Or anyone who has learned how to disagree and still be tasteful about it.
Even though we might not agree with the Rosie choice, Ed Board will probably watch the first few episodes with O’Donnell to see how she interacts with the other hosts of the show. Who knows? Maybe she changed her ways. But, we’re betting that Rosie will probably still engage in her typical heated arguments with anyone and everyone and make the show a little more intense with her presence.
Hopefully we’re wrong and O’Donnell has learned from her past encounters with people who share a different point-of-view. She might have learned how to discuss things in a more civil manner. Guess we’ll just have to watch to find out.
