Rosie's Return Means Round Two With Barbara Walters

By Ben Widdicombe Posted Mar 23rd 2010 02:00PM

Rosie O'Donnell's plan to return to daytime chat means that viewers will get to watch a fight for Oprah Winfrey's crown that once looked like it would pass smoothly to Barbara Walters and the ladies from 'The View.'

And it's a fight Rosie could win.

After Oprah announced that her 25 years on network television would end in September 2011, 'The View' beat out 'Ellen' in a battle for her coveted time slot. But after a brief peace, Rosie has already come out swinging against her former sparring partners.

"I [know] that 'The View' wants to be on in the Oprah spot," O'Donnell said yesterday on her Sirius Satellite radio program, adding that when Walters asked her when her new show would air, "I said, 'Oh yeah, the Oprah spot' -- to which Barbara's face goes slack-ish."

She was joking, but her glee at the exchange sets the tone for a pitched battle over who will be the new Diva of Daytime. So why will Rosie win?

"She can command an audience," says veteran TV executive Mark Finkelpearl. "Rosie has enormous brand equity and this is clearly a sign that people are ready, willing and able to invest in her again. She does belong in this space [of daytime TV] and she's proven time and again that she can do it."

And let's not forget the slew of Emmys she won during her six years at the helm of 'The Rosie O'Donnell Show,' including five consecutive awards for Best Talk Show. While O'Donnell is often portrayed as a "love her or hate her" figure, Finkelpearl believes that her essential popularity will win out. "When I think of Howard Stern or Bill O'Reilly, those are polarizing figures. With Rosie, she reaches much more of a mainstream audience than people give her credit for," he says.

And there's no question that Rosie is hungry for success. Another source, who has worked with O'Donnell in the past, told PopEater, "Rosie loves a fight, it energizes her. When she left 'The View' and clashed with Barbara, some people thought it was a put-on for the cameras, but she was really fired up. Rosie will relish a chance to go hand-to-hand with Barbara Walters on competing shows."

Rosie has already outined the plan for her new series. She told Entertainment Tonight that it will be "a single topic, hour-long show about life, love and laughter."

O'Donnell added that there won't be a desk or stars promoting their upcoming projects. "It's gonna be a lot different, because I'm a lot older, you know. It'll be a dozen years since leaving my own show when we go back on the air and I've grown a lot and I think that it's time," she said.

With Oprah leaving the stage and Ellen Degeneres diversifying into other formats, like 'American Idol,' the timing seems perfect for the one-time "Queen of Nice" to return to talk. Whether the "Nice"-ness will last in a battle with 'The View' remains to be seen.

Tags: barbara walters, rosie odonnell, the view

Comments

(455)

Tuesday 23 March

By jm

Highest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

No one wants to watch rosie pretend that she knows anything about politics.I dont care if she's gay or fat, i just don't like hearing her opionions. She's not interesting!

Wednesday 24 March

By Sue

High Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

Rosie couldn't win an egg rolling contest! What a loser! I wouldn't watch her if she was the only thing on the TV. I would rather look at four walls than watch her.

By jimsumner

Please, why doesn't this thing just disappear?? Why do people care about anything she has to say, let alone what she thinks about??? She is so over and way in the past, thank God, let's just forget her and focus on someone new, and hopefully a lot better looking ....Ugh!

By mazzo

Vote down Vote up Report this

I'm not a Rosie fan,but if she gets back on TV I may pop that channel on just to check it out.Who knows,it may be interesting. The good thing is,I keep fresh batteries in my remote so that I can click to something else that I may,or may not,like.Happy surfing!

By LINDA

Rosie back on tv--uh! hell!!! no i say booo to the fat, bitter , lezo, biatch.as far as the view goes in my opinion the only one who puts a damper on the show is that goon Whoopie.

By MsChessyCat

Honestly, if "The View" and "The Joy Behar Show" went off the air at this very moment, the reputation of talk shows would improve 100%. If these were the only two shows on TV I would never turn on my television again. As for Rosie - she just needs to hang it up. She has burnt so many bridges with her incredibly B-I-G mouth and if she just went away with her family and left the rest of the world alone, that would be just fine with me. Let's all pray for Rosie's children!!!

By ItsMyOwnOpinion

Rosie is history, who cares? I won't watch if she's on.

Lowest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

If any one of you had been listening to Rosie on her Sirius radio program this last year you would see the REAL Rosie, and learn the truth about all the lies and media hype that has everyone thinking all these horrible things. She really is a very caring, funny, insightful, intelligent and talented person and she will be very successful in anything she does, just wait and see.

By chicobombico

Very well said. You forgot the leader of the pack Ellen Degenerate. She uses TV to promote her agenda, she also dresses like a man that is a hard one to explain to a youg child. My children are all over 21 and cannot be influenced by this garbage. I feel for families with young children and having to explain this lesbian stuff to them. The fact is their life style IS NOT NORMAL NO MATTER WHAT THEY SAY.

By Lauren58

I do not think it is fair of you to say that Ellen Degeneres dresses like a man and uses tv for her own agenda. Just because she wears slacks and sweaters, does not mean she dresses like a man. She uses her status and show to do a lot of generous things for many people. I don't think it is fair of you to say that parents having to explain that lesbian stuff, is normal of you to think. Society will be explaining the facts as life plays out. I wonder what unnormal things go on in your life? Rememer, this is all opinion, means nothing.

By Lee

You must be a tard. anyone who leaves a reply like like has something wrong with them and needs some help.

By beverly

Rosie should not be on TV. She has turned into a very hard surley bitter person. I don't understand how her children could live with her. She is nothing like she used to be years ago.

Why be so hateful towards Rosie? Give her a chance!!

By cookie

Does anyone remember that variey special she hosted !! It Tanked ,,,I think this thread is a link to see if people will give this Tank another chance ,,??? NOT !!!

Just say no to .....Rosie !!

By chill

I think rosie is used up. she does not need to spread any of her negative energy to the public. anyone who watches her is way more desprate than watching the View. she is mean, angry ahd hatefull. i feel sorry for her kids.

By emily29388

Somebody already beat me to it but I'll say it anyway. I already don't watch the view. I already don't watch Ellen. I already don't watch Oprah. So it will be an easy thing for me to not watch Rosie. Take her away and keep her away.

By dana

I agree. Save viewers from more crap on TV and Rosie is the biggest of all. Her mouth just runs on and she has nothing to offer and audience. Keep her away PLEASE . She is washed up. It has been peaceful without her. SPARE US HER RUBBISH. All she can do is cause trouble.

Telling your children about homosexuals is as easy as telling them about anything else. Try using the truth,with information tailored for the level of maturity. See how easy it is!

By Liz

I have. My daughter is nine and we have taught her that it is wrong and absolutely not allowed in our family, just like alcohol or drugs or tobacco. Worked for us.

So you both teach hate, Nice.

Page 3 of 23