Could Rosie Become the Next Oprah? Readers Spar

By The Pop Chorus Posted Mar 28th 2010 02:00PM

Rosie O'Donnell's new show may try to fill the gap Oprah leaves behind

Rosie O'Donnell aims to return to daytime TV shortly after Oprah's exit in the fall of 2011 -- with a program sounding suspiciously similar to O's, featuring hour-long, single-topic episodes. "I would like this show to make a difference in people's lives, to be real, uplifting, authentic and focus on life, love and laughter," O'Donnell told the Associated Press.

In light of this, we turned to our ever-growing Pop Chorus to see if they think Rosie might be the new Oprah. After the jump, two of our readers -- both men, interestingly enough -- sound off. One has followed Rosie's highs and lows and believes in her next move; the other thinks Rosie is exactly what daytime television doesn't need.

Rosie's Done Good and Bad -- Maybe Now She Can Be Great
By Peter Gordon

I loved Rosie O'Donnell's last talk show and the freshness it brought to afternoon television. As a middle-aged man, I'm not Rosie's typical audience, but I found myself asking my wife to tape the program for me every day. Rosie clearly had fun hosting the show, and her studio audience, guests and viewers enjoyed themselves as well. I was very sorry when she decided to call it quits.

Sadly, Rosie hasn't done much to endear herself to viewers since. Her short, angry turn on 'The View' was embarrassing, and her prime time variety show, which NBC aired in 2008, was a disaster. My family and I were amongst the few that viewed it, and we sat with our mouths agape like we were witnessing a car crash.

That's why I was glad to hear Rosie plans to return with a serious, one-issue show to potentially replace Oprah. Rosie has had some talk show success, but not nearly the experience Oprah has. Let's remember that Oprah didn't start as a national icon -- she spent years honing her craft in Chicago, and later on-air in syndication, before she dominated afternoon talk.

Perhaps we need to dial down our expectations. No one can really replace Oprah, but Rosie has a better chance than most. I'll be pulling for her.

Right Idea, Wrong Person
By Ryan Merkel

Rosie O'Donnell hosting her own Oprah-type talk show will be a debacle. She's a remarkable comedienne and has a natural celebrity presence, but she is no Oprah. Trying to cash in on Oprah's vacancy from the TV world is a good strategic move, but Rosie is the wrong player. Rosie needs to stick to what she knows -- namely, comedy.

While on 'The View,' Rosie proved she had interviewing talent and a witty way about her. Ironically, Rosie's fallout on 'The View' is the reason I can't take her seriously anymore. She proved to be loud, opinionated and overbearing. Those ingredients don't mix to form a feel-good, listen-to-the-public-and-solve-their-problems type of show. Watching Rosie help a couple of teenagers sort out what it feels like to be different for an hour does not appeal to me. I might watch the first episode, but only out of sheer curiosity, for the same reason someone wants to look at a bus accident -- you really don't want to see, but you know you'll have a good horror story to tell your friends.

The world doesn't need another Oprah. What we need is an Oprah/Ellen love child that will make us laugh and get us to think by bringing important matters into our living rooms each day -- a brand of TV where we get to see the celebrities plug their latest achievements but still focus on the world's issues. I wish Rosie nothing but the best in her endeavors, but this venture is on its way to becoming a colossal mistake.

Tags: oprah, rosie odonnell, the pop chorus

Comments

(141)

Monday 29 March

By adiuo

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Rosie O'Donnell is a has been. She is an angry, loud mouthed and mean woman with an agenda. Oprah Winfrey has evolved from a silly woman who obsessed about her weight to a woman who uses her fame for the good of the people. I do not want or need another hour of this horrible woman ruining my afternoon. Besides, Oprah is going to her own network, not Mars, so her fan base will follow her.

By bill

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They should both be at a state fair , trying to win a blue ribbon

Mooooooooooooo

By suealiaim

umm...didn't she already try that, and FAIL?

By billy jack

To even put Opry and Rosie on the same page is disgusting. I think Rosie is as trashy as they can get.Lump her in with Rose Ann Bar ..Maybe the 2 could be a pair

By OR mom

Re: Rosie The ups, the downs (anyone see her in The View during Katrina), the rage...I seriously think she is mentally ill. Her life just screams bi-polar. I think she needs help and healing before she should even remotely try adding more stress and responsibility to her life. Re: Oprah "Absolute power corrupts absolutely." How many times was I enticed to watch her show based on the topic and the expert, only to see her answer while the expert sat silently, probably wondering why she even had them there. I got sick of her turning everything into a therapy session for Oprah. Her show has been her therapy. I know she's helped a lot of people, but how many more could she have helped if she could have let her experts answer on the air.

By Deb

I cannot stand either one of them. They are both self centered, boring,obnoxious, people who think that everyone wants to hear their endless blithering.

By Jeff

Oprah is a lib phoney she dont go to her mansion in ca.to many times or she will have to pay major taxes for being there as a resident. Kettle calling the pot black!!

By Tony D.

Can we say PIG ?

By kathy

They must be kidding.....you couldn't pay me enough to watch Rosie the whale....I began to get sick of her when she came out of the closet, and started shoving her sexuality down our throats....some things are supposed to be private, better left unsaid, she went too far....it's ok to be gay, but not ok to continually force it on folks in ways that are not necessary...after all, hetrosexual celebs, don't go into such detail about their sex lives....Rosie is a loudmouth slob, and looks just plain mean and nasty. She definitely is NOT funny!

By BOB

SHE WAS AND STILL IS A FAT LOSER

By Sharon

oh HELL no! I used to like Rosie, but it seems like when she came out of the closet, she became nasty and vicious. I do not care what her sexuality is but, it seems like she is always using it to try to incite an argument/incident. I hope the networks keep this angry lesbian in her kennel, where she belongs.

By hummerpoo2

Oh, please Lord, NO!

By jake

Well they are both fat pigs, and they both have nothing interesting to say, but I think rosies chance of staying on TV longer then her variety show are slim and none. That is the only way you can use the word slim in the same sentence with rosie oflabbell

By Lisa

Yeh, she can LOOK and ACT like her too. Big, fat, ugly, and rich. I won't watch it.

By peterpap1941

To put it quite simply, Rosie will never be seen in this home.

By KELLY

I LOVED Rosie's show but after her idiotic 9/11 claims, I'll never watch her again. She's a moron! "This is the 1st time in history that fire has ever melted steel" Ummm yeah Rosie, ever seen a steel mill?

By Susan and Del

Rosie and Oprah, could be sisters, look alike act alike. Never could watch either one, but as this country has been dumbed down the people would watch a pile of crap if it could move around. Please people get back your minds say no to another waste of an hour on the boobe tube.

By javamist

NEVER! NEVER! NEVER! will I ever waste another moment of my life watching anything with Rosie O'Donnel in it! She is rude, crude and way too much into herself to be the least be desirable to anyone.
Keep her off the air . . . . please!!

By fatso

I absolutely can't see big mouthed, pushy, opinionated, and if I don't get my way, it's because I'm gay Rosie could take anyone's place. Well, maybe Bozo.

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