Watching The View

Although Monday September 1st will be a re-run on The View, the show returns from hiatus for their first live show in a month on Tuesday September 2nd. Here, again, is the schedule for the first week of season 12.

Tuesday, September 2nd – “The View” returns live for Season 12; performance from New Kids on the Block.

Wednesday, September 3rd – Maura Tierney (“E.R.” and Broadway’s “Three Changes”); Adele performs.

Thursday, September 4th – Terrence Howard; Audrina Patridge (“The Hills”).

Friday, September 5th – Adrian Grenier (“Entourage”); Nicey Nash (“Do Not Disturb”)

View co-host Whoopi Goldberg must be as bored as I am with these last few days of hiatus as she has taken to her WowOwow blog for the second day in a row, this time to discuss John McCain’s Vice Presidential candidate selection, Alaska Governor Sarah Palin.

Whoopi wrote, “Well as I’m watching television this morning, it appears that John McCain may pick Gov. Sarah Palin, of Alaska, to appease all of those angry women — the ones who were going to vote for Hillary and then threatened to vote for John McCain — by just picking a woman. It’s expedient, and should make everybody feel better. After all, what do women actually know? They’ll pick any female, as long it’s not a guy. That kind of thinking is so insulting I don’t know what to say.”

Her blog entry also addressed comments that she received on her previous entry regarding Barack Obama’s nomination. You can read the full entry here.

I was searching today for photos and/or a story from Elisabeth Hasselbeck’s appearance at McDonald’s yesterday to read to kids, and I came across this old photo (above) published on Access Hollywood online in April. The caption incorrectly identifies the older blonde child as one of Elisabeth’s “daughters.” As we know, Elisabeth has one daughter, Grace (who has to be the little one in the picture because even from the back that bow is unmistakable) and one son, Taylor.

Add that to the fact that her name was spelled wrong on her beloved Sean Hannity’s webpage, do you think that she is feeling the lack of respect? Like she is not important enough to get her name spelled correctly or her children properly identified?

By the way, I still have not come across any coverage of the McDonald’s program (although I found a lot of sites who posted the press release ahead of time), so let me know if you see it anywhere online.

The View, Elisabeth Hasselbeck, My Little Pony

View co-host Whoopi Goldberg has blogged about Barack Obama’s nomination as the Democratic candidate for president at the website “WowOWow.”

In the article she says that she thought that Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton’s speeches at the convention were “extraordinary” and that she has to “tip her hat” to Hillary because during the campaign no one really asked out loud whether the attacks on her were “femophobic.”

Regarding criticisms of Barack, she wrote ” . . . it will be interesting to see if people can tell the truth — why they’re afraid of Barack Obama. . . Are they afraid because they think, “Oh, my goodness. I’ve seen black men in rap videos and how do I know he’s not going to turn into that?” I know that sounds silly but I’ve heard stranger things. I’ve heard John McCain say he’s not like us. Well, I don’t know how he’s different except that he’s black.”

The article was written Thursday morning, so she did not address Barack’s acceptance speech.

You can read the full article at WowOWow.

Whoopi Goldberg, Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, Bill Clinton, The View, WowOWow

UPDATE: She is no longer listed as a guest on the website. Maybe the listing I saw pertained to yesterday’s show? Or did she get bumped because of the VP story? They are now listing Karl Rove and Newt Gingrich as guests for today.

View co-host Elisabeth Hasselbeck will be on “The Sean Hannity Show” today, which is Hannity’s radio show. (Although his website calls her “Elisabeth Hassleback”). The show airs from 3:00-6:00pm eastern time online and on different radio channels across the country. I do not think I will be able to listen to it personally, but if you want to hear it, you can do so online at his website. [Aside: When I was at the website, I noticed he has a link for something called "Hannidate" where "people of like conservative minds can come together to meet." Interesting.]

Since no doubt Elisabeth and Hannity will be talking about Barack Obama’s acceptance speech last night at the Democratic National Convention in Denver, here is a video of it, in case you missed it. Or if you did not miss it, but want to watch it again.

The View, Elisabeth Hasselbeck, Sean Hannity, Barack Obama

The View creator Barbara Walters is on this year’s list of the Forbes “100 Most Powerful Women.” She is number 63 on the list of 100. Interestingly, former View host Meredith Vieira is ahead of Barbara Walters on the list, coming in at 61. Katie Couric was 62 and Diane Sawyer was number 65. It is interesting that Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is below Barbara and the other newswomen at 72.

The Forbes list had Barbara’s occupation as “Correspondent, ABC News,” rather than “Host, The View,” which suggests she made the list for her specials and interviews for ABC rather than for anything that she has done on The View. Perhaps then, hopefully, ABC/Bill Geddie won’t try to use the honor to suggest that it shows the relevance of The View.

Topping the Forbes list is German chancellor Angela Merkel, followed by American Sheila C. Bair, who is the chairman of Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. (The FDIC). If you are curious, Oprah Winfrey comes in at 36 on the list. Hillary Clinton was 28 and Laura Bush was 44.

Forbes calculates their ratings using “a composite of public profile–calculated using press mentions–and financial heft. The economic component of the ranking considers job title and past career accomplishments, as well as the amount of money the woman controls.”

What do you think makes a woman powerful? Who do you think are the most powerful women in the country or world? What criteria do you think are important to measure someone’s power?

If you want to read the whole list it is available on the Forbes website.

Earlier this month, I wrote that an ABC press release promised that on August 25th, the ABC website would feature “a retrospective looking back at 12 of the most outrageous, hysterical, side-splitting moments from this past season.” Well they were a few days late, but it is up now. You can see what the show deems to be the highlights of season 11 at the View ABC website.

Or you can just peruse the list here and see if there are any you want to go watch. Do you think there were any moments from season 11 that they failed to include? You will see from the list that they focused mostly on funny moments and they are nearly all guest segments rather than hot topics/discussions.

1. Mario Cantone talking about their chances at winning an Emmy this past season. Sherri Shepherd and Elisabeth Hasselbeck roll around on the floor after Mario tells them they have to be lesbians to win.

2. Martha Stewart making cider. Sherri Shepherd drinks a lot of rum and “passes out.”

3. Rose Rock (mom of Chris Rock) appears on the show. Elisabeth Hasselbeck stands to welcome her, but Rose is already on the couch with the hosts.
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The View co-host Elisabeth Hasselbeck will be joining forces with McDonald’s Restaurants and their “Check it Out” reading program to entertain some children. On Thursday August 28th, Elisabeth and McDonald’s number-one guy Ronald McDonald will be at the McDonald’s restaurant located at 427 10th Avenue at 34th Street in Manhattan at 1:30 p.m. Elisabeth will read “her favorite storybook” to a group of children. (The press release did not indicate what book specifically she would be reading).

Elisabeth said, “As a mother and proponent of childhood literacy, I am honored to be participating in this very special event. The McDonald’s ‘Check It Out’ Reading Program” is a great way to promote good reading habits. Between the story and Ronald McDonald, I have a feeling there will be some happy kids by the end of the event!” I wonder if she will talk to Ronald about her recent foray into clowning?

The McDonald’s “Check it Out” program is in its 10th year and gives children in grades K-4 incentives to read during the summer. It also helps gets get ready for back-to-school by “getting a jump start on their reading.” Children are rewarded with a free happy meal if they read five books during the summer. The press release makes sure to point out that happy meals can include apple dippers and milk, I assume in an effort to stave off criticism that they are encouraging bad eating habits in children or something.

The program reminds me of the “Book-It” program I did in grade school which rewarded reading with personal pan pizzas from Pizza Hut. I loved the program because every time I earned a pizza, my mom would take me and it was a very special occasion because we rarely got to eat there otherwise.

Source

Thanks to Watching the View reader Vegas for the tip! (Especially during this news-starved hiatus)

The View, Elisabeth Hasselbeck, McDonald’s Elisabeth Hasselbeck

Hills star Heidi Montag, who will appear in a re-run episode of The View tomorrow, just released a new music video for her song Overdosin’. It is below, although I will caution that it is pretty awful. I can only hope it is intentionally awful, although even then it is still pretty bad.

What does it say about The View, if anything, that Heidi Montag is the type of “celebrity” that the show is able to book? What does it say about the demographic they are trying to reach?

One final question: Can you believe how far I have to stretch to find content to post about during the hiatus? I realize that I am really reaching here, but it seems like all five co-hosts have gone into hibernation so I haven’t much material.

The View, Heidi Montag, Overdosin’, The Hills

Sherri Shepherd will make another appearance on ABC game show Wanna Bet? tonight. Tonight’s episode features something about a guy with a chainsaw who opens bottles. It airs tonight at 9/8c on ABC. You can read my recap of her earlier appearance on Wanna Bet? here.

I wonder if anyone is watching this show? If you read my earlier recap, you know that I could not even get through an entire episode of the show, in part because of the concept and in part because of the annoying hosts. I realize that Sherri likely needs to take jobs like this because she needs to make money to save for her child’s care now and in the future, but I really think that her comedic talent is wasted on a show like this.

The View, Sherri Shepherd, Wanna Bet

Former View guest co-host and possible future first lady Michelle Obama took to the stage last night at the Democratic National Convention. For those who missed it, here is a video of her speech. Funny, she never once mentioned The View and its impact on her life.

The View, Michelle Obama, Democratic National Convention

It is the last full week of hiatus for The View and the new season will begin next Tuesday, September 2nd with a performance by New Kids on the Block.

Here is the schedule for this week’s rerun episodes of The View. They are inexplicably showing four of the Las Vegas episodes again, despite being widely considered to be sub-par. Maybe they are trying to justify the expense of sending all the cast and crew to Las Vegas by re-airing the shows. The original recaps are listed next to each episode where available. Unfortunately most of the videos that I have previously posted are no longer available due to Red Lasso being down. OAD=original air date

MON., AUG. 25 (OAD: 6/24/08) – “The View from Las Vegas”; “American Idol” winner David Cook and runner-up David Archuleta perform Las Vegas “Entertainer of the Year” singer/comedian/impressionist/actor Danny Gans. My original recap here.

TUES., AUG. 26 (OAD: 6/25/08) – “The View from Las Vegas”; pop star Jessica Simpson; comedienne Rita Rudner; a performance from “O” by Cirque Du Soleil.

WED., AUG. 27 (OAD: 6/26/08) – “The View from Las Vegas”; “Don’t Forget the Lyrics” host Wayne Brady (“Making %@it Up”); Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt (“The Hills”); comedian George Wallace; Heidi Montag hosts a fashion show of her “Heidiwood” collection. My original recap here.

THURS., AUG. 28 (OAD: 6/27/08) – “The View from Las Vegas”; Bette Midler (“The Showgirl Must Go On!”); Kim, Chloe and Kourtney Kardashian (“Keeping up with the Kardashians”); magician Lance Burton. My original recap here.

FRI., AUG. 29 (OAD: 7/15/08) – Morgan Freeman and Michael Caine (“The Dark Knight”). My original recap is here.

The View, Sherri Shepherd, Whoopi Goldberg, Barbara Walters, Elisabeth Hasselbeck, Joy Behar, Kim Kardashian

The View moderator Whoopi Goldberg appears in a new Barack Obama tribute video, which is entitled, “An American Prayer.” Whoopi appears several times in the video, which was just posted at Perez Hilton. The video also includes Pamela Anderson, Macy Gray, Forrest Whitaker, Jason Alexander, Whoopi Goldberg, Joss Stone, Barry Manilow, Linda Perry, Cindy Lauper, Margaret Cho, Perez Hilton, and several others.

Watch below:

The View, Whoopi Goldberg, Barack Obama, Pamela Anderson, Macy Gray, Forrest Whitaker, Jason Alexander, Whoopi Goldberg, Joss Stone, Barry Manilow, Linda Perry, Cindy Lauper, Margaret Cho, Dave Stewart

Despite being a month-long blog vacation, Rosie O’Donnell posted a link to this YouTube clip with the title “2 years ago.” It is a segment when she was a guest host on The View which features guest Sean Hannity. Although the person who posted the clip did not know the exact date, it had to have been more than two years ago because Meredith Vieira was still on the show when this episode aired and she left at the beginning of June in 2006. Also, given that Rosie says in the clip that she does not have a job, this had to have been before she was hired on as the show’s moderator, which was announced in April 2006. I suppose the “2 years ago” could be in reference to the fact that two years ago from today she was gearing up to start on The View as moderator?

Watching the clip made me think a few things. The first, and most predominate, feeling is that I miss The View with Rosie; for her passion and excitement about issues and for her humor, both of which are evident in the clip. The second is that her statement near the end of the clip was huge foreshadowing when she said something to the effect of that the reason that she she does not have her own show is because she gets so animated about issues like the war and it angers people.

I am wondering what provoked her to link to that particular clip on today of all days? Could it be because of vice-presidential talk in the clip? Could it be because it is almost the two year anniversary of her start as moderator on The View? Maybe there is no significance in the timing and she just came across it on YouTube? What do you think is her reason for posting the link? To show that she has had the same feelings about the president/war for a long time? Is she going to be a guest on Hannity and Colmes? Is she just being nice by giving me something to write about? (Yes, that must be it!)

The View, Rosie O’Donnell, Sean Hannity, Meredith Vieria, Elisabeth Hasselbeck, Joy Behar, rblog, George Bush, John McCain, Hillary Clinton, Condoleeza Rice

The Fox game show Are you Smarter Than a 5th Grader? has released a list of celebrities that are set to appear on the upcoming season. According to Buddy TV, among them is former The View co-host Star Jones.

I think that Star Jones has a good chance of doing well on the show, as she is an intelligent woman based on legal analysis that I have heard her present, although I don’t know anything about her skills in basic math or history. For those of you who have never seen the show, the contestants have to answer questions based on the typical curriculum of different elementary school grade levels and can be helped out by actual elementary school children who often know more of the answers than the contestants.
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