Watching The View

Aisha Tyler guest hosted today. Elisabeth Hasselbeck had today off for a “school thing” for her two-year old daughter Grace. Aisha Tyler recently posed nude for Glamour Magazine, although she called it a “modest shot.” The photos are part of a campaign for positive body image. She said that she would be ringing the closing bell later in the day at the NASDAQ.

Barbara Walters said she watched The View on Monday and it made her sad that Rosie O’Donnell said that she was giving up the fight against gun control because she thought it was futile. Barbara said that Rosie is passionate about everything and she should not give up. Rosie said that she was going to focus her efforts elsewhere, such as reforming foster care and raising awareness and funds for the injured soldiers back from Iraq and Afghanistan. She said that all she wanted was sensible gun laws and not to take weapons away from hunters. She said that the NRA will stop you anyway they can. Although she didn’t mention this on the show today, back when she was on her other show she was very vocal about gun control and spoke out frequently against the NRA. She received death threats against herself and her son as a result.

Barbara Walters held up a copy of that day’s New York Post which displayed a large photo of Larry Birkhead with Dannilynn Smith. Under the photo was a headline about the Virginia Tech shooting. Rosie pointed out that the Post is owned by the Murdoch Corporation, the same company that owns Fox News. She said that both mediums serve to distract America from what is really going on in the world. She said that Fox News is right-wing propaganda. When Joy said that they call themselves “fair and balanced,” Rosie called them “liars.”

The discussion returned to Don Imus and Rosie asked Aisha whether she thought there were more important issues for the black community to focus on. Aisha joked, “As the spokesperson for all black people everywhere…” She said that while the Imus comment was not the penultimate thing said about the race or gender in this country, the comment was a very big deal. She said that there have been so many comments by people in the media that are very hurtful and then cover it up by saying they were joking. Joy Behar brought up rappers who use offensive lyrics and Rosie said we should try to understand why young African American men have such anger that leads to that kind of music. Joy then asked about why they aren’t investigating “white male rage.” Rosie seemed rather annoyed and it was somewhat of a tense exchange between her and Joy.

Later, Barbara Walters brought up how Richard Gere is being burned in effigy in India after passionately embracing an Indian actress at a public event. Joy Behar said he went a little overboard and was “uncle grabbypants.”

Craig Ferguson, host of The Late Late Show appeared on the show. He joked that he liked effigies, referring back to the conversation about Richard Gere, because they are fun and no one gets hurt. He said there were a few people he would like to burn in effigy, but wouldn’t name names. He does his monologue each night unscripted, although he does think of several topics ahead of time that he wants to discuss. He said that he is more nervous now that he will say the wrong thing, although since the show is not live, any mistakes could be edited out later. He has been sober for 15 and when he was drinking he was depressed and suicidal. It is partly for this reason that he decided not to make fun of Britney Spears during her crazy partying and head-shaving events, even though all the other late night talk shows were doing so. He said that he had compassion and empathy for her personally.

He wrote a novel called Between the Bridge and the River and Rosie gave it a tremendous endorsement. He said that part of it is based on his childhood, but it is a novel.

Deirdre Imus, wife of Don Imus appeared on the show to talk about using “green” products that are nontoxic. She said that many of the cleaners we have in our homes have been linked to learning disabilities in children and others are carcinogens. In addition to purchasing her specially made cleaning products, she said there are things in our homes that we can use that are safer alternatives.

All of the profits from the sale of her products go to the Imus Cattle Ranch for Kids in New Mexico. Barbara Walters made a point of mentioning that Deidre has been on The View before and that she was booked prior to the controversy that happened with her husband.

Golden Girls star Rue McClanahan appeared on the show to promote her new book My First Five Husbands and the Ones Who Got Away. She is currently on her sixth marriage and she said that the key to having a happy marriage is to find out about yourself and be a complete person before you get married. With this marriage she knew who she was and they didn’t get married out of need, but rather out of love. She said that her third husband was physically and mentally abusive. She said that her fourth husband went after her money. She said that he is currently married to a “celebrity,” but did not say which one.

She talked about how she was diagnosed with breast cancer 10 years ago. She did not have a family history of breast cancer and said that she thought it was the last thing she would ever be diagnosed with. She is in good health today.

Aisha Tyler, Glamour, The View, Rosie O’Donnell, Barbara Walters, Joy Behar, Elisabeth Hasselbeck, Craig Ferguson, Late Late Show, Rue McClanahan, Golden Girls, Deirdre Imus, Imus Cattle Ranch for Kids