Watching The View

Today on the March 19th, 2009, episode of The View, all five hosts were present. Whoopi Goldberg started the show by saying “our hearts are broken” and their thoughts go out to the family of Natasha Richardson, who died last yesterday.

The next topic was that Carl Reiner is turning 87 tomorrow. Barbara Walters got an e-mail from Carl Reiner who said that he will be doing a new recording of the “2000 year old man” with Mel Brooks, after hearing them talk about it on The View last week. They had thought about doing a CD before, but decided to go forward with it after hearing Barbara talk about it on the show. Barbara made a joke that she goes with a 2000 year old man. Joy joked that to them she is jail bait.

Whoopi said, “speaking of jail bait . . .” in order to segue into Sherri’s being “irritated over some stuff.” (Was that the worst segue ever?) Sherri is upset that there is no one television that looks like her. Whoopi said, “You mean nighttime TV. Cause you just gotta look over,” pointing to herself. Sherri said that she meant on nighttime TV, where they are canceling a lot of shows that feature minorities. Then the other hosts pointed out that she has a pilot she is working on. Sherri said, “thank goodness for cable,” because they are allowing more minorities on. Barbara said that they did some checking and there are 20 shows on network TV that feature one or two black people. She said that is not a small number and compared to 10 years ago it is not quite as bleak.

Sherri said that there are 70 pilots being developed with white leads and only four with black leads. Elisabeth said that it might just be a token black person on those shows. Sherri said, “Yeah, that was me.” Barbara said that she doesn’t think that the networks are doing it intentionally. Sherri said that minorities need to get behind the camera and into production, the way that Tyler Perry has done. Elisabeth said that because of Barack Obama, the expectation has been raised. Joy joked that she wanted to speak up for the Chinese. She also joked that there were way too many Italians on the Sopranos. Whoopi said that she has had the same argument for 23 years and most of her roles were not written for her and would have had white leads. She said that Color Purple was written for her (Does she mean the book? Did Alice Walker know when she wrote the book it would be a movie?), but Jumpin’ Jack Flash was written for Shelley Long and Sister Act was written for Bette Midler. Barbara said, “interesting.” (Didn’t sound like she meant it)
(more…)

Today on The View, they all were dressed nicely. Elisabeth Hasselbeck said it was because they were all afraid since Valentino is on the show today. Barbara Walters was wearing a Valentino suit, but pointed out it was not couture, but purchased in a store. Then Joy Behar had her explain what couture meant. Whoopi Goldberg said that she loves having clothes made for her because it fits and it takes the changes our bodies go through.
(more…)

Today’s scheduled guests on Today on the March 17th, 2009, episode of The View again featured the four main hosts. (Please note: This is not a verbatim transcript. It is one person’s attempt to write down as much as possible as the show is airing live. There may be inaccuracies). Whoopi Goldberg started the show by doing what I think was supposed to be an Irish dance for St. Patrick’s Day. They showed a woman in the audience in a goofy looking St. Patty’s Day outfit. Elisabeth Hasselbeck said she had green underwear on.

The first topic was that Whoopi got a phone call from Patrick Swayze last night. She said that he is “quite good” and is “working his tail off.” She said that he is sick, but we never know when you are going to die. Joy joked that she does not approve of death. Whoopi said that Patrick and his wife are writing a book and Patrick is training for his A&E show The Beast. He told her that he shaved his head and is bald.

Dora the Explorer has grown up. The TV Dora will be the same age, but the doll is more of a tween age and very different clothing. Parents are in an uproar over it. Elisabeth showed Grace the new picture and Grace said “I guess she is not an explorer anymore.” Joy said “What is she, a hooker?” Sherri said that many characters do not change over time, like Mickey Mouse, so why can’t this new girl be Dora’s sister, Cora. Joy said (I think) “Cora the Whora.” Whoopi understands that Dora has to grow up, but why does she need to wear ballet slippers? You can’t go through the woods in those. Joy joked that she went from Ellen DeGeneres to Portia de Rossi. Whoopi wants to know where the monkey is. Joy said that kids only have their dogs to look up to anymore. Whoopi said that dogs pee on the carpet and Elisabeth said that dogs lick themselves.
(more…)

Today on the March 16th, 2009, episode of The View, the four main hosts were present for another “day of hot topics.” Whoopi Goldberg just got off her bus an hour prior to the show airing. She went to see her mom in Berkley before she left California. Sherri Shepherd stayed in LA to spend time with her family and go to comedy clubs and party. Joy Behar and Elisabeth Hasselbeck came back after the show ended. They slept together on the plane. Joy told her she looks like a hot pregnant lady today, with an off-the-shoulder top. Sherri said that Bill Geddie said that it was like “pregnant girls gone wild.” Whoopi asked her if she wanted to borrow her bus.
(more…)

Today’s scheduled guests on The View are Sally Field and Calista Flockhart from Brothers & Sisters; Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt; a tour of the Brothers & Sisters set with Matthew Rhys; and Sherri goes behind-the-scenes at Dancing with the Stars. “Exciting” as that all sounds, I am not going to be watching today either. Recaps will likely resume on Monday, but I need this View vacation in order to save my sanity.

The View, Sherri Shepherd, Joy Behar, Barbara Walters, Elisabeth Hasselbeck, Whoopi Goldberg, Sally Field, Calista Flockhart, Brothers and Sisters, Heidi Montag, Spencer Pratt

Today’s scheduled guests on The View are James Denton, Kyle MacLachlan, and Doug Savant from Desperate Housewives; Maurice Benard from General Hospital; and musical guest Keyshia Cole. Today’s show is taped and I decided I am not watching. I am tired of the ABC/Disney infomercial and can’t even pretend to get excited about the guys from Desperate Housewives who are on because Barbara loves that show. So no recap. Possibly not tomorrow either unless I decide to watch to see Heidi and Spencer talk about their fake marriage.

The View, Sherri Shepherd, Joy Behar, Barbara Walters, Elisabeth Hasselbeck, Whoopi Goldberg, James Denton, Kyle MacLachlan, Doug Savant, Desperate Housewives, Maurice Benard, General Hospital, Keyshia Cole

Today on The View was the second day in California. If you saw my twitter update this morning you know that, unfortunately, I missed the single hot topics segment. I will watch it tonight and add the update later on. All the hosts were wearing jackets today after being so cold yesterday.

UPDATE: Finally watched the first segment. Barbara and Elisabeth were escorted onto the stage by Cinderella. Barbara said that backstage she asked her real name and she said “Cinderella.” Then they all started singing “Cinderelly-Cinderelly.” Whoopi asked if they had an Cinderella stories. They started talking about step-mother issues.

The father of Octomom is buying her a new house. Barbara said he said on Oprah he had $100. Elisabeth said that the financing is in his name, but she is getting money for appearances. She also asked who is buying a house these days? Sherri said that happens where you put something in someone else’s name when you don’t have good credit.

Sherri went to see Dancing with the Stars live. She didn’t understand why Denise Richards was crying at the first rehearsal, asking where do you go from there? Joy said she looks hungry. Barbara liked Lil’ Kim and Whoopi made her repeat the name. Barbara liked that she dedicated her dance to her girls at the prison that she stayed at.

Then they played a segment about Cinderella. Guess I didn’t miss much.

Jay Leno appeared on the show. Joy asked him about Octomom and he joked that you can tell she hasn’t had plastic surgery and that her new home has a delivery room. He has 80 episodes of The Tonight Show left and then will move to the format at 8:00pm in September. Elisabeth thanked him for having her on his show and said that he told her that his segments on The View will be the highest rated of the week. Sherri asked him about making fun of them on his show. He kidded that he has never done a joke about The View. Then they played a clip of Jay’s monologue where he talked about Rod Blagojevich’s appearance on the show, saying it will help Rod’s chances of pleading insanity. He also joked that the show causes erectile function. Jay said that it just shows how the popular show is that they are part of the jokes. Joy said, “Yes we are.” Jay said that Joy is the only one who would say something like that and when he told her that she was great on his show the last time she said, “Yes, I was.”
(more…)

Today on the March 9, 2009 edition of The View the show was live from Burbank, California for the first of a week of shows there. Like the Las Vegas set, it is filmed outdoors. Hopefully they will not have the sound problems that plagued the Vegas trip, although they are wearing those microphone headset things again. Whoopi Goldberg and Barbara Walters were escorted out on to the stage by Mickey Mouse and the other hosts were accompanied by Minnie Mouse, since they are at Walt Disney Studios. Whoopi was wearing a Mickey Mouse sweatshirt. The seven dwarfs appeared in statute form in the façade of the building behind them and they spent several minutes trying to name them all. They made up a few like “Grouchy” (Barbara said that) and “Horny” (Sherri said that one).

Whoopi’s bus trip was great and people kept waving at her, even though they couldn’t see her. Sherri said that she should flash them. Whoopi said that she would have to be on the roof to do that because gravity is not her friend.

Joy and Elisabeth flew together and Elisabeth slept for six hours. Joy was sitting next to a man who said he just left Iraq and she asked if they paid for his first class ticket and he said that his family paid for it. At the end of the flight, though, he admitted to them that he was the flight’s air marshal. (I thought this was an interesting story because Rosie O’Donnell just had the same identical experience. She mentioned it on the Bonnie Hunt show, although the man sitting by her said he was in the Coast Guard and then when she kept asking him questions he admitted he was the air marshal.)

Sherri went to work out this morning with Elisabeth and one of the producers. Sherri said Elisabeth was doing all kinds of exercises and Sherri just walked on the treadmill. She said that Elisabeth was very energetic and chipper and Elisabeth said that Sherri would not even talk for about 20 minutes.

Whoopi went to Disneyland yesterday from 9am-8pm with her grandchildren and their friends. There were so many of them they took up whole roller coasters. Whoopi thinks they should have The View there because they have all the other Disney folks. Then they starting singing “It’s a small world.” It is going to be a long week.

Barbara’s friend was pulled over and had an expired license and she got arrested. She convinced the guard at the jail to put The Bachelor on the television at the jail and it caused too much trouble, so the guard had to turn it off. (She tells stories very badly. It could have been an interesting story if she told it better). Whoopi asked her if by “my friend” she really meant herself. Barbara reminded her that she does not drive.
(more…)

Today on this pre-taped, but new, episode of The View, it was the four main hosts. The first topic was that a Tennessee Congressman has put out a bumper sticker that says “Honk if you are paying my mortgage.” Whoopi Goldberg wondered if they were also going to put out one that said “Honk if you are paying for AIG.” Joy Behar suggested “Honk if you are paying my bonus.” Elisabeth Hasselbeck said that compared to the bumper stickers she has seen about the Bush Administration, this one seems pretty mild. Joy said that the best one she saw for President Bush was “Can somebody give this guy a BJ so we can impeach him?” Sherri Shepherd said that even if you don’t respect the president, you should still respect the presidency. Elisabeth wants to know where the respect was the past eight years. Joy said that when President Obama makes a mistake, the Democrats will dissent against that policy. She pointed out that Obama has not been president that long and he can’t change everything right away. Elisabeth said that is what happen when you make a lot of promises–people are going to hold you accountable to those promises.
(more…)

Today on The View, the all five hosts were present. The first topic was Rush Limbaugh’s challenge of President Obama to a debate on his radio show. Joy Behar and Sherri Shepherd both sarcastically said that is a good idea. Elisabeth Hasselbeck said that President Obama (who she accidentally called Senator before Barbara corrected her, saying, “President”) did tell people not to listen to Limbaugh. Joy said that you do not debate someone who says that they hope you should fail. Elisabeth said that you should only debate people you agree with? Barbara said that the president should not be debating anyone, adding that the Democrats are loving this. Elisabeth said that they are creating it. Barbara said that the Republicans do not like that it shows they don’t have a leader. Elisabeth said that the Rush Limbaugh issue is a big distraction and they need to focus on the real issues.
(more…)

Today on The View the scheduled guests are Dr. Phil and RuPaul. Feel free to comment here during the show. My recap will be up later tonight. (sorry! I have work committments during the day today. I know that now more than ever you need the recap to avoid watching yourself, but the delay is unavoidable today).

The View, Elisabeth Hasselbeck, Joy Behar, Whoopi Goldberg, Sherri Shepherd, Barbara Walters, Dr. Phi McGraw, RuPaul

Today on The View, it was the four main hosts. The first topic was Twitter and how after they talked about it yesterday, their website crashed. Joy Behar said that television beat the internet finally.

The NY Rangers love The View and Whoopi did a charity event with them last night.

Then they moved on to The Bachelor. Finally! I cannot believe that it was the third topic! (Note: that was sarcasm). Elisabeth had a party at her house for the finale. They showed a clip package of her party, where her guests all wore veils and got roses. Tim appeared in the clip and refused to hand out the roses. Elisabeth claims she is done with the show now because it turned out he was not the good guy she thought he was because he broke up with the woman he proposed to and went back to the other woman instead.
(more…)

Today on The View is another Day of Hot Topics. Feel free to comment here during the show. My recap will be up later. Or not. After watching the intro I was already bored and turned it off.

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

Today on this prerecorded episode of The View, the four main hosts were present. (Ever notice how Barbara Walters is a lot more scarce when she doesn’t have a special to promote?) The first topic was the fact Clint Eastwood said in a recent interview that he missed the days that he could make jokes based on ethnicity. Joy Behar said that he said that he gave the interview to a German newspaper and talked about Jews. Sherri Shepherd said that she would like to know what the minority feels about the jokes as a measure of whether it appropriate. Elisabeth Hasselbeck said that causally tossing around racial terms or sexist terms, there is not a place for that. Whoopi asked what about comedy, saying Don Rickles does it well. Sherri said that the person at butt of the joke might not think he does it well. Elisabeth said at least you know where people stand as opposed to when people are PC and hiding what they really feel. Whoopi said that do we all have certain feelings like that, noting that she was driving in her car and screamed at an old person who was driving too slow. Sherri said that no one can say they have not said something bad when they are alone. Joy said it is okay for her to joke about Italians because she is one, but it is not okay for others to do so.
(more…)

Today was another “day of hot topics,” on The View with the four main hosts present. The first topic was American Idol and they played a clip of a guy singing silly. Sherri Shepherd was “offended” at first because he was “making a mockery of American Idol,” but then realized he could sing. Is she serious? A mockery? It is a television show. Whoopi Goldberg thinks that they all tend to sound the same, which she doesn’t like. Then they showed another clip. Jeez. They need to rename the show American Idol Rewind or something. I. don’t. care.

The next topic was about Paula Abdul not liking there being four judges. Good Lord.
(more…)