Watching The View

Today on the September 11th episode of The View, all five hosts were present. They began the show by acknowledging the anniversary of the September 11th attacks. Whoopi asked where they all were that day. Barbara Walters had an assignment that day to talk to families of the survivors. Elisabeth was in Los Angeles. Joy was in make-up room that day at The View. She noted that she is losing her voice today and joked it was God’s will. Sherri said that God wants her to scream from the mountain tops. Joy said that she still gets chills every year and pointed it out that it is always a nice day on the anniversary. Sherri did a comedy show that night and it was the most crowded it had ever been because people needed to laugh. Whoopi was doing interviews in LA following the completion of taping of Hollywood Squares. When she first saw it on the television, she thought it was a movie. She stayed in LA, but let people use her bus to get back to NYC.

Elisabeth was in the park with the kids last week and heard shouting. It was 100 Army people working out. Elisabeth yelled “woo!” at them. She explained to Grace that they were working to protect us. Grace asked why they needed protection. She told them that they have been working seven years to keep us safe. She didn’t want to give her fear because children will have their own fears. Grace then turned and said, “Woo!” at the Army people. Sherri said she held Jeffrey a little closer today. Joy’s daughter was on a plane on 9/11 getting ready to go to Canada. Joy called her and told her to get off the plane and she did. The stewardess did not know or was not telling the passengers. Whoopi said today is the day that you recognize that we are all American. Barbara said that although many people are critical of President Bush, whatever has happened, we have not been attacked in the past seven years and they should give credit where credit is due. They all agreed.
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Today on The View, comedian Chelsea Handler guest hosted to fill in for Elisabeth Hasselbeck who went to the Republican National Convention. {I am assuming the show was taped Thursday afternoon.} Chelsea’s book, Are you there vodka? It’s me, Chelsea has been on the NY Times best seller list since it came out. She joked that she was on the list with Barbara Walters and they have similar writing styles; Barbara writes about the world leaders she interviewed, while Chelsea writes about the people she slept with. Sherri pointed out that Barbara wrote about having an affair with a Black man. Chelsea that she, too, has had sex with Black men.

Joy Behar and Whoopi Goldberg will be doing stand-up at Foxwoods next weekend and in October. Following their act they will be doing a Q&A with the audience. Whoopi tried to read the information about it on the teleprompter and messed up. Although it was bleeped, I think she actually said “Fuckswood” instead of “Foxwood.”

Sherri lost her cell phone at Toys R Us and the wireless provider told her that someone was using her phone. She e-mailed the phone and the woman using it said that she paid for it, buying it from a woman who said it was her aunt’s phone. Sherri asked to buy the phone back. The woman would e-mail her and tell her who had called her. Sherri went to Bronx where the woman lived to get her phone back. She said that only in New York are people so nice, although all her pictures of Jeffrey were deleted.
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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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In case you are curious which re-runs are airing this week on The View, here is the list, along with links to the previous re-caps, where available:

MON., AUG. 18 (OAD: 4/21/08) – Guest co-host Cindy McCain, wife of Republican Senator and 2008 Presidential nominee John McCain (R-Az.); Craig Ferguson (“The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson”); Chelsea Handler (author, “Are You There Vodka? It’s Me”); Recap here.

TUES., AUG. 19 (OAD: 5/28/08) – Joan Rivers, Kirk Cameron (No recap available)

WED., AUG. 20 (OAD: 4/9/08) – Trisha Yearwood (author, “Georgia Cooking in an Oklahoma Kitchen”); Eddie Izzard (“The Riches”). Recap of episode here.

THURS., AUG. 21 (OAD: 6/18/08) - Michelle Obama guest co-hosts. Recap of episode here. This is actually the third showing of this episode, as a re-run of it aired on July 1st. Originally it was not in the listing for this week, but was added later, perhaps because they scheduled Cindy McCain’s episode to re-air this week.

FRI., AUG. 22 (OAD: 8/1/08) – Brendan Fraser and Maria Bello (“The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor”); Antonio Sabato, Jr. (SOAPnet’s “General Hospital: Night Shift”). (Recap not available)

Are any of you watching the reruns this week? Even though I missed a couple of these episodes a few times around, I really have no desire to watch them this week. While I am somewhat looking forward to the show coming back with new episodes, I get very bored watching old episodes because all of the news is old.

On an unrelated note, you may have noticed that the format of the blog has changed. The space for the blog entries are now wider, which means that I can post larger images and the text is not as narrow.

The View, Cindy McCain, Michelle Obama, Brendan Fraser, Antonio Sabato Jr, Barbara Walters, Sherri Shepherd, Elisabeth Hasselbeck, Joy Behar, Whoopi Goldberg, Joan Rivers, Kirk Cameron, Trisha Yearwood, Eddie Izzard

When The View began Michelle Obama came out onto the stage, her arm linked with Barbara Walters. After her introduction by Whoopi, Michelle said that she wanted to be greeted properly and gave each co-host a fist-bump. Whoopi joked, using her Valley Girl voice, “Should I be worried about doing that with you?” Michelle said she got it from the young staff and she is not that cool. Whoopi said she is glad it is not the chest bump.

Barbara Walters showed the NY Times article about Michelle which said that she in on The View to soften her image. She also showed a headline from Time about Michelle. Michelle said that her answer to the attacks is to take it in stride. She loves America and is proud of her country. She says that no where else is her story possible. Her father was a working class guy who worked hard to send her and her brother to Princeton. Her parents did not go to college and they had tremendous pride to see their children graduate college. When she made the comment, she meant that she did not have a pride in the political process like she has now. Michelle thinks that in part the attacks are part of the process. She thinks that people are tired of the tit-for-tat.

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UPDATE: Video clips added below. There are four altogether. I haven’t even gotten a chance to watch them myself, but I wanted to post them for all of you.

Today is one of the biggest days on The View in awhile because Michelle Obama, potentially the next first lady of the United States, will be guest hosting on The View. I am sure that you will understand how thoroughly annoyed I am by the fact that I won’t be able to watch the show live today because of work commitments. That being said, I am sure that a lot of media outlets will be covering today’s episode, so check back to this space for links to transcripts and video clips if you can’t see the show either. I will try to post them when they become available in between my work meetings.

If you are able to see the show, please comment away on this post about how you think Michelle did, whether you think the hosts asked good questions, and what you think of Elisabeth Hasselbeck’s treatment of Michelle Obama versus how she interacted with Cindy McCain. (I bet they are quite different).

I will be able to watch the show tonight and will provide my usual recap (I mean it this time!), even if it will seem old news by then.

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Michelle Obama, wife of presumptive Democratic nominee Barack Obama, will co-host The View on Wednesday June 18th. According to ABC, Michelle will be at the table with all five regular co-hosts.

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

Today on The View Cindy McCain sat in as guest host. She walked out linking arms with Barbara Walters. Sherri Shepherd was not on the show today, with no explanation, only an assurance that she would be back tomorrow.

Cindy calls her husband “Johnny Boy.” Joy said that she wished she knew that when he was on the show so she could have sung that song to him. Cindy said that John is funny, a great cook, and into horticulture. She said that is why global warming is “one of the mainstays” of his campaign. She says that we have not done enough for the environment in this country.

Barbara asked her if she was wearing a flag pin and she said it was a pin of mothers of military. Her son, a Marine, recently returned from Iraq.

Cindy watched part of the last Democratic debate. She said that debates are very stressful on the family and it is hard to watch the bickering. She hopes, however, that the Democratic race goes on until the convention. Joy said that even the media is bored with the back and forth, adding that the ABC moderators were criticized for their handling of the last debate. Elisabeth said that they did a fantastic job by asking questions that Americans want to know. Barbara asked Cindy which Democratic candidate she thought was more formidable and Cindy said that both candidates are formidable and it makes it great for the voters.
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Cindy McCain, wife of Presidential candidate John McCain will be co-hosting on The View on Monday April 21st.

From ABC:

This appearance will be Mrs. McCain’s first as a guest co-host, she previously joined her husband as a featured guest on Sept. 1, 2004, the day after the Senator spoke at the Republican National Convention.

Alicia Keys appeared as guest host today on The View. Her new album, As I Am is in stores now. She has one day off coming soon, Christmas Eve, then it is back to work.

Whoopi Goldberg mentioned Amy Winehouse and other people in the music business acting crazy and wondered if it was the business in general that causes it. Alicia said that different people have different lives , but that the music business is an intense business and you are exposed to so much so quickly. Whatever anyone asks for, they get. Alicia was raised in New York City and can handle any tough situations now.

Whoopi said that kids are rebellious anyway and if they are thrust into that business where they can get anything, they might say that the adult doesn’t know what is best for them.

That segued into a discussion of Jamie Lynn Spears, sister to Britney Spears, being pregnant at 16 years old. Joy joked, “We can’t blame that on Britney.” Their mother was planning coming out with a book on parenting before this happened, but now the publisher has delayed it. Joy said that it was like “Jeffrey Dahmer writing a book about food.”
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Don’t forget, there is still time to vote for me in this week’s Project Blog competition. Just go here to vote.

Today on The View, it was another “Day of Hot Topics,” although I am not sure why they called it that since they had a musical guest also. Republican strategist Margaret Hoover appeared on the show. She is the great granddaughter of Herbert Hoover. Joy Behar joked that the female conservatives that come on the show are always dressed like hooches (she had on a silver sparkly minidress).

Joy said that she heard that conservatives have more orgasms than liberals. Margaret said that she wouldn’t know, having never been a liberal but that, unlike Joy, she did not miss the sexual revolution. Joy said that she did not miss it, she was just married. Margaret asked Whoopi if she missed the sexual revolution and Whoopi said “I am the sexual revolution.”

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Here is the schedule for next week on The View, subject to change. It will be the last set of new episodes before the show goes on hiatus until January 7th. I am looking forward to Alicia Keys guest hosting on Wednesday.

MONDAY, DEC. 17 - Guest co-host Margaret Hoover; a day of “Hot Topics”; final three “Caroling for a Caravan” winners revealed.

TUESDAY, DEC. 18 - Denis Leary (”Rescue Me”); Sherri Shepherd backstage at Broadway’s “Mary Poppins” with producer Thomas Schumacher, author of How Does The Show Go On? An Introduction To The Theater.

WEDNESDAY, DEC. 19 - Guest co-host Alicia Keys; Danny Glover (”Honeydrippers”); musical guest Alicia Keys.

THURSDAY, DEC. 20 - Musical guest Mary J. Blige.

FRIDAY, DEC. 21 - Hilary Swank (”P.S. I Love You”); a musical performance from the Tony Award-winning musical “The Lion King,” currently celebrating 10 years Broadway.

Today on The View, Barbara Walters revealed that after her “rant” about the Jamaican embassy, she heard from everyone there that she had left messages for at the embassy. Barbara said that everyone needs their own show to solve their problems.

Barbara showed off some Christmas cards that she has received, including one from the White House. It is a religious card, which included a quote from the Bible, Nehemiah 9:6. She wondered if they sent the same card to everyone, even if they are atheists or non-Christian? Whoopi said that maybe the quote “You are the Lord” was meant only for Barbara. Joy said that maybe he is just telling everyone that he is religious and because it is the last Christmas, it doesn’t matter anymore.

She also received a card from Prince Charles and Camilla. Joy said that she read in the Enquirer that they were getting a divorce. Barbara also got a card from Elton John and Whoopi said that she got one, too. Barbara also received a card from the king and queen of Jordan. It showed a picture of them and their children, dressed casually in blue jeans. Finally she showed a card from Elisabeth which had pictures of her two children. Whoopi said that she got the card, but didn’t get a chance to look inside and she wondered, “Who are these white kids?”

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I am not one to do New Year’s resolutions. When I was in the seventh grade, we had to do resolutions as a writing assignment. All I remember including is “Not worry so much.” Honestly I could put that same “resolution” every year and it will not do much good. I am a worrier; that’s just who I am.

While I am not a fan of once-a-year resolutions, I am a goal-oriented person. I often need goals to keep me motivated. For example, if I don’t have a particular event I am training for, I find myself running a lot less. Give me a training schedule, though, and I am out on the path every day.

With that in mind, spurred on by this week’s Project Blog, I decided to think of what my ultimate goal should be for 2008. Since I want to dream big, my goal for 2008 is…to be a guest host on The View!

Yes, I realize that it will most likely never happen, but please indulge me this fantasy of how the day would go:

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Whoopi Goldberg will be in her moderator spot, then Joy Behar, then me. Sherri Shepherd and Elisabeth Hasselbeck will be to my left. We will start the hot topics segment with me explaining about my website and that not all blogging is mean and snarky. (I get the impression that Joy and Whoopi only think of gossip type sites when they mention blogging).

We will then have a wonderful hot topics segment where I am insightful, intelligent and poised. (Ha! Who am I kidding? Just imagining it in my head is making me nervous. I will be lucky if I don’t clam up completely!). I may go toe-to-toe with Elisabeth about a political issue or maybe debate religion with Sherri. Oh, and I will be funny! Can’t forget that. I won’t be slinging one-liners, but my wit will be obvious to all within earshot.
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Today’s recap won’t be up until later tonight. Feel free to comment about your thoughts about today’s show in the comment section.

Guests today: Queen Latifah, Gabrielle Union; guest host Sara Evans

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Thanks to everyone who voted for me for Project Blog. I was the winner this week!

The View, Queen Latifah, Gabrielle Union, Sara Evans