Watching The View

This is part three of a four-part series. For the rest of the interview, click on the appropriate link below:
Part One: The Early Years
Part Two: Coming into View

What is it it like to be one of the hosts on The View? Is it as chaotic as it seems?

Before we walk out to sit down, I’m in the green room holding my stomach. I’m so nervous, I can’t even see straight. I am usually panicking thinking “Sherri what the hell are you doing?” I always think that my funny is a “well,” and that one day, my “well” will be all dried up. But once I sit down at that table, open my mouth and hear that first laugh, I’m good. It is so much fun, because the ladies are actually very giving (even though we sometimes sound like a bunch of hens cackling over each other!) Initially the producers were concerned that three comics (Rosie, Joy & me) would be too much at the table, but we each have a different sense of humor. I couldn’t say any of Joy or Rosie’s quips and get a laugh, and they can’t say my stuff and get the reaction I get, so it works very well. I actually have the most fun during the commercial breaks. The ladies are very supportive of me. Is it chaotic… yes right before we go on… everyone is getting wired up and Barbara’s nudging us to be standing at the entrance (she is a very prompt person) so that we can walk out as soon as they say “Welcome to The View”.

Do you have any future dates planned to be a guest host on the The View?

I do if they ask me to come back!

Is there anything funny that happened back-stage or during commercials that you can share?

All of the co-hosts use to wear an ISB in their ears to hear the producers talking (example we’d hear in our ear “Joy go to Question #4… Barbara end this segment… Sherri hit Question #2… Elisabeth take us to commercial”) to us. One day before we’re about to walk out, I scream “where’s my ISB?”, and Rosie says to me that I didn’t need it… she said I’d be more spontaneous without it (WHATTTTT!!!!!!) So if it looks like I’m stepping on other people’s questions, it’s because I’m being spontaneous.

Also before we interview our guests, they get pre-interviewed by The View’s producers - who then give us a summary of the pre-interview. This is so we know what type of questions to ask. Well one day we were interviewing Samuel Jackson and Christina Ricci for their movie “Black Snake Moan”. My question to Christina Ricci was to ask her if her idea for her clothing in the movie was a blend of Jessica Simpson and Brittany Spears. Well this day, my girdle was just too darn tight, and I wasn’t focused. I felt Barbara Walters nudge me in the side to ask my question and I blurted out “Christina… I hear you channeled Jessica Simpson and Brittany Spears in your acting.” The look of horror on both Christina Ricci’s & Samuel Jackson’s was priceless. Thankfully, Barbara covered for me and fixed up the question. If I was a white person, I would’ve been beet red. Thank goodness Miss Ricci had a great sense of humor.

Any truth to the rumor that you might be named as a permanent host in the future?

I’m not sitting in that chair everyday, so I guess the rumors are false.

For more about Sherri visit her website, where you can purchase her comedy DVD.

Sherri Shepherd, the View, Rosie O’Donnell, Christina Ricci, Samuel L Jackson, Barbara Walters