Watching The View

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.”

Whoopi asked if it was the mother’s fault. Sherri said that you can teach your daughter values, but it is up to them in the end. Sherri doubted that anyone would want to buy the parenting book now. She added that she was glad that Jamie Lynn didn’t get an abortion just so that no one would find out. Alicia said that maybe Jamie Lynn can use this as an opportunity to talk about the importance of safe sex. Whoopi said that people need to learn how to separate Jamie Lynn the person from her character and then they can still watch her show. Whoopi said that it is a problem for her because people will holler out “Hey Sister Act” to her and expect her to turn around, unable to separate her from her previous roles.

Joy said that the singers of the 1940s and 1950s would not have careers today because they are not as pretty as Alicia. Joy said that Alicia has it all and needs that to succeed today. Sherri said that Alicia had such persistence in the beginning of her career because no one new what to do with her style of her music. Whoopi said that her music is about the lyrics and that makes the songs that much more important.

Whoopi talked about Mike Huckabee’s holiday commercial where it appears that there is a cross in the background as the camera pans. It is really a bookshelf next to his Christmas tree. She said that people are upset because he is a Christian. Joy said that it is because he is appealing to the Christian right to get the nomination. Whoopi said that everyone is pandering to the religious part of the country. Sherri didn’t think it was intentional, but also wasn’t bothered by it because she is Christian. Joy said that nothing is an accident in these campaigns. Other people are upset because he mentioned Christmas and the birth of Jesus. Whoopi said that is what Christmas is about and she seemed baffled that people would be upset by it.

Joy said that Ron Paul, who she called a “staunch Republican” quoted Sinclair Lewis, saying that “When fascism comes to this country, it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross.” Sherri said, “He’s a gynecologist, too.” Joy said that she didn’t think that fit into the discussion. Whoopi said that she has enjoyed the company of many gynecologist and never thought about their religious beliefs. Joy said that unless he was using the cross as a stethoscope, she didn’t see what the connection was.

Whoopi has slipped backwards in her quitting smoking campaign. She thought she had it under control, but then her “better half,” who is also trying to quit, had a little operation. Smoking hurt his throat so he would light a cigarette, not be able to finish it, and give it to Whoopi. She had been down to two small parts of cigarettes a day, but has slipped back. She still wants to quit by Christmas.

Sherri has a dilemma because she doesn’t want to send her ex-husband’s family cards with her and her child’s pictures on it. She made a separate card that has just have Jeffrey on it to send to her former in-laws.

Alicia’s is involved with “Keep a child alive” which helps children with AIDS in Africa. She said that $1 a day can help so much, so she likes the slogan, “Who gives a buck?”

Danny Glover appeared on the show to promote his new film Honeydripper. In this film he plays the piano and it was a great opportunity to learn something new. The movie is set during the time of segregation and it brought up memories of his life growing up. His parents joined the post office the first year that the federal workforce was segregated. Danny said that the film has important parts of history woven throughout it.

Sherri said that she wants him to do another Lethal Weapon movie. He said that it has been 10 years since the last one and said that he thinks that the series is finished.

Danny is an insomniac and he has naps during the day. Whoopi remembered that from when they worked together on The Color Purple and they had to wake him up. He said that he has to get up to use the bathroom a lot which keeps him up.

Sherri asked whether he is going to “get with” Sally Field on Brothers and Sisters. He said that he is having fun on the show. He acted with Sally Field in Places in the Heart and it happened right after his mother died. Sally was great to him even though he was in tears all the time.

The next segment was “As Seen on TV” products.
Go Duster: automatic rotating duster
Ped Egg: egg shaped foot scraper that is sensitive enough that it won’t pop a balloon
Wallet Pix: small, digital, portable photo album; Joy said that quality of the photos is not that good
Flat fold colander: folds flat to save space, but unfolds to regular size
Stick up bulb: battery powered light bulb you can stick anywhere
Push up Pro: handles that turn as you do push ups, which is better for your wrists

If you have an idea, you can go to their website and submit your idea.

Alicia Keys performed her song “Like You’ll Never See Me Again.” At the end of the show, Joy said that Alicia needs to do the Lena Horne story.

I have to say that I loved Alicia Keys today. I thought that she great throughout the show and was really a delight.

Alicia Keys, The View, Joy Behar, Danny Glover, Sherri Shepherd, Ron Paul, Mike Huckabee, Whoopi Goldberg