Rosie wasn’t riveted to “The View” after all, says exit because ABC wanted longer contract
By Melissa Gentry
HOLLYWOOD, CA (Hollywood Today) 4/25/07 — After only one season the outspoken co-host Rosie O’Donnell announced this morning that she would be leaving ABC’s talk show “The View.” Even though it has been a short run she still managed to stir up many with her brash style and headline-grabbing remarks. ABC tried to assure viewers the move was not related to her confutations with public figures such as Donald Trump, Kelly Ripa, Bill O’Reilly or the Chinese-American population.
Rosie simply said that her future needs didn’t jive with what ABC was offering her, “They wanted me three years I wanted one year….it just didn’t work.” Even so she seemed to have no regrets, “This has been an amazing experience and one I wouldn’t have traded for the world. Working with Barbara, Joy and Elisabeth has been one of the highlights of my careers.” Barbara Walters told her this morning that she would be missed, and in an interview said, “She has given the program new vigor, new excitement and wonderful hours of television. I can only be grateful to her for this year.”
Insiders say she asked for $10 million a year, which is primetime hit money, not the kind expected for a daytime ensemble talk show.
Although this may come as a surprise to many, O’Donnell may have seen the writing on the wall back in December of 2006. After a mere three months of being on the show there were already numerous rumors in the air about catfights brewing behind the scenes, which Rosie denied and laughed off. Right after Bob Barker announced his retirement from “The Price is Right” she told “Extra” she would love to do a game show. The show also reported in December that Rosie was in talks of her own F/X sitcom, which was to be a spin-off of her guest appearance on “Nip/Tuck” from September of last year.
Earlier this month, the Los Angeles Times said that an announcement on O’Donnell’s future was imminent, after a reporter overheard her field a question about her future on the show with an audience member, and when asked whether she would continue airing her grievances and interviewing celebs on the morning staple, O’Donnell reportedly told the audience member, “I don’t know. We’re going to have a family meeting at the end of May to see what’s going on, and every kid gets a vote.” Looks like, the vote might have taken place a little sooner than she had expected.
“She arrived for discussions packing heat, often trading in argument instead of discussion, inflexibility instead of interchange,” said the Cleveland Plain Dealer of her tenure. “She brought plenty of sizzle to the chatter, but that made things uncomfortable on a set that stresses warmth.”
Only time will tell if her exit is right for either party. She was a sideshow good for a controversial sound bite after her solo show was taken off the air, but didn’t have the kind of clout network credentials gave her. When she started stirring up “The View” pot, she gave the show the best ratings it has ever had and an unpredictable viewpoint. Rosie will be sticking it out until mid-June, and as for who will replace her Barbara says that they haven’t even began the search though rumors abound by wanna-bes and maybes.