Posted on 02/08/2015 12:26:50 AM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
In the least shocking news to hit the industry this week, Rosie O’Donnell is leaving The View after a much-hyped return less-than-a-hockey-season ago.
Not to end-zone dance or anything–because this choice was so obviously doomed from the start–but Ms. O’Donnell not being able to revive a sinking franchise could be seen from a mile away (as was her mental meltdown). As mentioned in this space, sequels invariably fail (at least critically compared to the original…with a few exceptions) in the entertainment world. O’Donnell is a living, breathing, 50-something sequel. And in the end, her departure is a product of classic in-the-box thinking by the important corner-office folks over at ABC, who–like most network executives–always go safe and end up sorry.
Now–let’s not pin The View‘s impending demise on just one Rosie alone. The other Rosie–in the form of Perez–has shared exactly zero compelling thoughts since joining the program outside of this opening act. The same can be said for Nicolle Wallace, who if not for working for Sarah Palin seven years ago would be somewhere between the wilderness of infomercials and occasional Morning Joe appearances. The “Palin was mean to me and an idiot in general” shtick should not be the cornerstone of one’s LinkedIn page. And Whoopi Goldberg? Well, let’s just say I’ve always preferred to have the much more engaging and informed Robin Quivers running the show instead.
As some of you know, I’m a fantasy football geek. That premise oftentimes is extended into my columns as well when it comes to building panel shows. So listen up, View decision makers, because I’m about to provide the pearls to save your show… again.
Step 1: Fire everyone left on that set. Perez already had one foot out the door to probably go do White Men Can’t Jump 2 anyway, so no worries there. Wallace is a nice enough lady but the aforementioned one-trick pony. Whoopi can split a taxi out to the airport with Perez for a Ghost prequel (it’ll be like Batman Begins, but different!). In the end, whatever this is just ain’t working, much to the delight of CBS’s The Talk.
Step 2: Hire Quivers… she’s right down the block on the Howard Stern show and just coming off a newscast (See: She’s already warmed up). Hire S.E. Cupp, who is about as easy to find on CNN as Tiger on a PGA leaderboard these days… thereby giving Sarah Elizabeth some hours to fill. Hire Alicia Menendez, who is just about the best liberal pundit out there (currently with Fusion… but check her out here with Cupp on Bill Maher‘s Real Time). And can someone, anyone extend a contract to Ann Coulter? Nobody does snark and infotainment better. More importantly, she knows how to evoke emotion and reaction from those who both agree and disagree with her. Here’s a preview of what I’m talking about via a Coulter guest appearance on the show (and conveniently enough, Menendez is guest hosting here as well).
So there you go. Unlike the 1990s All-Star Team of Rosie, Rosie and Whoopi (all over 50), you go younger with half the cast of Cupp (35) and Menendez (31). You have two liberals (Menedez/Quivers) vs. two conservatives (Cupp/Coulter). And guess what? All possess something sorely lacking in this business: a biting sense of humor. Nothing phony here. And from a superficial point of view (television is a visual medium, after all), I’ve got a blond, two brunettes and a red head doing the glasses thing. But here’s one more idea: Bring in one guy to sit in for one segment at the end of the show to mix things up (thereby not ripping off Outnumbered completely). Doesn’t matter who… it’s not like ABC has a shortage of talent or anything.
Of course, none of this will happen because it makes too much sense. That would actually take thinking outside the box… something executives trapped in that Manhattan bubble don’t have the courage to even consider.
There’s no “saving” the view.
Why save it at all? As far as I can tell there is not much of a view that is to be considered eye-candy anyway.
Did it ever occur at any point to them that no one wants to watch or listen to these vile women with one view? They are all the same politically.. the only thing that differs is where they put their faces when they go home at night.
Save the View? That’s like saving Ebola. Why?
S.E. Cup and Ann Coulter on a broadcast network platform? Like that is going to happen....
Ann Coulter gets to take "Whoopie Goldbergs" place. 
At least some people would view it for a bit...
Absolutely there is.
It's just a matter of 3 things.
1-Are they willing to break away from their ideology and propaganda?
2-Does ABC actually want to make money?
3-Is ABC willing to break away from their ideology and propaganda to make money?
Talk radio and Fox news has proven that conservatism SELLS and sells big.
The View is nothing but liberal b!t@#e$ spewing stupidity and bile.
Change the people and the ideology to conservatism and you'd see a ratings change.
Liberal talk radio, even in liberal strongholds ALWAYS fails, without OUTSIDE propping up. Meanwhile conservative programs ALWAYS beat out their liberal rivals in the same markets in the same time slots.
Fox news built a station around "somewhat" conservative principles and kicks all the other cable news programs COMBINED.
If Fox were on free broadcast tv, in short order it would also trump ABCCBSNBC...combined.
We've seen it time and again in movie theaters. Liberal based war movies bomb. Conservative based war movies are record setters.
Liberal religious movies or programs bomb. Conservative religious movies set records.
Remember all the attacks on Passion Of The Christ, BEFORE it even came out? What did it do at the box office.
Look at Hollywoods latest fiasco of Noah. Then compare it to a virtually non existent budget flick of God Is Not Dead.
The View could be saved, but it would require ABC to commit blasphemy from their religion.
Why save what isn't worth saving?
“The other Rosie–in the form of Perez–has shared exactly zero compelling thoughts since joining the program outside of this opening act.”
Compelling thoughts? I’ve tuned in and out of this ferret-fest over the years as my mother watched it for the sheer vitriol of the participants.
Compelling thoughts? About what? The show isn’t a discourse on civilization or a philosophical roundabout.
It’s a banal, boring reality show with vapid, vacuous women sitting around carping like fish.
She could easily take Whoopies place.
Or even Stacey Dash.
I imagine male viewership of a show like this, would skyrocket.
Spot on mountn man. Even in the epicenter of the land of the fruits & nuts, the San Francisco Bay Area, conservative talk radio thrives. Many moons ago the morning rag used to run a poll/contest for the best show. Every year, without fail, the great Lee Rodgers would crush the competition. They had to physically show up at the station and present the trophy. Finally, after so many consecutive years of winning, the SF Chronicle ceased running the contest.
No EAR candy, either.
Heck, I’d do pay-per-view to see one airing.
Why would anyone want to save The View?
Gee, who knew bringing back Rosie O wouldn’t work out??? You mean ratings didn’t improve with loud liberal in your face Rosie ODonnell?? And OMG, the behind the scenes clashes we heard about with Rosie O always in the center of the storm?? You mean all of this doesn’t add up to domestic tranquility on the set of The View???
And now Rosie has seen her son go to The Citadel. That must stick in her liberal craw that her son goes to a place which has a strong military conservative tradition.
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