Did greed get in the way of making the ladies a quintet? Will Elizabeth give birth on air? And will Whoopi really last the entire season?
Those questions and more should be answered in the coming weeks as ABC’s daytime chatfest kicks off its 11th season on September 4th.
Yesterday the network unveiled the official promo shot for “The View,” and new moderator Whoopi Goldberg doesn’t look as uncomfortable as I thought she might. I know she willing took the job, so why should she look repulsed in the shot that has a very pregnant Elizabeth Hasselbeck smashed up against her? Why? Because I am still not convinced that the award-winning actress is going to make it through an entire season. Whoopi Goldberg leads one of the most private lives in Hollywood. She has publicly admitted that she distains speaking to the media about her personal life and now she’s supposed to spend each weekday chatting with one co-host about her sex starved professional football player husband and another’s menopause related hot flashes? If she makes it to Christmas, I will be shocked.
Then again, perhaps, her humor will help her get through an entire season. Goldberg reportedly relied on her quick wit while she was with the other ladies of “The View” during the shoot for the new promo picture.
According to the sources at the shoot, when an assistant told the co-hosts: “You all look great. Like Sex and the City,” Goldberg responded, “More like The Wizard of Oz.” Funny.
I’m sure Goldberg will get a few more laughs when actor Danny DeVito shows up as the first guest on the new season. You’ll recall DeVito made headlines last November, when he famously seemed a bit “inebriated” on the morning chatfest after a night of self-confessed drinking with pal George Clooney.
If you aren’t a big Danny DeVito fan, don’t tune out yet. According to show producers, other guests scheduled to appear the week of September 4th include Clive Owen, Regis Philbin, Larry David, Tim Gunn, Rachael Ray, and “High School Musical 2” star Monique Coleman.
Oh, and about my question as to whether greed played a part in the current number of co-hosts. I was referring to the fifth vacant seat left open by the departure of Star Jones Reynolds. Actress-comedian Sherri Shepherd was reportedly ready to sign on as the show’s fifth wheel, but talks stalled when it was reported the B-lister wanted her salary to match Goldberg’s. Needless to say, Shepherd won’t be appearing on the September 4th show. Which is too bad given that I already voiced my support for her. I still think she is hilarious, but if the rumors about her money demands are true, then she may be lucky if she is invited back as a guest, let alone a fill-in co-host.
Will you be watching the new “View” now that Rosie O’Donnell’s gone?