For weeks rumors have been circulating about who will fill Rosie O’Donnell’s large shoes on ABC’s daytime chatfest “The View.” Media front runners (their names have tossed around by the press, not by “View” execs) include Kathy Griffin, Whoopi Goldberg and Sherri Shepherd – all of whom have regularly filled in as guest co-hosts in recent weeks. (They’d be fools to let Shepherd get away—she’s hilarious!)
But, today, New York is buzzing about two names that have not made the list of serious female contenders—Mario Cantone and Ross Mathews. Shocking? Hardly. The two men have been frequent guests on the show and are slated to fill in as guest co-hosts next month.
Cantone is practically a regular on “The View” as it is. He is probably best known for his work as a stand-up comic. He also played Charlotte’s friend Anthony on “Sex and the City.” Meanwhile, Mathews is better known as “Ross the Intern” from “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.” He also just appeared (and lost a ton of weight) on “Celebrity Fit Club.”
“View” insiders say show creator Barbara Walters is “really fond of Mario.” And, Mathews has his own personal cheerleader in O’Donnell. According to PEOPLE magazine, the two have co-hosted video segments on each other’s blogs.
What do you think about a guy permanently filling a seat at the all-female table? Personally, I think that if Cantone can keep his voice at an acceptable decibel level he could be quite good. Though, I like former “View” co-host Debbie Matenopoulos’ answer better. Matenopoulos has been outspoken about the idea of hiring a man ever since O’Donnell announced she was leaving.
“It is high time they put a gay man on that panel,” Matenopoulos recently told PEOPLE. “They’ve said ‘We can’t put a man here.’ I disagree. Why does it have to be guys against girls? I have a better time and solve more problems sitting with my gay guy friends than my girlfriends!”
Walters refuses to comment on who will join the ladies at the table next season, though last week she did say a decision should be made by the end of July.
Do you think that Cantone or Mathews should get the gig?