Isn’t it ironic?
For months the peacock network has been courting Rosie O’Donnell for a possible primetime talk show to air on MSNBC. Then, less than a day after the acerbic comedian blabbed to the media about the pending deal, NBC pulled the plug on its offer.
O’Donnell was spurned for speaking out of turn, but later laughed off the incident when speaking about NBC’s decision on her website.
“Listen, I’m too old!” O’Donnell said with a chuckle. “When you’re young, you do those things. ‘Yes, I won’t tell anyone! Lock me in the NBC vault!’ ”
So, here’s the part I don’t understand: NBC execs knew who they are dealing with (Hello… can you say “The View”). What would make them think that the loud-mouthed talk show host would muzzle herself just because she was in talks with them? And furthermore, isn’t O’Donnell’s ability to run her mouth part of the reason (if not the sole reason) NBC was courting her in the first place?
Big wigs at MSNBC refused to comment about the failed relationship between themselves and O’Donnell. However, one insider revealed that the reason the network’s offer was yanked wasn’t because the comedian leaked info to the press; it was because O’Donnell refused to sign a multi-year contract. The former “View” co-host reportedly wanted to restrict her commitment to a single year.
Still, the brouhaha doesn’t seem to be fazing O’Donnell who told reporters she doesn’t need the mainstream media to have a show anyway.
“I’m going to figure out a way to do a show here, in my blogville, because I really think it’s the next way anyway,” O’Donnell said in her latest video blog post on her personal website. “Who wants to work for a company with three letters that’s just going to get mad when you tell people what you’re doing?”
And in true Rosie fashion, I’m sure all this talk about not talking will only give O’Donnell more to talk about.