In the odd musical chairs that began when Dan Rather stepped down, Katie Couric left “Today” to be anchor of “The CBS Evening News,” Meredith Vieira left “The View” to take Couric’s spot on “Today.” And taking Vieira’s place on “The View” will be Rosie O’Donnell.
It will reportedly be announced on Friday’s program.
In one sense, the move is a no-brainer for O’Donnell, whose career since she left her daytime show hasn’t been filled with successes, on TV or on Broadway. She’ll be going back to an arena that she’s excelled in and has been good to her.
But hosting a show is different than vying for attention on a panel, and there is a potential for O’Donnell not mixing well with the other panelists as well, especially at a time when the insufferable Star Jones and bitter Joy Behar have been at each other’s throat in rancor.
O’Donnell is not exactly Miss Sunshine and would likely poison the atmosphere further.
What’s more, her outspoken politics won’t smooth her way any. It’s easy to imagine her and Barbara Walters butting heads or O’Donnell dominating fourth panelist Elisabeth Hasselbeck
Whatever the ensuing chemistry, it doesn’t immediately translate into bringing a bigger audience – or any daytime Emmys – for “The View.” But it’s something everybody can talk about tonight on the Daytime Emmy Awards red carpet.
Comments