The skinny on Star Jones...
So Star Jones begins her new daily talk show next week on Court TV. That means she's back in the news - well, even more than usual - and doing an assortment of interviews promoting the new project. I wish her well. I liked her until she turned into bridezilla on "The View" and got so full of herself. Still, they have never really been able to replace her which I think says a lot. She was a smart, strong woman then and I think what will help her now is that she might come across as more authentic. I say this because she has FINALLY admitted the obvious: she had gastric bypass surgery and lost 160 pounds. Her lack of candor about this, even as she wrote a self-helf book and talked about her marriage ad-nauseum, are what turned off viewers and let to her getting the boot.
I'm going to share with you some quotes from her interview in the new issue of TV Guide then after the jump is part of her Q&A with Newsweek.
Enjoy!
On why she wouldn't admit to having surgery: "I was angry with myself and embarrassed. Emotionally, it was a long road to forgive myself for not being perfect. And I was worried it wouldn't be successful."
On why she had the surgery: "I didn't lose weight for the public eye. I did it because I didn't want to die. I couldn't walk a block without using an inhaler. I weighed almost as much as my friend Shaquille O'Neal!"
On if she's heard from former co-workers at "The View": "Elisabeth [Hasselbeck] and I are friends. I'm happy for them and I hope they're happy for me, because I got exactly what I wanted [with my new show]."
On sending flowers to new co-host Whoopi Goldberg: "I was encouraging her to do what's good for Whoopi - she's my friend. The View was my home for nine years. Why would I do anything to try and destroy it? I've not made a nasty comment since I left over a year ago."
NEWSWEEK: Have you seen Barbara Walters since you left "The View"?
Star Jones: No.
Q. If she was here today, would it feel awkward?
Absolutely not. I have done nothing wrong. I never lied. I had an amazing experience on "The View." In broadcasting, I consider her my mentor.
A. How did you part ways?
We didn't. The very last thing that happened, was I held her hand. I went along with the rest of the show and I never spoke to her again. I got a phone call that night [not to come back].
Q. There used to be a time on "The View," when there wasn't so much drama on the set.
A. I think we grew apart. When we started the show, we were a group of friends. We were a group of women who wanted to be like friends. We were very protective of each other, each other's privacy and not hurting each other's feelings. We never tried to hurt each other's feelings. Ever. You never heard one mean comment coming out of the show. It was a wonderful place to come to work. But as we grew, as we matured in our individual celebrities, that changed a bit. what happened? People grew apart. We were not as protective of each other. That's the fairest way I can put it.
Q. Joy Behar makes nasty cracks about you on the show even now.
A. That's life. You deal with it. I can handle that. I'm not a shrinking violet. As you recall.
Q. Did you watch Rosie's fight with Elisabeth Hassleback on her last day on the show?
A. I did see all of that. I for the life of me couldn't understand why there was controversy. It's not like anyone doesn't know what Elisabeth believes. I disagree with pretty much everything that Elisabeth thinks because of my own political persuasion. But I would die for her right to say it.
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About Out
in Hollywood
Greg Hernandez, Page 2 "News Lite" columnist for the Los Angeles Daily News, gives you a fly-on-the-wall account of the Oscars and other awards show, movie premieres, film festivals and various star-studded events. He also shares his celebrity interviews as well as specially-selected videos and photos. He writes about all things pop culture through a gay man's eyes ...
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So, Greg, her nasty little antigay thing and her black-church fundie beliefs about gays and gay families seem to be just okey-dokey with you?
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I expect better from you. She is just a nappy hedded ho that can afford the weave. She is no friend to anyone in the gay community except mebby her hubbie.
She is so creepy. I hope this is the last I hear of her...