When I was chatting with Lorraine Bracco Friday night at the pre-Emmy party for nominated performers (she lost in the supporting actress category to Katherine Heigl), I told her how much I enjoyed her most recent guest host stint on "The View" which came post-Rosie during the summer. Bracco has that terrifically distinct voice and I like how she wasn't shy about expressing her opinions about whatever "hot topic" was on the table.
I wanted to know what she thought about the new line-up of co-hosts which now includes Whoopi Goldberg and Sherri Shepard: “I have a lot of fun with those ladies. I caught a little of it the other day. I’m great pals with Whoopi who is really smart and hip and cool. How bad could it be?”
Then I wondered what she thought of the staunch conservative Elisabeth Hasselbeck whose on-air showdown with Rosie O'Donnell led to Rosie leaving the show three weeks early: “I think Elisabeth is a smart little cookie. Listen, this is America and we are all allowed to our opinions, thank God, and we’re not gonna be chastised and killed if we voice them.”

Bracco makes a good point and it resonates even more in light of Barry Manilow's refusal to appear on "The View" with Hasselbeck. Post-911, saying anything against the administration was considered non-patriotic and it was a scary time. So to have Hasselbeck say her piece each day - as much as it iannoys me - is her right. As long as she works on the show, she HAS to be able to speak out as much as any of the other ladies.

Related post: The View on Paris' early release