Out in Daytime TV: September 2007 Archives

"As the World Turns" was unbelievable today! Luke and Noah kiss and it's a pretty good one...at least it was until daddy dearest shows up. Check out the clip which also includes the events leading up to the smooch!

p.s. Thanks to the readers who pointed out that in a recent post, I refered to Noah as Nate. Just one of those stupid mistakes.

The outspoken Joy Behar has a new book out (above) and appeared on Larry King Live on Friday to talk about that and other topics. Of course, the stuff that perked up my ears were when she discussed anything that had to do with "The View" including fellow co-hosts, past and present.
On Rosie: "She left sort of abruptly...She's Rosie O'Donnell, she's got a lot of money, she can do what she wants...I like to concentrate on the fun we had this year, and we did have a lot of fun."
But she added that it was also "a year of stress." There were also moments when "things went to hell in a hand basket." And the stress did get to her, Behar admitted. She attributed a case of shingles she had this summer to it.

On the Rosie-Elisabeth on-air fight: "It's not pretty. I don't think that's the original concept [for 'The View' that Barbara Walters had... I couldn't understand why they didn't go to a commercial."
On Rosie writing that Barbara Walters is tired and should retire: "That's so not true! Barbara is not tired, she's raring to go...the woman is never tired, the woman does not tolerate anyone else being tired...If there's negative things in the book I'd assume Barbara wouldn't be happy about it - Why should she be?"
On Star Jones: "I wish her well. I don't have animosity toward her." But they're not in touch although Behar did see an episode of Jones' new show on Court TV. "We never really had fights off the air...we had different ways of seeing the world...we were not friends off of the air." She said she was "shocked" when Jones announced on the air that she was leaving because even though she knew something was happening, it wasn't supposed to be announced for several more weeks. Of Jones' departure announcement and subsequent media interviews: "I think she tried to take the high road."

On Donald Trump dissing her: "Donald Trump says I have no talent...what talent does he have? ...I've had 20 years of psychotherapy so when someone says something that's not true, I dismiss it...it's a non-issue for me."
On new moderator Whoopi Goldberg: "I'm getting real friendly with Whoopi now. I love her."
On former moderator Meredith Viera: "I miss her tremendously...she's a good, good person."

Wednesday's episode of "As the World Turns" was terrific as the Luke and Noah storyline continues to unfold. Noah's dad is being portrayed as an extremely loathsome man as I'm sure some parents of gay kids are. But it has made me think about how much kids want to not disappoint their parents even well into their adulthood. We as gay people have suffered for it forever and it takes a lot of courage to move beyond a disapproving parent. I'm glad that Noah's dad is contrasted with Luke's mom.
Here is a lengthy YouTube clip from Wednesday's show:

I've really appreciated the live-blogging of these episodes pn the AfterElton.com site whch will blog again tomorrow. Check it out!

As I suspected, Sherri Shepherd DOES know that the world is round. This morning on "The View," she admitted that she was nervous yesterday when Whoopi asked her the question and had something of a brain freeze. She was pretty funny in explaining it and the show, in general, had a more relaxed and loose tone without den mother Barbara Walters at the table. When Barbara is there, she undercuts Whoopi's position as moderator and Whoppi defers to her too much. But, I think that will change with time. I hope!
The women also addressed the Barry Manilow controversy but it wasn't anything too juicy. Whoopi just reiterated that you sit with one host, you with them all and Joy piped in with some remarks about it being a free speech show. Whoopi tried to close it then but Elisabeth piped in with some remark but I didn't jot it down because I was half-asleep. Had gotten up early to blog then fell back asleep! Yikes.
I think all the Manilow jazz has emboldened Hasselbeck a bit because she also mentioned that the day of her big fight with Rosie, guest Alicia Silverstone had not intentionally snubbed her and had later sent her a note saying so. okay, that'll do for now I guess but I have a feeling the Hasselbeck factor may rear its ugly head again, and again, and again.

OK, promise this is my last "View" related item of the day. It's gotta be because I'm going home to get ready for the 40th Anniversary part for The Advocate at Republic in LA.
So, I tuned in this morning with much anticipation thinking the gals would gab about Barry Manilow's snub of Elsabeth. But nooooooooooooooo. They drifted into a strange and rather dull conversation that veered toward religion and pitted Sherri and Elisabeth against Babs, Whoopi and Joy. Sherri has made cleare that she doesn't believe in evolution and Barbara seems to just be mystified by this. So after discussing this a bit, Whoopi asked Sherri if she thought the world was flat.
Silly question. Should have gotten a silly answer.
Nope.
Sherri said: "I don't know. I never thought about it Whoopi. Is the world flat? I never thought about ...I...I...No....But I'll tell you what I have thought about. How I'm going to feed my child, take care of my family. 'Is the world flat' has not been an important thing to me."
OK. Sherri. All you have to do to see the world is round is to leave it and view it from a distance, like astronauts have been doing for about four decades. Ever seen a globe?
Sherri is funny, she makes me laugh. But I'm wondering if she is really that dumb or just got flustered and defensive by Whoopi's tone.

BTW, the other bit I scribbled down during all this was a line from Hasselbeck who said: "Just because something is your right doesn't necessarily make it right."
This was her reaction to the ACLU supporting Sen. Larry Craig in his airport bathroom arrest mess. Whoopi and Barbara tried to explain to her that the ACLU is a good organization overall because it fights for everyone's rights. But all Elisabeth could focus on was that they fought for the rights of Nazis to march in a Jewish neighborhood in Skoke, Ill. and that they once defended NAMBLA. I think she threw NAMBLA in there three times.
Is it me or is it a pattern of ultra-conversative types to bring up unrelated inflammatory bits of information in a debate rather than just discussing an issue head on? Do they not have the facts on their side? Have they become so defensive that they lack common sense?
Do they think they are so "right" that they can overlook people's "rights"?

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

Sheesh. I thought Susan Sarandon's chilly attitude toward Elisabeth Hasselbeck on "The View" last week was newsworthy but this sure trumps that: TMZ.com is reporting that Barry Manilow's scxheduled appearance on the show was cancelled by producers because the singer demanded that Hasselbeck not be present.
Said Manilow in a statement to TMZ: "I strongly disagree with her views. I think she's dangerous and offensive. I will not be on the same stage as her."

Here is a terrific YouTube video of the Luke/Noah/Maddie storyline from Friday's "As the World Turns." My favorite line comes from Maddie to Noah: "I know you have feelings for Luke that you wish you didn't...and that you wish you had feelings for me that you don't."

Here is the latest:

Boy, Noah's daddy is creeeeeeeeeeeepy!

It looks like Whoopi Goldberg is as big a ratings draw for "The View" as the controversial Rosie O'Donnell was - at least in her first week. The Oscar winner's debut week as moderator nearly tied Rosie's debut week a year ago. An average of 3.5 million viewers tuned in each day, just 2 percent less than fall 2006 premiere week.
I'm digging Whoopi in the job and wish her continued success...

If you've been following the superb love triangle of Luke-Noah-Maddie on "As the World Turns," tomorrow would be a good time to tune in. Below is a clip of an intense scene between the two guys that just rings so true. I am amazed at the quality of this storyline, and so, so heartened by it.
AfterElton.com, which has been leading the coverage of this, will be live-blogging about the episode beginning at 2 p.m. ET. I know I'll be reading!

Kathy Griffin was on "The Ellen DeGenres Show" yesterday and Ellen wondered what would happen if the D-lister would do if she ever ran into any of her targets. AfterElton.com has posted a transcript of the exchange which includes Ellen saying: "After I came out, I was the butt of everybody's joke. So I know what it feels like to be talked about all the time."
Repiled Kathy: "... I don't make fun of people who have a sense of humor about themselves, I don't make fun of people — honestly, what I do is I make fun of people who created a situation. I don't say about Star Jones, 'Uhm, she's fat. Goodnight everybody!' I say 'I worked with her and my experience was she was a [censored].' That's my experience with her, we all know it. Don't act like I'm the first one to say that ... but, also, if you were puking all over in nightclubs or get out of the car without the panties that's a different story because that's something you're controlling ... and it's fun. Honestly, I make fun of people's behavior more than I make fun of how they look. And I've been that person too, I've had the nasty pictures and had the 'worst dressed' and all that too."

Click over to AfterElton.com for some YouTube clips of the appearance...

When I work from home, one cool thing is that I get to watch "The View" which I'm interested in again with the additions of Whoopi Goldberg and Sherri Shepherd. Whoopi is gaining control of the "hot topics" portion and is a stabilizing presence in a way that was difficult for Rosie to be - as much as I love her. I see her steering the conversation here or there, cutting people off when need be, and doing what a moderator should do. She's not as much fun as Rosie but that's what they have Sherri for.
Anywho, I can't really hide my contempt for Elisabeth Hasselbeck. It's not that she's a Republican, it's that she's a "I have drunk the Kool-Aid" Republican. She will defend the Bush administration policies no matter how wrong-headed and disastrous they prove to be. If it were a Democratic president in power and screwing up this badly, would Joy Behar be defending him (or her)? No way. She's an intelligent woman with opinions.

I write of this because Susan Sarandon was one of today's guests and it wasn't hard to see that this outspoken actress/activist could not stand a lightweight like Hasslebeck. Sarandon, promoting her film "In the Valley of Elah," seemed annoyed with anything Elisabeth had to say even if it was complimentary. It seemed painful for her to even be in the same studio as Hasslebeck. It made perfect sense to me though. Sarandon is a passionate woman, someone who has lived long and seen a lot and wants to make our country better. She's been on the front lines speaking out for a long time.
Elisabeth Hasselbeck was on "Survivor."
In "Elah," Sarandon plays a woman whose two sons are killed in the Iraq war. It's based on a true story and the Oscar winner wanted to do it to shed light on the "55 soldiers a day who are killed, injured or sick" and who she says are not being taken care of by the government.
Sarandon says there is a "disconnect" between that reality and what is being addressed by the government and the people of this country.
"[The film] is just saying, 'Let's get real about this war...they come back and see us acting like nothing is going on."
Sarandon was asked if she was still not a fan of Sen. Hillary Clinton. She's still not. As for who she is supporting for the Democratic nomination, she said: "I like Edwards and I'm waiting to see what Obama says."
We know who Elisabeth will support: Any moron of a nominee they put in front of her who shares her "values."

The Luke and Noah storyline continues to progress. Maddie is putting two and two together and in this clip, asks Luke is something is going on between he and Noah. When he says "I can't answer," she knows all she needs to know.
Take a look:

The Luke and Noah storyline continues to progress. Maddie is putting two and two together and in this clip, asks Luke is something is going on between he and Noah. When he says "I can't answer," she knows all she needs to know.
Take a look:

Sorry for a lack of postings this morning. Had some interviews to do. But get ready for a steady flow. So, watched the first 20 minutes of "The View" this morning to see Sherri Shepherd announced as co-host in what Barbara Walters acknowledged as "the worst kept secret in history." Sherri came out all excited and bubbly and kept screaming for a minute or so before she could collect herself.
They showed a video of her life and we learn that her mother died when she was young and she and her three sisters sort of raised themselves. She is very honest: her dad got his girlfriend pregnant, she and her hubby split because he cheated on her etc." She described herself as the only black girl on a series of sitcoms with a buncha white people. ("Less than Perfect," "Everybody Loves Raymond," "Suddenly Susan.") Then at one point during the hot topics, Elisabeth (miss goody two-shoes) Hasslebeck was speaking disapprovingly of young girls who get famous for making sex tapes (Paris et al) and Sherri pipes in with a story about how she once dated a guy who was in prison for arson and had sent him risque photos. She joked: "I HOPE they get out, I looked good!"
It's a new day on "The View."

Watch this YouTube compilation and it will get you all caught up on the latest between Luke and Noah on "As the World Turns." The writers are getting this storyline scarily right and the actors are perfect. I can't believe the quality of this storyline and since I lived elements of it, it is really touching a personal cord.
I love the self esteem Luke has in saying to Noah: "I am so done. I've got to move on...You made a choice. You chose Maddie. I have to find someone who chooses me."
Meanwhile, Noah's dad is so bizarre, popping up all the time to make sure his son is straight. So pathetic but, sadly, not entirely unrealistic.

The Los Angeles Times is reporting what I predicted yesterday: Sherri Shepherd will be the fifth panelist on "The View," filling the spot left vacant when Star Jones was fired more than a year ago.
I think it's great!
She's funny and fresh and she and Whoopi Goldberg bring some much-needed divsersity to a panel that now includes Goldberg, Joy Behar, the annoying Elisabeth Hasselbeck and the show's producer, Barbara Walters. Walters had said on yesterday's show that the fifth co-host would be named on Monday but how could Baba Wawa expect such a thing to be kept under wraps???

I caught "the View" this morning for Whoopi's second day. Rosie is right, the new set is horrible! Very claustrophobic and beige. Yuck. Whoopi had gotten herself in hot water on her first day by seeming to defend discgraced football star Michael Vick's participation in dog fighting. Whoopi made clear that she is not pro-dog fighting. She merely said that it may have been a case of dog fighting not being frowned upon culturally where Vick grew up.
I don't really care. Whoopi is a smart gal, she's not going to endorse that. She joked that people are acting like she eats dogs or swings them by the tail.
Anyway, as far as the ratings go, Whoopi's debut drew an audience of 3.4 million, the 10-year-old show's second-best season premiere ever. Still, it came up about 5 percent short compared to Rosie O'Donnell's debut a year ago.
Producer and part-time co-host Barbara Walters said at the end of the show that next Monday, Sept. 10, another new panelist will be announced. That will be for the long-vacant seat once occupied by Star Jones.
My hunch is that it's actress-comedian Sherri Shepherd.
Who do you think it will be???

I caught "the View" this morning for Whoopi's second day. Rosie is right, the new set is horrible! Very claustrophobic and beige. Yuck. Whoopi had gotten herself in hot water on her first day by seeming to defend discgraced football star Michael Vick's participation in dog fighting. Whoopi made clear that she is not pro-dog fighting. She merely said that it may have been a case of dog fighting not being frowned upon culturally where Vick grew up.
I don't really care. Whoopi is a smart gal, she's not going to endorse that. She joked that people are acting like she eats dogs or swings them by the tail.
Anyway, as far as the ratings go, Whoopi's debut drew an audience of 3.4 million, the 10-year-old show's second-best season premiere ever. Still, it came up about 5 percent short compared to Rosie O'Donnell's debut a year ago.
Producer and part-time co-host Barbara Walters said at the end of the show that next Monday, Sept. 10, another new panelist will be announced. That will be for the long-vacant seat once occupied by Star Jones.
My hunch is that it's actress-comedian Sherri Shepherd.
Who do you think it will be???

Here are some YouTube clips from the future president's appearance with Ellen DeGeneres which aired yesterday. Ellen was at her best, asking right up front about gay marriage and wondering: "Do you think it's possible for someone to run and win and be in favor of gay marriage?" Clinton gave a rote response about civil unions always being her position, about it being left up to the states (same cop-out position as most candidates). I like what Ellen said during the segment: "I live in this world just like everyone else and these things are important to me."

I watched Sen. Clinton at a campaign stop in New Hampshire late Sunday on CSPAN (nerdy, I know...) and I am so impressed with how much she has improved as a candidate - far more engaging. She's already got the smarts...if only she had the courage to go all the way and support gay marriage.

Whoopi Goldberg was in place as the moderator as "The View" kicked off its 11th season this morning. Her reviews were mixed, according to the various stories I have scanned but I have no doubt that she will hit her stride and be a big success.
Meanwhile, former moderator Rosie O'Donnell caught the show and said in her video blog what she thinks of the show that she quit last spring amid fireworks with conservative co-host Elisabeth Hasslebeck.
Said Rosie: "It was alright. It was good. Whoopi was good. It was okay."
But Rosie was not as enthused about the new look that includes a different set: "That," she said, "was an error in judgement."
Despite the addition of Goldberg, there remains a co-host seat vacant. The show has never replaced the fired Star Jones. Producers said they plan to fill that seat before the end of the year before Hasslebeck goes on maternity leave.

I had some guys come up to me at the NLGJA convention and say they are now hooked on "As the World Turns" because of my updates of the Luke and Noah storyline. I'm just following the lead of AfterElton.com and trying to keep up with this well-acted and well-written show.

I lived this storyline in my mid-20s and some of my confrontations with my closeted lover sounded much like this clip from an episode that aired last week. I was not near as composed or articulate as Luke though. I'd say things like, 'You're a complete fraud!"
Real classy.