Rosie O'Donnell: October 2008 Archives

I've been a fan of Rosie O'Donnell's for a very long time. But her virtual silence of Prop. 8 has been a real slap in the face. I would never tell people how to spend their money so I'm not talking about asking Rosie to write a check. I just expected her to use her voice - her blog at the very least or a PSA - to speak out against the measure. She does not live in California, but this amendment have national implications and she should well know that.

Her clipped responses to readers of her blog Rosie.com are also disappointing although some of the questions are a bit rude.

Asked what she thought of the negative things being said written about her for not donating money to No on Prop. 8, she simply wrote: "Vote No."

When asked why she hasn't been more vocal, Rosie writes: "I do not live in California."

When asked by one reader why she did not contribute to the No on Prop. 8 campaign, Roisie writes: "I am quite comfortable with my choice of charitable and political donations."

Earlier post:
-- Rosie blogs about Jennifer Hudson tragedy; no word on Prop. 8...
-- Rosie O'Donnell signs to produce and star in Lifetime movie...

Just finished checking Rosie O'Donnell's Rosie.com blog and find it kind of mind-boggling that she is writing about "Real Housewives of Atlanta" and old Reese Witherspoon movies and not a word about Proposition 8. I am curious about why Rosie, always so outspoken, has been so out of the picture.

But one important thing that her blog post does include is this: "The family tragedy of Jennifer Hudson -- no words will do -- a grief 2 hard 2 comprehend," Rosie writes.

She then goes on to write about gun violence ending with a bunch of statistics that you will have to go to her site to see. Here is an excerpt:

"Guns and domestic violence are a lethal combination -- injuring and killing women every day in the United States," she continues. "A gun is the weapon most commonly used in domestic homicides. In fact, more than three times as many women are murdered by guns used by their husbands or intimate acquaintances than are killed by strangers' guns, knives or other weapons combined. Contrary to many public perceptions, many women who are murdered are killed not by strangers but by men they know."

Now what about the fight for equal rights in California Rosie? Any thoughts? Maybe we'll hear from her after the election because, as she writes, "i am trying to stay away from the news as we near the finish line ... the noise distracts me i believe."

Oh, brother.

We are so used to Rosie O'Donnell having her own talk show then being on "The View" that it's easy to forget that she was once kind of a big movie star with roles in "Sleepless in Seattle," "A League of Their Own," and "The Flintstones." But making movies took her away from her family so the daytime format worked for a time.

Now Rosie seems more open to movies again. It's being reported everywhere today that she has signed to star in and executive produce "America," a movie for Lifetime Television about a 16-year-old boy's struggles within the foster care system. The movie is set to air in February and is based by the book of the same name written by E.R. Frank. Rosie will portray a therapist to the central character. Also in the film is the legendary Ruby Dee.

Rosie's most recent TV film was 2005's "Riding the Bus With My Sister."

Related posts:
-- A Conversation With Ruby Dee...
-- Rosie's shares thoughts on Sarah Palin, not on Prop. 8...
-- Rosie O'Donnell set to return to TV in variety special...

There are many people - myself included - who are disappointed that Rosie O'Donnell has not done more to support the defeat of Proposition 8. Rosie very dramatically made the trip to San Francisco with wife Kelli Carpenter four years ago when that city was briefly issuing licenses to same-sex couples. Years earlier, she had very publicly spoken out against Florida's ban on gay couple's adopting children.

So why no Rosie now? Just wondering.

On her Rosie.com blog, the actress-talk show host-author did write about GOP VP candidate Sarah Palin's appearance last weekend on "Saturday Night Live."

Got home in time to watch sarah p on SNL...she'd make a great cast member 4 real...funny calm in her element...she is a good celebrity...i think she has a future just not in politics.

Cool Rosie, Now what about Propsition 8? My friend Karen Ocamb, never one to not hold anyone's feet to the fire on an issue, writes in an article:

"...Where is she on Prop 8? Silence. Invisible. Nada since her famous walk down the long marble stairs of San Francisco's City Hall after getting married in February 2004 to her wife Kelly."

"What's everybody afraid of? Doesn't anybody worry that Prop 8 might be the harbinger of something more sinister: the advance of theocracy in a democratic society - where the Religious Right is determined to buy an election.". Here is LINK to Karen's article posted on The Bilerico Project which touches on many other topics.

How cool is this?

Rosie O'Donnell is returning to television with "Rosie's Variety Show," an hour-long special that will air LIVE on NBC the night before Thanksgiving. The special will feature celebrity guests, musical acts, comedy skits and a prize give-away for the show's in-studio and home audiences.

If the ratings are strong, it could lead to a series, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

"There's very few performers willing to put th"This is a genre that everybody is anticipating is going to come back," said David Friedman, who will executive produce the show along with O'Donnell. "Rosie sort of invented the daytime variety show. Without question, Rosie is the right person to bring this back."

Rosie can certainly draw viewers. Her "Rosie O'Donnell Show" was a daytime syndicated hit for five years until it left the air in 2001 and ratings surged when she co-hosted the 10th season of ABC's "The View."

Since leaving "The View" last year, Rosie used her blog to express the opinions she used to share during the show's "Hot Topics" segment. This week, she had some thoughts on Sara Palin:

the woman who would lead us ...
like a kid who crammed for an oral exam
robotic replies
"my understanding is..."

sick - the whole thing is sick