The Rosie Show: Cancelled

The Rosie Show: Debuted in October 2011--lasted for five months.Yep, five months.That's how the dictionary books are going to remember Rosie O' Donnell's now defunct OWN talker The Rosie Show. Despite the best efforts and on the spot retooling, it seems that this endeavor couldn't outrun one thing: Reality.

It seemed to start off innocuously enough. By the mid summer, the OWN network did a lot of promotion for Rosie's return to television. From the outset, it seemed to be disconcerting hybrid of mid-afternoon and late night fare that didn't serve either entity well. When the show finally debuted on October 14, 2011 that's actually when the viewer got. The first guest? The way creepy Russell Brand. This show was doomed!

In all honesty, the show never seem to improve during this incarnation. Everything was a struggle and a bit annoying. From the dancing boys, game show segments and confetti, the whole thing was an unwieldy, often unwatchable mess. To be nitpicky, even the set itself was ugly and in some light, it looked like the crazy makeshift talk show of a demented captors. That set does have history though. It was Oprah's old studio. And despite a parade of new "innovative" segment and guests, the ghost of better times seemed to just be in the eye line of TV fans. In that way, it was interesting to see a proven though mercurial entity like Rosie fail on the set/studio that was the home of most successful talk show host.

As time went on, the things that didn't work seemed to disappear. The musical director, the dancing boys and the game shows all went bye-bye. In January of 2012, the Rosie Show seemed to solve one big problem by changing sets, losing the audience and having a one on one interview setting. Oddly enough, it became a lot like what the Gayle King show was. The circle of life... O'Donnell seemed to be more comfortable like this she did get incisive interviews from everyone from Dr. Oz to Kathy Griffin. It wasn't enough.


  On March 6 with the ratings still tanking, she stated she was moving the show to New York. Apparently she complained about the lack of guests, etc. On March 16th (or 16rd) the world was rocked to the core as the Rosie Show was cancelled with little fanfare, sparklers or black market explosives. Rosie and Oprah exchanged public statements and I cried a river of tears at my desk.

Show Grade **


Update: Not surprisingly reports have surfaced that crazy old Rosie surfaced behind the scenes of OWN with tirades and abuse and stuff...

Oprah and the Talk Show Hosts

Something momentous happened according to the folks at the Wikipedia. According to industry whispers and hushed tones, Oprah Winfrey had a show with four former talk show hosts. Ha! I'll believe it when I see it....

Oprah struck a conciliatory tone when she invited 4 talk show hosts who had talk show on the same time she did.  Make no mistake this was a competition, And really to be honest (excluding Phil Donahoo) didn't Oprah routinely make short work of these guys? Yep, that's what I thought too?

 


 Phil Donahue-With his age, demeanor he was the elder statesman of the proceedings and of the genre. You know Phil never had a hint of scandal to his name, not unless you count his thriving prostitution ring 1987-1993. In my estimations, Donahue and Oprah never had a true ratings fight. By the time Winfrey's show hit syndication, Donahue's was eroding like 1973 Willie Mays.

Peep This: Although you'd think that Phil left his talk show some when in 1992 with vim, vigor and his pride intact, think again. The Phil Donahue Show staggered off the air in 1996 to diminishing returns and an audience who abandoned him. According to my staff, Phil's post- talk show credits include two seasons on Judging Amy and hosting duties for Soul Train.








Sally Jessy Raphael- Like the rest of them, Sally lost her mind years ago. Despite being in the proximity of "normal" hosts like Donahue, Raphael's show was closer to the outhouse antics of Richard Bey and Maury Povich. If I'm remembering correctly, Jessy Raphael proceeded over one of the most gauche shows of them all. It could be said that it was her, not Phil Donahue who truly spawned Jerry Springer. To that I say, thanks Sally.

Where The Story Goes, A Farm: While time away from the camera has made her a bit less obnoxious, she doesn't seem to be getting any saner. During the show their was a scene when she was on her farm talking about selling eggs. Selling eggs? Sally, you crazy?





Geraldo Rivera- During the Oprah program, Geraldo did a good job of reigning in what a raging asshole he is. Rivera, one of the most annoying people ever, managed to create a sleepy red glow to his years of rampant chicanery. We didn't really hear much new from Geraldo just the same ol' "stuff" about sailing, broken noses and Al Capone. Oh, thrilling.



Part 2: Once a freedom fighter, Rivera has spent the past few years  saying something close to nothing at the stank/stonking studios of Fox News. And just look at him, he's satisfied staying at that rat hole. Stay there forever ever Geraldo, I don't care.





Montel Williams- This is the one person who did a good job on Oprah. He clearly got the fact that his show wasn't quite on the same exact level as Winfrey's, but he tried. He's been on the Oprah Winfrey Show a few times and did a few Dr. Oz's. Remember the episode where Montel bumped his head and decided to hunt Dr. Oz for sport. Classic TV.

The More You Know: In 1996 Williams won an Emmy for Best Daytime Talk Show host. His TV drama Matt Waters won a People's Choice Award for Show Most Likely To Be Forgotten Forever Ever.





Ricki Lake- To me, her inclusion was puzzling yet not troublesome. The Ricki Lake Show targeted the youth and it was so long ago, I was in her demographic. Unlike Sally Jessy Raphael, Lake's show was actually good in it's first few seasons. I've always liked Ricki, in fact I sent letters n' Valentines to myself pretending they were from her. That was a long time ago--it's been a year.

Picture courtesy of Jason's secret folder.

A Noticeable Absence: Who that is? Ain't nobody but Maury...I took that pic after I broke the news that Oprah wasn't going to have him on her show. He's so hopped up on dope he doesn't even care.