Changing Views

I read today that The View's shoe guru, Star Jones Reynolds did not have her contract renewed. You can read the story here. I don't watch The View anymore, except on rare occasions, but I am disappointed by the decisions of ABC and executive producer Barbara Walters.

According to the story, there was some behind-the-scene tension that led to her termination. You have to read the story for the full details, but the whole affair is rather messy. I am not a Barbara Walters fan. She is largely recognized as an interviewer who gets quickly to the heart of the matter, a good investigative reporter who uncovers the truth, no matter what the cost. And that's where I have a problem with her..."no matter what the cost." She shows no sensitivity towards those she is interviewing. It's almost as if her success gives her the right to bypass respect for others and say whatever she pleases. I don't enjoy her.

Star is being replaced by the long-absent Rosie O' Donnell. This ought to be interesting. I loved Rosie, when she had her own show. Since then, however, she too has changed in a way that has nothing to do with her sexual preference. This ought to be interesting.

The show has an almost completely new panel now: Star Jones is gone, Meredith Vieira is gone, Lisa Ling is gone. The only one left that I enjoy is Joy Behar . Nothing's ever as good as the original.

As a sidenote, before she was on The View, I watched Lisa Ling as a VERY young reporter on the nationally syndicated academic news show Channel One. Wonder if she looks back on those days and smiles?




Phew...I got link happy with this one. Eight in one post! That's a record for me.