Reality TV
Rosie O’Donnell Considered Joining ‘The Talk’ After Julie Chen Left — Here’s Why It Didn’t Work Out
What could have been! Rosie O’Donnell considered joining The Talk after Julie Chen left the show — this according to writer Ramin Setoodeh.
“[Rosie] and I were talking on Twitter and I DMed her right when Julie Chen left, and she said she was interested in the seat,” the Ladies Who Punch: The Explosive Inside Story of The View author told Access on Tuesday, April 23. “She went out and tried it. She was open to moving to Los Angeles at the time. She’s now said that she doesn’t want to move, but she was interested in doing the show.”
According to Ramin, the 57-year-old didn’t end up taking the job because of the salary. “I think money was an issue,” he said. “Rosie O’Donnell isn’t cheap.”
Ultimately, Carrie Ann Inaba ended up taking over for the 49-year-old Big Brother host and, according to the Dancing with the Stars judge, Julie has been kind about it all. “Julie has been nothing but supportive. When she learned that I got the job, she sent me the most beautiful floral arrangement,” the 51-year-old once told People. “She’s like, ‘I’m always in your corner.’ Woman to woman, that’s amazing.”
The A League of Their Own actress spent a total of two seasons chatting it up on The View alongside notable faces like Whoopi Goldberg and Joy Behar. Her time there wasn’t all great, though. “Some people would say, ‘What’s going on with you and Whoopi?’ I was like, ‘Are you watching the show? It’s pretty much right there.’ I have no desire for a public feud,” the mom-of-five explained in Ramin’s book.
However, Rosie admitted she still respects the 63-year-old today despite their disagreements. “She’s a minority, feminist, smart, funny, groundbreaking legend who is black in America,” she explained. “I’m never going to not have respect for Whoopi Goldberg. But that was a painful experience, personally and professionally.”
Rosie may not be on The Talk or The View, but we do hope she finds a platform to throw her Koosh balls again. This is important to us.
