Who does Oprah Winfrey take advice from? Apparently no one. How else to explain the inexplicable hiring of Rosie O’Donnell to star in a talk show for OWN — the Oprah Winfrey Network? I suppose when you name a network after yourself, you have such a massive ego that perhaps only the one who you have called the ONE would dare to offer advice. But, as the President has his hands full with Libya at the moment, I don’t expect he’ll call Oprah to tell her what a colossal mistake she has made.
Then again, Mr. Obama probably doesn’t see the slightest problem with giving Rosie O’Donnell a 130 show commitment on OWN. It seems that Oprah’s network has been ratings challenged as of late. I know. Like you, I am completely bewildered that a 24/7 cable channel devoted to all-things Oprah would be unable to attract an audience.
According to the latest television ratings, OWN “ranked 40th among all basic-cable networks and 41st in prime time.” Although OWN’s numbers have increased (they didn’t have but one way to go), there is one surefire way to kill whatever audience you were hoping to attract: hire Rosie O’Donnell as the savior for you network!
If casting Janeane Garofalo limits the audience for Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior, giving Rosie O’Donnell a talk show on OWN will kill whatever audience Oprah might have wanted to attract. However, O apparently doesn’t see it that way:
“I’m delighted to welcome Rosie to the studio I’ve called home for so many years,” Winfrey said in a statement. “Speaking from experience, she will be working with the best team in television in one of the greatest cities in the world.” (full article here)
If Ms. Winfrey is so delighted with Rosie, one might begin to ask, “What so delights you about Ms. O’Donnell?” Would it be Rosie’s penchant for being downright mean and ugly (not necessarily talking about her outward appearance)? For those who remember and liked The Rosie O’Donnell Show (1996-2002) — I count myself among that group — those days are long gone. Rosie has since transformed herself into a hate-filled, unappealing person in every way imaginable.
However, Ms. Winfrey should be asked a specific question about Rosie O’Donnell, namely, “Are you delighted to know that Ms. O’Donnell believes that our government was behind the terrorist attacks on 9/11 that killed almost 3,000 people?” You see, Ms. O’Donnell is a Truther. In 2007, she began spouting this nonsense, which continued in public on The View (here).
While Rosie tries to obfuscate on the issue — claiming she doesn’t actually “know” what happened — she continues to peddle myths about the World Trade Center attack in particular. These myths, which only a fringe minority subscribe to, have been debunked (see here). People like Rosie O’Donnell and Charlie Sheen (another Truther — now that’s a shock, isn’t it) have every right to believe foolish nonsense. They have the First Amendment protection to spew such utter drivel, but just because the Constitution gives them that freedom does not mean that they are right.
Likewise, Oprah Winfrey has the money, power, and ability to give a talk show to whoever she chooses. However, does anyone believe that Oprah would give a Birther — one who questions President Obama’s citizenship — a prime spot on OWN? (I doubt that her people have been in touch with Glenn Beck’s people, if you know what I mean.) If she did, not only would the fringe left be apoplectic, but most people would begin to question Oprah’s wisdom.
That Ms. Winfrey has not only started her own cable network — named after herself — but has now chosen Rosie O’Donnell to come to her rescue, should tell you all you need to know about Oprah and her supposed wisdom. Apparently the old adage is true: some people have more money than brains. I think before the year’s end, both Oprah and Rosie will find that out the hard way when they kill whatever audience remains for OWN!
I don’t get it either. What does Oprah see in Rosie O? This woman is a turn off with zero class and finess. Oprah should know better. Rosie will be a reversal of fortune for Ms. O.