It’s not that entertaining … or at least shouldn’t be

July 27th, 2007 • Related • Filed Under

Young Black Professional Guide It’s not that entertaining … or at least shouldn’t beI really didn’t want to do a pop culture entry today. God knows there’s too much going on in the world for me to spend time discussing low art, but nevertheless … here goes. Perhaps I’ll come back later and write about something more serious or try to find a bit of seriousness in this. We’ll see.

But, um, Is ABC TRYING to keep beef going on on The View?!

The LA Times recently reported that Whoopi Goldberg and Sherri Shepherd are in final negotiations to be regular panelists on The View. Anybody who knows anything about Goldberg knows she is as left – if not more so – as Rosie O’Donnell, the host who left after one argument with conservative panelist Elisabeth Hasselbeck became too heated to get past. Shepherd’s beliefs aren’t that evident right now – to my knowledge, and as an actor/comic trying to become increasingly more accepted by the mainstream, she’s not likely to disclose them too early – if at all.

Some may remember Goldberg delivered some lowbrow jokes about George W. Bush at a 2004 John Kerry Fundraiser. Do you really think she won’t come close to doing such on The View? I guess the better question is does ABC NOT want her to say such things?

Despite the discomfort – at least for me – of seeing two very passionate people try to be accepted and respected for who they are, The View’s ratings shot through the roof with each O’Donnell/Hasselbeck war. (side note: Who is watching this show by the way?! Aren’t we all at work?)

But what is it that people are watching exactly? And why? Are they cheering their side on, because they feel like their view (no pun intended) isn’t heard in other arenas? Or is it for the train wreck factor?

Maybe I’m overly sensitive, but if it’s the latter, we have some major issues, because under all the O’Donnell/Hasselbeck fights, we’re dealing with some serious issues – two sides trying to share and gain respect for their beliefs/way of life. The issues we’ll be voting for next year are not of entertainment value.

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    I think you're right- politics and entertainment/media venues should not be overlapped. But I did catch the View (hey, I work from home) when the argument escalated and I was just happy to see Rosie hush up the little republican blond girl who, btw, is not a good representative for republicans anyway. Rosie is serious, the other chick was just belligerent which is why I think Rosie was just like, I'm done with it, there's just no talking to this person.

    I also think that the show in general tries to be a news-type show for housewives or women who don't normally speak up on serious issues. It probably gets certain types of people talking about issues who wouldn't normally talk about it in their casual conversations.
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    The only way for The View to stay relevant is to talk about what everybody else is talking about and from this point on, that will be the election.

    The challenge of course is that the show is a microcosm of all the other conversations going on in America - people just yelling what they want (yet not really knowing what they're talking about), while not listening to anybody else's side. And when you have that, what do you have? A fight ... which is where the entertainment factor comes in. Who doesn't love a good fight?
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    I think Whoopi can control herself a little better than Rosie. I think she brings a balance and maturity Rosie somehow didn't. I like the idea that the View gals talk about stuff the way we might talk in our own little groups about pressing (war) and entertainment (lindsay) issues. I just had to stop tuning in when Star and Elisabeth were on together. It was just too much. Dumb and Crazier.
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    What was it like when Star and Elisabeth got into it? I never saw that.

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