The View- ABC Seeks Graceful Exit Strategy, Geddie Knows

For a brief moment when Rosie O'donnell signed on, there were a few minutes, maybe even hours, of hope for the much-loved ABC daytimer, The View. But within minutes of her first appearance (and every single day since) ABC execs knew it was only a matter of time before the wheels began to fall off. They just didn't think it would happen so fast.

ABC insiders are all abuzz about the think-tank who has been asked to find a graceful way to remove The View from the airwaves. The idea of a total revamp is being tossed around as well as the possibility of simply ending it here and now- they made it to the decade mark, which is further than Bill Geddie ever dreamed it would go.
Bill Geddie is considered to be one of the "nicest men in tv", or as some ABC staffers call him, "the anti-Gelman". He is the primary reason (along with friend and co-creator Barbara Walters) The View has stayed so long.

Geddie had his concerns about Rosie but was absolutely for the hiring of the somewhat edgey comedienne in hopes it would bring new life and fire to the tired show. But he got, as they say, more than he bargained for.

Some insiders at The View have heard it said that "I under estimated how many Americans have turned their backs on Rosie. They really don't like her anymore." How right he is.

It would be less polarizing to have The Dixie Chicks host The View than to have Rosie Odonnell step foot onto that stage. She has truly gone from being the potential savior of the show to the absolute and final death nail. Such a mis-calculation by ABC execs who are themselves out of touch with main-stream America.

Todays show provided even more evidence that The View has lost its way when Geddie allowed Odonnell and the much-too-old-and-bitter-for-tv, Joy Behar, to once again weave their deep hatred for Bush into virtually every topic at the top of the show. While middle american housewives and mothers of soldiers sit at home making tv viewing decisions, they are, in record numbers clicking right passed The View and its panel of angry liberals.

I must confess I too am somewhat left-leaning politically, but not even on my most frustrated days do I run from person to person spewing the volume of venom and anger Behar and Odonnell do day after day, show (yawn) after show. It's old, tired and frankly, awkward now.

So, here is the dirt on this once honored now sad little broadcast:
ABC wants it gone. (Unless someone can come up with a total overhaul strategy, which is unlikely at this point.)

Geddie is rumored to be burned out and ready for something new and is not fighting the idea of winding the show down. My prediction is he continues to develop great daytime programs and continues to discover new talent.

Barbara Walters, who is a very loyal friend to all she knows and in an effort to help those involved, save face, is not speaking about any of this but has suggested to others, "let them do what they need to do. We have had a good run." My prediction- Barbara continues to be the icon and legend she has been for so many years and will not suffer any side effects from this, the final season of The View. America grows to love Barabara more and more every year as she shows her "human" side.

Rosie is quietly but frantically seeking new projects but other than small gigs, is not finding another pay-day like The View. My prediction- she will become even more vocal and in-your-face about gay rights and will attach herself to as many coat-tails as possible, looking for the next updraft that could give her a new job. She will continue to surround herself with people who tell her that America still loves her (which, sadly, they don't anymore) and she will still think her opinion matters- which to some on the extreme fringe of society- she does.

Elisabeth will come out better than anyone, with a new gig teamed with a yet-to-be-selected male co-host on a Regis & Kelly type show that falls closer to her personal love of family and all things republican. My prediction- Bill Geddie will create it.

Joy will finally be put out to pasture left to do comedy appearances at senior centers, and will make personal appearances at any democratic fund-raiser where she can bash Bush relentlessly. (People will eventually stop laughing at her jokes and just laugh at her.) She will die angry and bitter. Her tombstone will read, "Did I mention how much I hate Bush?"

Last piece of Factual data- two syndicators are currently developing all-star panels of knock-off shows to take the place of The View, and one of them looks VERY promising!!

Okay, the very, very last comment here- If Bill Geddie and Barbara Walters called me and said, "Oh dearest TV Goddess who has been so spot-on in all of her TV predictions over the years and truly seems to have her finger on the pulse of what America wants to watch, what could we do to save The View at this late stage?" my response would be:

"Simple. Lose Rosie, tame Joy, (remind her its supposed to be fun and light-hearted, not a hate fest) empower Elisabeth to come forward with more family-friendly content that all mommies will dig and, drum-roll please........ bring in a MALE to be a permanent member of the team! this brings fresh perspective, a new dimension in the banter, and even more ways to show the various sides of the other women. Not a celebrity face, a fresh face. Not a 20 something who has nothing meaningful to contribute, a married with kids guy who is relatable and has been-there, done that. (But not an old fart like Joy!)

In case you are new to my ramblings, rants and predictions, let me cut and paste a section from a post I wrote back in 2002 about Starr Jones:

"Starr may be a bit of comedy relief now, but soon she will reveal her true self. My sources tell me she is impossible to work with, very demanding, more diva than anyone on the show, two-faced to all of the cast members, overly concerned about her own camera time in comparison with the other ladies and has been known to write her own fan mail to the website (idiot doesn't understand how those things can be tracked back). My prediction: Starr will eventually be fired for simply being the most hated member of The View and when she is gone, despite her best efforts, she will never find real work again. She is truly just a mistake in the history books of television."

How was that for an accurate prediction??? Now then, re-read that old prediction again but this time, insert the name of Rosie O'donnell. Now sit back and watch...