Middle Age Hollywood

Whoopi Goldberg got into a furious argument with Donald Trump about President Obama's birth certificate on Wednesday's "The View."

Joan Rivers criticizes Whoopi Goldberg for comments she's made in the past in defense of Mel Gibson on 'The View' (weekdays, syndicated), and things get tense between the two to the point where Barbara Walters intercedes.

"I said that he was a friend of mine and I didn't think he was a racist having spent a lot of time with him," said Goldberg, clarifying her defense of Gibson.

The View's Elisabeth Hasselbeck tries to clear up some misconceptions about her in an interview with Fancast:

"I am not ultra-ultra-conservative on every issue. I actually support gay marriage. I think the gay marriage thing would definitely surprise people. I mean, for some people, it will surprise them to the point that they won’t want to hear it. 'No, that can’t be, I really want to have this sort of idea of her in my head,' so I sort of rain on their parade there. I am a person that does believe that life begins at conception, but I also don’t believe that the government should tell women what to do with their bodies. So I’m torn there in terms of supporting laws [for or against abortion]. I always say I would rather change a heart than a law. I think it has to start there. Always trying to mandate, mandate, mandate this or that is not the way that I believe this country should run."

In December 2008, Hasselbeck irked Melissa Etheridge on The View with regard to Prop 8, arguing that the majority should be allowed to vote on the rights of the minority. Hasselbeck also seemed to struggle with the concept of marriage equality in a discussion with Portia de Rossi a year later, asking "Take men and women. Women want all the rights of men, but they're not asking to be called men. Do you think...is the word [marriage] more important than the rights?"

The View's 13th season is coming to a close and the hosts (Whoopi, Joy, Sherri, Elisabeth, and Barbara) are prominently featured alongside quick snaps of their guests, friendly (and unfriendly) banter between the 4-5 of them, and shenanigans during tapings.

Enjoy!

Judging from this clip, Whoopi Goldberg isn't a fan of Radar Online. That's the web mag that posted the phone calls between Mel Gibson and his ex-girlfriend that have created a big media firestorm. Today on 'The View' (weekday mornings on ABC), Radar Executive VP David Perel was a guest and got a lot of pointed questions (and fingers pointed at him) from Whoopi, who at one point recently defended her friend Gibson (and then backtracked a bit on it).



highlights include:
- whoopi not understanding why she didn't go to the police first
- whoopi saying radar online was wrong because they didn't go to the police
- radar online guy telling whoopi she's basically wrong & an idiot
- whoopi doesn't understand the point of...journalism & the press
- more mel supporting, etc
- victim blaming, etc

Yesterday's much-hyped edition of The View with President Barack Obama drew the largest audience ever in the history of the ABC's daytime talk show. The program, which also featured the return of co-host Barbara Walters from heart surgery, was watched by 6.6 million viewers. The View's previous audience record was 6.2 million, logged on the day after the 2008 Presidential Election, which was won by Obama.

“A historic interview leads to historic ratings,” said Brian Frons, President, Daytime, Disney/ABC Television Group. “It was wonderful to have Barbara Walters back for the interview with President Barack Obama, her first interview since her heart surgery, and together all five co-hosts did what they do best, ask the questions that are on our viewers’ minds.”

In the interview, President Obama was quizzed about Chelsea Clinton’s wedding, Mel Gibson’s outbursts, Lindsay Lohan’s jail sentence and Jersey Shore star Snooki.

President Obama charmed the ladies on "The View" yesterday and confidently showed off his command of the big challenges facing the nation today.

But the name Snooki didn't ring a bell.

"I'm sorry, I don't know who that is," the smiling but perplexed President said when asked about the big-haired "Jersey Shore" bombshell, according to several audience members interviewed after the show.

"We all liked that he didn't know who she was," said Nella Cerminara, 51, of Montreal.

Obama also revealed that he wasn't attending Chelsea Clinton's upcoming wedding, said audience member Bonnie Schneider, 37, of Shamong, N.J.

"Why would you want two presidents there?" Obama said, according to Schneider. The Secret Service would "have to unwrap all the gifts."

It was one of many light-hearted moments as Obama made history - and caught some flak - by becoming the first sitting President to appear on a daytime talk show. His interview airs today on ABC.

"He was a gentleman, very charming as usual," co-host Joy Behar said on CNN. "He seems at ease with whomever he is speaking to."

Obama also seemed unruffled by what Behar called a "pointed question" about jobs from Elisabeth Hasselbeck, an outspoken conservative who sparked outrage on Wednesday's show by suggesting that older women become lesbians because they can't land a man.

"The last 20 months has been a non-stop effort to restart the economy," the President said in a snippet aired by ABC.

Having Obama as a guest was reason enough for Barbara Walters to return to the show for the first time since May, when she revealed she needed heart surgery.

Before the show, Obama took heat from critics who said a daytime gabfest was not a fitting venue for a U.S. President.

After the taping, Obama hit two fundraisers in Manhattan for the Democratic National Committee, including one at the swanky home of Vogue editrix Anna Wintour.

Obama began his day by visiting the Tastee Sub Shop in Edison, N.J., where he got a hero of a welcome.

Before starting his spiel, Obama ordered a six-inch version of the No. 5 - a salivating symphony of pressed ham, boiled ham, salami, capicola, prosciuttini and provolone - to go.

It went uneaten as Obama pitched a bill aimed at helping small businesses grow.

Adrienne Berg, who built Obama's sub, wasn't offended. "I told him it was an honor to make his sandwich."

Obama's brief stop in the Garden State was his first visit to Jersey since October, when he campaigned unsuccessfully for the reelection of former Gov. Jon Corzine.

Outside the sandwich shop, excited Obama supporters waving American flags said they were thrilled to see the President. "I saw him waving, it was great," said Lana Bridgman, 49, of nearby Clark. "My knees were shaking."

Obama's visit also attracted some angry Tea Party members, who said the president served up baloney at the submarine sandwich sitdown.

A drug-addled Whoopi Goldberg laughed her way through a live taping of The View after being sedated for an overseas flight.


Goldberg admitted she was still feeling the effects of the medication as she attempted to host yesterday's edition of the popular variety show.

"I'm jetlagged — I just came back from [an AIDS benefit event in] Vienna," Goldberg said.

"I may have partied too much but you know I have to fly drugged.

"So I'm still slightly drugged and I'm sure somewhere in me I'm still partying."

The 54-year-old comedian and actress appeared lethargic and repeatedly struggled to read the teleprompter while her co-hosts and studio audience laughed.

"You know what's funny right now? The fact that I'm sitting up straight," she joked at one point during the hour-long program.

Goldberg has reportedly battled a fear of flying for years.

Yesterday on The View, Whoopi Goldberg defended Mel Gibson and said, "He's not a racist." Today, Goldberg continued to make her unlikely case, this time going after Gibson's ex Oksana Grigorieva and implying she's a golddigger.