‘The View’ Rebooted This Morning — A Tale Of Two Rosies

The latest incarnation of The View aired this morning, and it was a tale of two Rosies. Rosie O’Donnell and Rosie Perez took on their new hosting duties alongside View veteran Whoopi Goldberg and newcomer Nicole Wallace.

The premiere of The View started when the three new hosts with Whoopi appeared and curtseyed to the crowd. They kissed the hand of a mystery woman seated in a large, red, throne-like chair. When the woman revealed herself, it was View creator and original host, Barbara Walters.

“Thank you, my pals. This is wonderful, but it isn’t necessary because of course you have my blessings. I don’t know what all the fuss is about… and by the way, I was told I’d have a crown.”

The blessing of the original host and creator of The View means a lot, especially since Rosie O’Donnell previously left hosting duties on the show amidst grumblings of incompatibility with the other hosts, including Walters.

Whoopi Goldberg kicked off Season 18 of The View regarding the show’s new logo – seen above – and proclaiming it, “the newer ‘View.'”

“We’re gonna try a lot of new stuff – some of it will work and some of it won’t, but the thing that will never change is its great conversation with great women.”

Rosie O’Donnell, who sat cross-legged and barefoot on a couch, told the audience that she’d gotten married and lost weight surgically since last hosting the show. Rosie Perez — the other Rosie — revealed that she is also recently married. Perez also noted that she is in a Larry David play on Broadway.

The other newcomer on the show, Nicole Wallace, has previously worked for George W. Bush, John McCain, and Sarah Palin. She threw her conservative leanings on the table from the get-go, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

“I’m a Republican, I should get that out of the way.”

O’Donnell responded at once.

“And I really like her. I swear to God! We’re all real this year.”

Rosie was speaking to the friction she experienced the last time she was on The View with then co-host, Elisabeth Hasslebeck. At the time, O’Donnell’s liberal leanings clashed both on-screen and off with Hasslebeck’s conservative ones. There were fears that the return of O’Donnell might bring back some of the old on-screen drama she’d sparked with her last stint on The View, but her comment most likely means that the issue was addressed behind closed doors before she was offered to return.

Kristin Chenoweth appeared on the show to pay tribute to Joan Rivers by singing the song Borrowed Angels, which brought Goldberg and O’Donnell to tears

According to Deadline, MSNBC Executive Bill Wolff is running this latest incarnation of The View, taking over from longtime producer Bill Geddie.

[Image via ABC]