I love Rosie O’Donnell. I know a lot of people don’t, including lefties, gays and women. But I do. Her talk show may have saved my live; during a very difficult period I looked forward to that show every day, and it was the only thing I had to look forward to. Her love and enthusiasm for theater, music and pop culture was infectious. She used to say “my Tommy” referring to her “crush” on Tom Cruise (which infuriated a lot of the aforementioned gays), and I would refer to her as “My Rosie.”
Silly, maybe, but like I said, it was a hard time and some silly was helpful.
Post-talk show, I ‘ve missed it (and wished for a Best-of DVD which never came), but her blog, with its focus on kids; videos and clipped poetry, I don’t enjoy so much, and I rarely watched The View when she was on it (I never watch The View without her — can’t stand it).
Which is a long intro to the news that , Rosie LiveRosie’s new show — this time an new take on the old variety thing — will start on Nov. 26.
From the official site:
This November, the illustrious Rosie O’Donnell is bringing the classic variety show back to NBC! Just as Ed Sullivan, Carol Burnett and ROWAN & MARTIN’S LAUGH-IN, captivated the hearts of audiences across the country, the always entertaining Rosie O’Donnell will bring that grand tradition to a whole new level!
Guest stars include Alanis Morrissette, Jane Krakowski, Elmo, Ne-Yo, Liza Minnelli, Anti-Gravity with the Lombard Twins, Kathy Griffin and more. The live, one-hour special will feature an unparalleled array of celebrity guests and musical performances, comedic skits and one of a kind games for the in-studio and at home audience. This spectacular show concludes with a massive primetime giveaway where the home and studio audience has a chance to win remarkable prizes!
Rosie will kick off the hour doing what she does best — sounding off about current events, pop culture and whatever is on her mind. Anything can happen as Rosie, her celebrity friends and fans sing, dance, and laugh in a primetime variety show like no other.
I’m looking forward to it and hope its good. I actually will have to delay watching Countdown (thank goodness Keith gets repeated later in the evening) — a major sacrifice on my part for an old friend.
I expect to like the “kick off the hour” part best, just as I did on her old talk show. Don’t tell my Rosie, but sometimes at the end, when some musical guest I’d never heard of was featured, I’d tune away or leave the room.
Update, after the show: Okay, forget I ever posted this. Please?