No recent posting is good news. The ladies of "The View" haven't annoyed me too much.
Although sometimes she's too politically correct, I admire and praise Barbara. What an important pioneer she is. In addition to her serious side, she has loosened up in recent years. I'd love to have her as a friend or aunt or mom or teacher. Barbara Walters is phenomenal. She has recently been under the weather. I hope she is recuperating without stumbling blocks.
Here is the big problem with "The View": The ladies cross-talk too often. Cross-talking is human nature, especially for women. We have our speech patterns down. We all overlap in a friendly way. But when a guest is just about to give an answer to an important question, a question I've sought answers to, he can get cut off by another interviewer who should take better care to listen.
I like Whoopi, especially since she has been changing her outfits a bit more often. As I've said, interest in one's manner of dress shows enthusiasm for life in general. Don't just show up for the party. Be festive and enthusiastic when you do show up. Whoopi still has her standard uniform of a white blouse, dark pants and a big baggy over-top, but she demonstrates--or her stylist demonstrates--some creativity and thoughtfulness about the clothes. I have come to appreciate Whoopi's shoe collection that took me time to notice because I cannot wear pointy shoes or high heels myself.
When Whoopi appeared on "Watch What Happens Live" with Andy Cohen, she admitted to (occasionally) going somewhere else (into a daze) while she sits in her co-host chair. I've watched her do this, but not so often recently.
I love Joy when she avoids talking politics. She is one witty female. But I get scared when I remember that Joy used to teach school. Many of her ideas are antiquated, and she makes the mistake of thinking that she's more intelligent than she really is. The most obvious example is her stand on vaccines. She doesn't question the ingredients or the possible over-use. She wants everybody to have them without question. I don't care which side of the debate she lands on, as long as she does some investigating. Joy does throw out some wonderful zingers; she makes me laugh. She is pure wit.
Sherri may be the brightest person of the panel. She seemed almost ignorant when she first appeared on the show. (Remember her comment about the world being flat.) But Sherri has made leaps and bounds, obviously doing homework before each show. She seams to always know what she is talking about. She must invest time researching the "Hot Topics."
Last but never least is Elisabeth. Oh my gosh! Elisabeth could be a political correspondent without much problem. She'd fit in nicely on Fox News, but she needs to quit saying, "Um." Many of us have habits that become even more pronounced when we get nervous (appearing on television?). But Elisabeth's habit is bad. Bad. Bad. She might consider going to a hypnotherapist to change her speech patterns. She always, without except, let's out a big and pronounced, "Um," right before she makes her most important point. When speaking to a political figure like President Obama, she will lay the groundwork for her question with explanation (that is far too long), and then right before the big question, she pauses and lets out a big, "Um."
I don't agree with Elisabeth's political point of view--usually. I do agree with her principles on living life in general. She is a courageous and unique young woman. But her "Ums" take away much credibility. I'm surprised that the PTB (powers that be) don't jump all over her. They should. They'd be doing her a favor.
That's my story for today, and I'm sticking to it.
Monday, February 4, 2013
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
More about Whoopi
Here's a subtle but substantial change. Whoopi's hair is out of her face; we can see her pretty face.
I don't agree with the comments that Whoopi makes, at least not all of them. What I admire about Whoopi--in addition to her ability to think for herself--is the recent indication that she is embracing getting older instead of rejecting it. She is willing to adapt to new clothes and new hair instead of hiding behind the old standards.
The best news of all is that Whoopi recently quit smoking. I have much compassion for smokers who quit; it ain't easy. I hope she can find within herself whatever she needs to overcome the monkey on her back.
I don't agree with the comments that Whoopi makes, at least not all of them. What I admire about Whoopi--in addition to her ability to think for herself--is the recent indication that she is embracing getting older instead of rejecting it. She is willing to adapt to new clothes and new hair instead of hiding behind the old standards.
The best news of all is that Whoopi recently quit smoking. I have much compassion for smokers who quit; it ain't easy. I hope she can find within herself whatever she needs to overcome the monkey on her back.
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Whoopi Has Been Looking Stylish
This is the shortest blog entry I've written to date. In fact, I'm typing with one finger on my iPad. I feel compelled to praise Whoopi's fashion sense.
On Tuesday's show Whoopi wore a beautiful checkered blouse in brown (or possibly black) that looked fantastic on her.
Whoopi seems happier recently, or at least she's more interested in how she presents herself. She is also compromising more with the show by feigning a bit of interest in popular reality shows, even if she dislikes them.
Keep up the good work, Whoopi!
On Tuesday's show Whoopi wore a beautiful checkered blouse in brown (or possibly black) that looked fantastic on her.
Whoopi seems happier recently, or at least she's more interested in how she presents herself. She is also compromising more with the show by feigning a bit of interest in popular reality shows, even if she dislikes them.
Keep up the good work, Whoopi!
Saturday, June 9, 2012
The Co-hosts Should Learn to Listen
I predict that most of my blog entries about The View will concern the co-hosts' listening skills. These skills can be developed, ladies. The key is to quit thinking about what your next question might be. Because a good interviewer has good listening skills, he or she will relax and listen, and then speak to either engage the guest or to make the guest seem more interesting.
A different dynamic occurs with four or five co-hosts. They often interrupt each other. Or what's even worse is that they cut off the guest in order to ask their own question. I find these interruptions particularly disconcerting when I have interest in what the guests are saying before they are cut off.
This might be a good time to mention that it would behoove Elisabeth to shorten her questions. She gives too much background info when asking a questions. In other words, she talks too much when she should be listening.
I question the program's good sense in featuring the feuding Real Housewives of New Jersey. I have to love the co-hosts when they criticize the "housewives" for feuding for ratings when The View itself is featuring these same ladies for their own show's ratings.
This is my issue with the segment on the "housewives" on Friday's show: The three feuding ladies are Teresa Giudice, Melissa Gorga and Kathy Wakile. Melissa is married to Teresa's brother, and the in-laws are not getting along. Cousin Kathy is on Melissa's side. (I do not watch this particular show, but there has been much media exposure to this topic.)
Teresa refused to appear on The View with the other two women. When the co-hosts asked her why she refused, Teresa stated that she hadn't seen these other women since September, and The View wasn't the right place to reunite. The cameras were rolling, and The View's segment didn't give enough time for the ladies to talk everything out.
Teresa's explanation made perfect sense to me. She might have wanted to resolve things without the camera, or maybe her own show required her to save the drama for it's own cameras. The point is that the ladies of The View were indignant about her choice, and they ignored her explanation. When the next two ladies appeared---without Teresa---the co-hosts said, "Teresa refused to appear on stage with you...." as if to say, "How dare she!"
First of all, this whole topic is ridiculous unless you're a fan of The Real Housewives of New Jersey. But if you are going to conduct a serious interview on the subject, try listening to the questions you ask. The View was the wrong format for these three guests, unless the co-hosts wanted to help the "housewives" resolve their feud, and this was clearly not the case.
Here's what I think occurs in some of these interviews on The View. I believe that the co-hosts (or some of the co-hosts or one or two of the co-hosts) think they know the answers to their questions before they ask them. And when they don't bother to actually hear the unpredictable answer; they carry on as though their own own ideas were right all along.
I invite anyone to watch the show and test my theory.
A different dynamic occurs with four or five co-hosts. They often interrupt each other. Or what's even worse is that they cut off the guest in order to ask their own question. I find these interruptions particularly disconcerting when I have interest in what the guests are saying before they are cut off.
This might be a good time to mention that it would behoove Elisabeth to shorten her questions. She gives too much background info when asking a questions. In other words, she talks too much when she should be listening.
I question the program's good sense in featuring the feuding Real Housewives of New Jersey. I have to love the co-hosts when they criticize the "housewives" for feuding for ratings when The View itself is featuring these same ladies for their own show's ratings.
This is my issue with the segment on the "housewives" on Friday's show: The three feuding ladies are Teresa Giudice, Melissa Gorga and Kathy Wakile. Melissa is married to Teresa's brother, and the in-laws are not getting along. Cousin Kathy is on Melissa's side. (I do not watch this particular show, but there has been much media exposure to this topic.)
Teresa refused to appear on The View with the other two women. When the co-hosts asked her why she refused, Teresa stated that she hadn't seen these other women since September, and The View wasn't the right place to reunite. The cameras were rolling, and The View's segment didn't give enough time for the ladies to talk everything out.
Teresa's explanation made perfect sense to me. She might have wanted to resolve things without the camera, or maybe her own show required her to save the drama for it's own cameras. The point is that the ladies of The View were indignant about her choice, and they ignored her explanation. When the next two ladies appeared---without Teresa---the co-hosts said, "Teresa refused to appear on stage with you...." as if to say, "How dare she!"
First of all, this whole topic is ridiculous unless you're a fan of The Real Housewives of New Jersey. But if you are going to conduct a serious interview on the subject, try listening to the questions you ask. The View was the wrong format for these three guests, unless the co-hosts wanted to help the "housewives" resolve their feud, and this was clearly not the case.
Here's what I think occurs in some of these interviews on The View. I believe that the co-hosts (or some of the co-hosts or one or two of the co-hosts) think they know the answers to their questions before they ask them. And when they don't bother to actually hear the unpredictable answer; they carry on as though their own own ideas were right all along.
I invite anyone to watch the show and test my theory.
Props to Whoopi's Polka Dots
I want to jump right in and compliment Whoopi and her polka dot blouse on Thursday's show. I wish I had a better shot. I had to use my Screen Capture program to capture this video still:
I have complained in the past that Whoopi wears a daily "uniform" with dark pants and a white "tent blouse." Although I understand dressing for comfort---as I wear pajamas while I blog---I bear no responsibility to viewers or sponsors. When I'm expecting company, I get dolled up. Those of us in the "plus years" look especially haggard when we don't put some color around our faces.
The View calls for personal responsibility on a larger scale. If Whoopi accepts a job as host, she has the right to keep her individuality. She isn't a fashion icon; she'd rather focus on other interests. But she should at least communicate with her audience that she is indeed happy to be a co-host---after all, this is a great gig---and that she is happy to get out of bed and come to work.
Whoopi's successes are born of creativity. Maybe dressing herself feels like a chore, but she has wardrobe people to help her.
Hey. Wait a minute. Hold the fort. Have you seen Whoopi's hats? Or her shoes? She has amazing taste, and she is well-connected to designers who will create accessories for her. Maybe Whoopi is covering up body issues with her usual white tent. Her co-hosts say she has a nice body. Maybe she is rebelling against the lack of choices for us older women who no longer wear fads.
I don't object to Whoopi wearing baggy clothes.I don't object to any reason she might have to cover her body. In fact, I'm rather fond of Diane Keaton's preference to cover her arms and legs when swimming. (Please see this very old article on Keaton from People Magazine's archives. I just want some variety from Whoopi. Some new colors and beautiful prints.
Perhaps my tirade is misplaced. After all, I set out to write a blog to praise, not to criticize:
I am thrilled to see Whoopi in polka dots She looked super nice on yesterday's show. Brown is one of my favorite colors, and I love, love, love polka dots. Whoopi's moods have been positive, too. I catch her smiling a lot.
I have complained in the past that Whoopi wears a daily "uniform" with dark pants and a white "tent blouse." Although I understand dressing for comfort---as I wear pajamas while I blog---I bear no responsibility to viewers or sponsors. When I'm expecting company, I get dolled up. Those of us in the "plus years" look especially haggard when we don't put some color around our faces.
The View calls for personal responsibility on a larger scale. If Whoopi accepts a job as host, she has the right to keep her individuality. She isn't a fashion icon; she'd rather focus on other interests. But she should at least communicate with her audience that she is indeed happy to be a co-host---after all, this is a great gig---and that she is happy to get out of bed and come to work.
Whoopi's successes are born of creativity. Maybe dressing herself feels like a chore, but she has wardrobe people to help her.
Hey. Wait a minute. Hold the fort. Have you seen Whoopi's hats? Or her shoes? She has amazing taste, and she is well-connected to designers who will create accessories for her. Maybe Whoopi is covering up body issues with her usual white tent. Her co-hosts say she has a nice body. Maybe she is rebelling against the lack of choices for us older women who no longer wear fads.
I don't object to Whoopi wearing baggy clothes.I don't object to any reason she might have to cover her body. In fact, I'm rather fond of Diane Keaton's preference to cover her arms and legs when swimming. (Please see this very old article on Keaton from People Magazine's archives. I just want some variety from Whoopi. Some new colors and beautiful prints.
Perhaps my tirade is misplaced. After all, I set out to write a blog to praise, not to criticize:
I am thrilled to see Whoopi in polka dots She looked super nice on yesterday's show. Brown is one of my favorite colors, and I love, love, love polka dots. Whoopi's moods have been positive, too. I catch her smiling a lot.
Friday, May 25, 2012
The View's Pathetic Chat with Greg Allman
I looked forward to seeing Greg Allman as a guest of "The View." This is what I already knew about Greg Allman without doing research: He's a great musician and singer who sounds black, but he is very white (blond). He has made great music with the Allman Brothers Band, and as a solo artist with his own band.
For a short time Allman was married to Cher. They have a son together, Elijah Blue. Allman has also had a drug problem that probably hurt his marriage to Cher.
The beginning of Greg Allman's greatness might have begun with the Allman Brothers Band before Greg's brother Duane was killed in a motorcycle accident. (Duane was one of the dueling guitars featured in the song "Layla" with Eric Clapton in Derek and the Dominoes.) In my opinion, Greg and Duane were both musical geniuses whose careers were hampered---in one way or another---by drug abuse.
Oh goody, I thought. I was about to find out what Allman has been doing since the last time I saw him in concert, or that is what I thought. What a disappointment!
The co-hosts knew little about Allman; they had few interesting questions to ask. They obviously had done no homework. Even the facts that the show's staff dug up were incorrect:.
Barbara asked Allman about his marriage to Cher. He has been married six times and about to take the plunge for the seventh time with a woman who is 24 (40 years younger than Allman's 64). Here is a man with a long history of making beautiful music and surviving years on the road, and Barbara wasted her interview time by getting hung up on this age difference.
Although Whoopi claimed to have read Allman's book My Cross to Bear, and she used the colloquial word "man," as she tried to make this musical legend and genius somewhat comfortable ("this is a great book, man"), she didn't know much about his life or his book.
After the show I Googled "Greg Allman." The first paragraph of Wikipedia says the following:
In regard to his marriage to Cher and their son Elijah Blue, Allman has four other children with four different women. Two of these unions were outside of marriage. These statistics certainly reveal something about the man and his life on the road. His pending nuptials would indicate that he is still looking for love.
Ladies of "The View": Was Greg Allman a last minute guest? Couldn't one of you have Googled before the show? Did anyone care to read Allman's book, My Cross to Bear?
For a short time Allman was married to Cher. They have a son together, Elijah Blue. Allman has also had a drug problem that probably hurt his marriage to Cher.
The beginning of Greg Allman's greatness might have begun with the Allman Brothers Band before Greg's brother Duane was killed in a motorcycle accident. (Duane was one of the dueling guitars featured in the song "Layla" with Eric Clapton in Derek and the Dominoes.) In my opinion, Greg and Duane were both musical geniuses whose careers were hampered---in one way or another---by drug abuse.
Oh goody, I thought. I was about to find out what Allman has been doing since the last time I saw him in concert, or that is what I thought. What a disappointment!
The co-hosts knew little about Allman; they had few interesting questions to ask. They obviously had done no homework. Even the facts that the show's staff dug up were incorrect:.
Barbara asked Allman about his marriage to Cher. He has been married six times and about to take the plunge for the seventh time with a woman who is 24 (40 years younger than Allman's 64). Here is a man with a long history of making beautiful music and surviving years on the road, and Barbara wasted her interview time by getting hung up on this age difference.
Although Whoopi claimed to have read Allman's book My Cross to Bear, and she used the colloquial word "man," as she tried to make this musical legend and genius somewhat comfortable ("this is a great book, man"), she didn't know much about his life or his book.
After the show I Googled "Greg Allman." The first paragraph of Wikipedia says the following:
Gregory LeNoir Allman (born December 8, 1947 in Nashville, Tennessee, known as Gregg Allman), is a rock and blues singer, keyboardest, guitarist and songwriter, and a founding member of the Allman Brothers Band. He was inducted with the band into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995 and received a lifetime Achievement Award from the Georgia Music Hall of Fame in 2006. His distinctive voice ranked him 70th in the Rolling Stone list of the "100 Greatest Singers of All Time."Wouldn't this short paragraph help sell Greg Allman's book? The co-hosts didn't mention any of these facts. They also didn't know that Allman had battled Hepatitis C. I noticed that Greg had aged. Haven't we all? As I watched him, I wondered if his appearance had been affected by his drug use. I'd had no idea that he'd also had a liver transplant.
In regard to his marriage to Cher and their son Elijah Blue, Allman has four other children with four different women. Two of these unions were outside of marriage. These statistics certainly reveal something about the man and his life on the road. His pending nuptials would indicate that he is still looking for love.
Ladies of "The View": Was Greg Allman a last minute guest? Couldn't one of you have Googled before the show? Did anyone care to read Allman's book, My Cross to Bear?
The Ladies of The View Got Lazy
I'm back. . . .
I started this blog on "The View" last year after I found myself shouting at the co-hosts over various issues. To sum up my frustrations very quickly: Joy tends to be liberal without thinking things through. She gets herself into trouble by speaking before she thinks. Whoopi is complacent. She puts such little effort into her appearance that I wonder if she gets out of her pajamas when she has no show to do. Sherri made some big blunders in the beginning by making stupid comments, but she is a fast learner.
I think that Barbara and Elisabeth are the most creative thinkers of the group. Barbara's political correctness annoys me sometimes, but the older she gets, the more creative and tolerant she has become. Elisabeth's politics are more conservative than mine. I actually have few negative comments about Elisabeth. I wish she'd quit saying, "Um," right before she asks an important question. In general, Barbara and Elisabeth frustrate me less than the others---in general.
The co-hosts' strong opinions and incomplete information upset me. Since "The View" gets good ratings, a large number of people are receiving the messages imparted by this panel. Since the show needs a watchdog, I have volunteered to bring mistakes to the public's attention.
Once I began this blog last year, I found myself generally happy with most of the shows. I don't want to conjure something up or exaggerate a point in order to write this blog. There are qualities I love about Whoopi, and I respect her accomplishments. Joy is one sassy, funny lady, and a brilliant comic. These ladies are much like their audience members. Imperfect and fallible. In some ways the concept for the show does not work for me because these ladies--even though they represent various age groups and races--they must be held to a higher standard than ladies in an office who may discuss relevant topics by the water cooler or in the break room
Unfortunately, I found today's show frustrating and plain wrong. I felt like kicking my TV. Greg Allman was a guest, promoting his life story called Greg Allman: My Cross to Bear. I squirmed on my sofa while I watched an interview that went terribly wrong. So wrong that I must divide this blog into two entries. The following entry is specifically about the interview with Greg Allman.
I started this blog on "The View" last year after I found myself shouting at the co-hosts over various issues. To sum up my frustrations very quickly: Joy tends to be liberal without thinking things through. She gets herself into trouble by speaking before she thinks. Whoopi is complacent. She puts such little effort into her appearance that I wonder if she gets out of her pajamas when she has no show to do. Sherri made some big blunders in the beginning by making stupid comments, but she is a fast learner.
I think that Barbara and Elisabeth are the most creative thinkers of the group. Barbara's political correctness annoys me sometimes, but the older she gets, the more creative and tolerant she has become. Elisabeth's politics are more conservative than mine. I actually have few negative comments about Elisabeth. I wish she'd quit saying, "Um," right before she asks an important question. In general, Barbara and Elisabeth frustrate me less than the others---in general.
The co-hosts' strong opinions and incomplete information upset me. Since "The View" gets good ratings, a large number of people are receiving the messages imparted by this panel. Since the show needs a watchdog, I have volunteered to bring mistakes to the public's attention.
Once I began this blog last year, I found myself generally happy with most of the shows. I don't want to conjure something up or exaggerate a point in order to write this blog. There are qualities I love about Whoopi, and I respect her accomplishments. Joy is one sassy, funny lady, and a brilliant comic. These ladies are much like their audience members. Imperfect and fallible. In some ways the concept for the show does not work for me because these ladies--even though they represent various age groups and races--they must be held to a higher standard than ladies in an office who may discuss relevant topics by the water cooler or in the break room
Unfortunately, I found today's show frustrating and plain wrong. I felt like kicking my TV. Greg Allman was a guest, promoting his life story called Greg Allman: My Cross to Bear. I squirmed on my sofa while I watched an interview that went terribly wrong. So wrong that I must divide this blog into two entries. The following entry is specifically about the interview with Greg Allman.
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