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Rachel Maddow makes "The View" more enjoyableOnce again, Rachel Maddow has managed to charm even the most insatiable of cast of characters. For me, watching The View is like signing up to watch a screaming match, with Whoopi Goldberg shouting, Joy Behar throwing up her arms, Elisabeth Hasselbeck squealing about "morals" and Barbara Walters flustered, trying to get control of everyone. Fortunately, Maddow's Thursday morning appearance on the show allowed me to watch without cringing (for a few minutes, at least.)
In her brief appearance on Thursday's The View, she discussed much of what we devout Maddow-addicts already know: her coming out, meeting girlfriend Susan Mikula and her thoughts on America’s current economic crisis. She referred to meeting Mikula — she was initially hired to do yard work for her current girlfriend — like a scene from "Gay Desperate Housewives,” which prompted laughs from the crowd and View hosts. Since the ladies were so keen on discussing her gayness, they asked if she looked like a tomboy growing up: I had long blond hair, but even as a little girl with long blond hair, I looked like one of the Hanson boys.
In a funny and slightly awkward moment, Walters pointed to Goldberg and said, "She's about to come out of the closet today." "Please, that door's been open for years," Goldberg said, prompting me to think “Huh?” OK, no speculation about Whoopi’s sexuality. She’s straight — right? Super conservative Hasselbeck even seemed charmed by Maddow, telling her, "You do an exceptional job. I think it's important to recognize people who do a great job on both sides of issues."
Walters cut the make-up and lesbian talk short to discuss what Maddow knows best: politics. Despite her sometimes being critical of President Obama, she showed support, saying he was a good man to handle our (big) problems: I think that we are in a pickle as a country. I think that the economic crisis is so much bigger than any of us can grasp. And I think that we need somebody with big ideas who's willing to take big action ... I think the budget's a good budget, I think the stimulus plan is a good stimulus plan, I think we need to think big. At the end of the segment, Maddow even gave Hasselbeck a nice pat on the shoulder, proving once more that by being incredibly smart, down to earth and personable, you can prevent controversial topics from becoming shouting matches.
As for The View, I can’t bring myself to watch it under any other circumstances, but Maddow can get me to do all sorts of things I wouldn’t normally do. Enough innuendos. Watch it yourself here: Update: Variety has an interesting new article about Rachel titled "Maddow's unique style sparks ratings." Submitted by on March 6, 2009 - 4:50pm. |
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News, Reviews & Commentary on Lesbian and Bisexual women in Entertainment and the Media
Get outta here!!! I can
Get outta here!!!
I can tolerate The View so I can hear Babara Walters sound so charmingly baffeled by the technology surrounding her. and say things like this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uj4ORG6QLbQ
"Why do people want to be on Myface?" because Barbara, because...
That had to be refreshing after Rosies uhm, you know, being there.
This is what I miss while I'm at work?!
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Honestly, I'm in no condition to give a sh*t about your predicament but when it starts to affect me, I'll be sure to let you know and get involved in helping you so
Whoopi
I think I read somewhere that she was bi. I think.
I'll have to watch the segment now
Yep
Whoopi's sexuality
The reason there's confusion around Whoopi's sexuality is that she made statements indicating she was bisexual at an awards show in 2002 ("There was a time I played on both sides of the street. Now I just go straight down the middle of the street."), then told the New York Times in 2006, "No, I am not a lesbian. I describe myself as heterosexual."
Her comment on this episode of The View would seem to contradict her statement to the NYTimes, but I think Whoopi was just indicating she was open-minded and supportive of gay rights (which she clearly is, since she marched in the Prop 8 protests in NY).
I <3 Whoopi
I think Whoopi is more than open-minded, more than tolerant...she's actually intelligent and respectful.
It was a brilliant response to Barbara Walters suggesting, albeit in jest, that if you share something in common with a gay person that must mean you're secretly gay. Whoopi saw the dumb gay joke and raised it to "whatever". Most people respond with "If I was gay I wouldn't be in the closet about it." But she didn't feel the need to say she's not gay in order to say she's not hiding anything.
confusion
I remember when Whoopi
I remember when Whoopi was hosting the Oscars, Bryan Adams sang his song 'Have you ever really loved a woman?' and afterwards Whoopi said 'If I tell you the answer to that question will you still be my best friend?'...
Other Appearances
Rachel also made a guest appearance on Jimmy Fallon's show last night, here's video of that appearance and, of course, she was on Leno on Tuesday night.
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"The problem of power is how to achieve its responsible use rather than its irresponsible and indulgent use — of how to get men of power to live for the public rather than off the public." -- Robert F. Kennedy
I think
I think a bunch of lesbians must have rushed the hulu site because the fallon clip is unavailable at this time, BIG SIGH
hahaha that site never works
Now totally off-topic but when I saw your picture my first tought was Dana!!!! , now im not sure if this is her or if it is your picture? LOL.
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Let it Rock,Let it roll
i know
Oooh, thanks for the
thanks
Was it just me or did Elisabeth seem a bit 'flustered';-)
I'm also of the group of people who feel like yanking my brain out of my skull when I watch more than 2 minutes of the View usually - or I at least feel that I understand people who want to do bad things to people!
Its such a frustrating experience usually - for example, Elisabeths statement that there was'a lot of pork' in the 1st version of the stimulus bill would have gone unchallenged, when actually, Rachels correction that the bill that was passed was actually 95% the size of the original bill very quickly cancelled her incorrect statement.
That happens all the time on the view - none of the women read up enough to be able to challenge a lot of these gross lies and incorrect information that is floated on that show.
It was so great having her on there - if they have their wits about them, they'd ask her to be a regular on the show! What a breath of smart, fresh air!
But it did seem like Elisabeth may have been batting away 'tingles' in her seat next to Rachel...me thinks someone has a crash!! hmmmmmnnnnnhhhhhhh - it was fun to watch! Maybe she'll do some sexuality soul-searching now...
"A human
Elisabeth
Elisabeth is too tightly wrapped in her republic an death grip to say anything intelligent or true and I am sure her tingles were not of the oh my god RACHEL MADDOW just touched me. I am sure they were like the tingles, I hope I don't catch lesbianism.
You might catch The Gay.
Elisabeth sexuality soul-searching Ha!
Yes! I noticed that, she seemed a bit flustered and I also noticed she avoided eye contact at all costs but when she did look at her she was quite coy. Maybe she genuinely respects her and she was a bit intimidated OR she was getting those tingles you mentioned. Oh how fantastic would that be!
I wouldn't be surprised, I haven't seen much of Rachel Meddows living in Europe but she is obviously well informed and doesn't patronize people even when they are clearly wrong, just a quick correction and moving right on.. Oh and she is hot, she reminds me of a police woman that used to come to my work, she was also very tall and athletic looking and I , at 5 foot 1 would gaze up at her adoringly. Sigh.
First time I have watched the view and not wanted to kick my tv in, bring back Rachel if only to see Elisabeth crush some more.
"As a lesbian I resent your laughter and all laughter" - Sarah Silverman
Elisabeth was on the
Elisabeth was on the varsity softball team ...
Granted
I never played varsity softball.....but I play for the correct team!
Maddow is so smart
She leaves them defenseless
Her show is much more pleasant than the shouting matches on other shows.
She shows that you can have a discussion like sane adults.
5'11"!
Yeah, I stopped watching The
Yeah, I stopped watching The View when Rosie left. And I certainly can't tolerate Elisabeth. Ad what exactly was with that Whoopi closet comment? Npt that I would be shocked by any means.
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http://stuffqueerpeopleneedtoknow.wordpress.com/
Me too!
Maddow-MaddowMaddow Mania!!
She does make The View much more viewable!! To have a quirky combination in between Woody allen and Tina feys character in 30 rock is HAWT =P.
Man youve got to love her wits, did you see how Hasselbeck was shifting in her seat and the tone she used when she said that 'pork' line? . Just to see Maddow's most calm response made me chuckle eerily, she did squirm at her pat on the shoulder though, maybe she yearned for it, or maybe she didnt like it? hmm?. I would have melted right there!.
One more thing, did Hasselbeck save that one comment till the end of the segment because she knew they didnt have more time? Oh Hasselbeck and her inadequacies.
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Let it Rock,Let it roll
Oh Hasselbeck and her inadequacies
Yeah, pretty soon she will have 3 of them running around. I am so hoping the rebel and become good upstanding democrats!
I love the View
I only get to watch it on certain days, but I always enjoy it no matter what the topic(s) are. I blame my grandma, daytime shows have become part of me now. lol
I can always gurantee Sherrie Shepherd would make me laugh sometime throughout the show.
~ Boogie The Ultimate Slayer~
Is this why she makes you laugh?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LNC117UYsHs
Sherri sheppard, that is,
Oh, awesome! I wasn't
Oh, awesome! I wasn't able to find the whole clip before.
Maddowfans has a pic of the blondeness: http://www.maddowfans.com/media/photos/main.php?g2_view=core.ShowItem&g2_itemId=1461
Yep
lol, Main reason why she makes me laugh.
~ Boogie The Ultimate Slayer~
XD Haha
XD holy crap, that is basically how I came out, only I had my letter on facebook on Coming Out Day.
In general I find The View incredibly silly, and make no effort to go out of my way to watch it other than the hilarious clip or two on YouTube. <3 Whoopi though :)
Oh Rachel