Variety Is The Spice Of Life For Rosie

Was anyone else surprised when Rosie O'Donnell didn't publicly explode after Proposition 8 was passed? While Melissa Etheridge declared she wasn't going to pay taxes anymore and other celebrities like Whoopi Goldberg took to the streets to participate in marches, Rosie was uncharacteristically quiet.

"I'm not vocal enough? I got married before anyone else did. I've been living it and living it for a very long time," Rosie told reporters during a conference call to promote her upcoming variety show Rosie Live, citing her 2004 marriage to her partner Kelli Carpenter in San Francisco.

Point taken.

FYI: Rosie won't be railing against Prop 8 or talking about politics at all for that matter during Rosie Live, which will air on NBC the night before Thanksgiving. "The job description here is to entertain...It will be an hour of fun, laughter, singing and dancing. No politics. No arguing. No talking about controversial things. That, to me, is what is needed now," Rosie said.

I'm with Rosie on that. We all need a break—even if it is just for an hour.

As for her show's lineup, Rosie will be joined by guests including Alec Baldwin, Kathy Griffin and Liza Minnelli. Yes, Liza, who will reportedly sing a song from Cabaret with Rosie. Now that should be something to see—and hear.

By the way, if the ratings for Rosie Live are good, NBC could order the show for a longer run.

I love the variety shows from the '70s—did anyone else watch Tony Orlando and Dawn's or The Captain & Tennille's? And let's not forget The Carol Burnett Show, which premiered in 1967, and The Sonny & Cher Show. Two classics.

If Rosie Live gets picked up, it would be great if Rosie had Tony Orlando and Dawn and/or The Captain & Tennille on her show. Oh, and Donny and Marie! She has to have Donny and Marie on Rosie Live.

I really hope Rosie succeeds in reviving the variety show. Actually, if anyone can do it, Rosie can.

So are you planning to watch Rosie Live, and are you excited by the prospect of Rosie returning to TV if the show becomes a staple on NBC's primetime schedule?

(Images courtesy of Getty)

Comments

[That Blue Jeans Guy]

Frankly, no, I will not waste my time with her show. Rosie has been nothing but an embarrassment to the GLBT community since she came out. She has walked around with a chip constantly on her shoulder. She has shown no integrity toward keeping her end of a contractual agreement. NBC was crazy to give her this much, and they will be nuts to give her more. I'll just pass on this one, thank you.

[Opinionator]

I don't know for the life of me why the gay community deifies and parades such losers like Rosie O'donnell, Elton John, and (urgh!) George Michael. It's like whatever they do is so important to the gay community. Even their shit is uber-significant. Sometimes, I just feel like there's no such thing as a gay community but a celebrity community. But then, I sometimes am very thankful that there's people like the non-celeb Barney Frank who's working for the gay community and America and gets labeled a pinhead by Bill O'Reilly. Oh, what irony.

[gg40]

I was going to write the same thing those 2 people wrote.

All we hear on here is "boycott this" or "boycott that" or "fight this" or "fight that", but when someone like Rosie or anyone else of the gay icons only worshipped by 3 people on here does something, welllllll, let's all stop dead in our tracks and listen !!!!

Bunch of hypocrits...

People like Rosie, Georges Michael, Elton John and whoever else have indeed done more damage than good to the gay community. Outragesness is not a way to affirm one's sexuality. Especially, as is the case with the above-mentionned people, it is their talent or raison d'etre.

Talentless jerks like Rosie should be ashamed of herself and crawl back under the rock she came from. I am so tired of people thinking she speaks for us all when all she does is bitch bitch bitch about everything and everyone who doesn't see the world her way.

You know what Rosie, put a cork in it and do us all a favour...

Than i'll watch yer crummy show...

Gawd...

gg40

[ronnie]

you bitter queens get over it . I think Rosie is great far better then the bitches on the view

[bravo_encore]

I will watch. I can't wait! I like her and find her very, very funny. She will bring light for at least an hour to some of our dim and sometimes gloomy lives. At our present time a variety show is what we all need to lighten the moment and laughter is the way to go. Go Rosie!!!!! I wish her all the best.

[Hlf]

Sure, she's been an embarrassment, but who hasn't stuck their foot in their mouth at some point or other in their life? It sounds like she's interested in purely bringing entertainment to the masses at a time when we all need it. I say go for it Rosie!

[Dan in Plattsburgh, NY]

While I don't claim to speak for the entire gay community, I, personally, feel very fortunate to have someone like Rosie on my side! Say what you want about her politics, but she usually makes a lot of sense to me, and the last time I checked, this was still a free country where anyone can say just about anything they want to, even if it's not the most popular thing to say. Since I work late, I'll have to tape her show, but I'll be watching it a.s.a.p. If you don't like Rosie, or anything that she represents, then exercise the freedom of choice that so many have fought and died for (gay and straight)and CHANGE THE CHANNEL! There are plenty of other things on TV to watch. Don't try to POISON the rest of us with your hate and negativity! There's enough of that to go around already!

[Katie]

I'm not judging any of you first off.... Every religion came from judism the bible has predicted the future and darwin died a christain... The carbon dating and big bang explosion theorys r crap... Which have been proven untrue and sadam and gamara burned for being gay.... Even if you r all atheist wouldn't you rather be safe then sorry because if I'm wrong I have nothing to lose ill just be 6 feet under but if any of you r wrong you will burn for an eternity has that crossed any of your minds?

[mike]

Vote yes to 8 ..... YES TO 8

[Bradley]

Um yeah, she is a disgrace to everyone of us. I think she needs to go back into the closet. And just buy herself and island and just live there intil she died. I hate her wtih passion.
She is a backstabbing bitch to. She got mad because of something that shouldnt havent. Everyone has opinons and she got bent out of shape because someone was a republican and got so sad and start bitching.
Ellen is so much better then her seriously. I love Ellen. I will not be supporting her show nor the people that love her. SHE IS A DISGRACE TO THE GBLT Commuinty. Oh and that Prop 8 should have not been passed. Marriage is for a man and a woman. Not in the eyes of God. But by people Period...... We got some equilty but that isn't enough huh, people always wants more espically Americans. I am proud to be one but enough is enough, STOP CRYING for rights we have them, they say "civil unions" thatshould be enough for our communtiy.But no, You know in some countries they will kill you in public for being gay, we have it so much better. I am afraidto come out to people because of people like you.
And also i am afraid tocome out because of stupid people like Rosie! She is disgraceful