Conversation | 11/28/2008 5:00 am

Whoopi Goldberg on 'The View': 'Somebody's Got to Put the Fire Out'

Whoopi’s mega star is burning ever brighter these days. ‘The View’ has the highest ratings since its inception 12 years ago. Liz Smith sits down with Whoopi to talk about it …

With Liz Smith and Whoopi Goldberg

Editor’s Note: This is part two of Liz Smith’s exclusive interview with Whoopi Goldberg, where she talks about Elisabeth, Barbara and her own role on "The View." Click here to read the first part of this interview.

LIZ: Variety said recently that politics have really paid off with "The View." Do you agree? I mean, "The View" is the No. 1 program in key female demos for daytime — for the first time in the show’s history. And the show is 12 years old. So do you think politics paid off?

WHOOPI: My mother taught me that you can have the dialogue, disagree and move on.

WHOOPI: I’ll tell you what, I’ve no idea what our ratings are because I don’t care.

LIZ: You don’t care. Well I’m just telling you what Variety said. Are you amazed? Are you pleased?

WHOOPI: I don’t know. I haven’t thought about it. You know, I think more than anything the show is our joy.

LIZ: Well, I know you say you don’t care, but maybe you do …

WHOOPI: I mean, I watched "The View" occasionally. I’ve been on it occasionally. So, I didn’t know they didn’t talk about important stuff. I always thought that they did. But what I like more than anything is that it was the right time for me to be talking on television, at this point in the world. So for me, going on "The View" was perfect.

LIZ: Well, you also got a big rave from one of the columnists in Time about how the realistic exposure of your points of view helped the audience to understand. They said the viewer learns who has what ideology and so forth and can better understand the argument. I mean, this was an argument for opinionated television. And I see that Elisabeth Hasselbeck has transcended her minority conservative status and she’s become more feisty and outspoken than ever. And is this good?

74 Reader Comments (so far…) Sign In or Register to comment

I’m confused…I watched the episode of “The View” when they took everyone “behind the scenes” and the thing that struck me and changed the way I felt about the show was seeing just how “scripted” everything is. Right down to Joy’s one liners, that I always assumed were off the cuff…but in that episode you saw that they were clearly scripted. I thought it was folly that they did the backstage thing, because it changed my opinion of the show as well as a lot of other peoples. A friend who was a very loyal View watcher for years stopped watching after that episode aired, saying she felt “duped” into believing the “Hot Topics” segment was spontaneous etc.

By J B on 11/28/2008 9:02 am

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that episode changed my opinion on the show too. And no disrespect to Whoopi meant, but I’m not buying her answers to these questions. You’d have to be seriously naive to think the show isn’t scripted out or the controversial aspect of it isn’t intentional. They stick the same routine, especially during the election…get into a heated debated about it, but just up to the point that it’s really tense…then break it off and go to commercial or change the subject and then everyone pretend to be happy and buddies. It’s just an act. I stopped taking the show seriously and see it now as just pure entertainment (if that) when I do tune in.

By S. Stuart on 11/28/2008 10:13 am

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“scripted”? Of course its “scripted! You can’t expect liberals to think on there feet with such silliness. They have to make that sh*t up! Whoopi uses to be so much better than that. So all that stuff they pulled on McCain and his wife was made up “rudeness”! Wow! talking about classless!

By Lori F. on 11/28/2008 5:50 pm

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Think so? Lemme tell you, any time you want to have a duel of wits with this “liberal” you had better bring someone with wit and brains to help you out.

By Mugsy Peabody on 11/29/2008 12:43 am

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Conservatives can’t think at all—on their feet, laying down, or any way at all. That’s why they’re conservatives. Hey Mr. George Bush! I voted you into power so you can lie & steal my civil rights & my money (& my grandchildren’s money too). I make $250,000 a year & I LIKE it that you steal my money & give it to your elite rich (more than $250,000 a year)base. Please steal some more of my money, pretty please? I have no idea that the Republican party makes laws that ONLY help the elite rich—I believe they help me—but then I don’t think much—I just believe what I’m told by you, George..& I think I’m big stuff for no reason at all

By Char Star on 12/04/2008 10:04 am

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Okay… Whoopi is the closest thing in my world to anything even nearing “adoration” of a celeb. I’ve loved her since the first time I saw her. Not to mention whenever she writes anything it’s like she’s writing all the stuff I wish I could. So…. for me to say “im not buying it” either is pretty big. But come on Whoopi… you don’t CARE about ratings? No way. that would mean you don’t care about The View. Shows live and die by them. salaries live and die by them. Ratings means viewers and viewers mean that you’re being heard. and why would you want to be on a show like the view if you’re not interested in being heard? Hmmmm… maybe you meant something different than that you just don’t care? maybe you mean that you aren’t making choices based on ratings?

By Chrome Toe on 11/28/2008 10:58 am

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I didn’t even see the “behind the scene” segment but I already suspected the show was scripted. Otherwise, how could an intelligent young woman like Elisabeth be so passionate about and supportive of the Bush administration and republicans in general? McCain & Palin ran one of the dumbest, nastiest, most negative campaigns ever and she supported them!!! But the icing on the cake (as it were) was the day after election day when Sherri got so emotional and actually cried real crocodile tears of joy. I think she OVERACTED. That was the day that none of them talked over the other one which is very cleverly scripted to keep us from knowing what is being said. If they could control themselves that day, why can’t they be more controlled everyday???

By Joye Case on 11/28/2008 12:18 pm

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I like to pretend I’m Joy since she most closely resembles my views. It would be very hard to find such opinionated women who would stick together except in reel life. They all seem to have outside interests except for Elizabeth.

By Joyce Long on 11/28/2008 12:55 pm

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Joyce: Joy Behar is a complete moron. She must cake the makeup on beingt she’s 65. Of course at 79 Walters must use twice as much. All the women on the View could care less about each other. Its just a job. Joy Behar did a terrible job on the Larry King show a few weeks ago. Except for Sheri Shepard, I’m sure Behar is paid the least on the View. Her and Shepard are completely replaceable. You said Elizabeth has no outside interests. How would you know that? Are you two close friends? I doubt it. Walters is stressed out trying to keep the show together. I’m sure Elizabeth just received a huge raise to stay on the show. Sheri is dumber than paint drying. Joy is a moron. We just just heard from Whoopi.

By Frank Marks on 11/28/2008 10:46 pm

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There aren’t enough adjectives to describe the idiocy of your post, Frank. Except to say how absolutely abjectly ignorant you would have to be to admire little Elizabeth and comment on Ms. Joy’s makeup. Not to mention that your grammer isn’t even correct.

By Mugsy Peabody on 11/29/2008 3:18 am

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Mugsy, I agree with your opinion of Frank Whatsit’s reply. I don’t know Frank but he seems to have an ageism problem and wants to define who is smarter than whom on the show. Barbara Walters has earned her dues, as has Whoopi and Joy Behar. Each has earned those dues through different venues, but they HAVE earned and paid their dues to get where they are. The program is about expressing “views” and each has a right to their own. Each new person added to the panel has to be “schooled” as they continue to stay on the panel. Each has their own following. Sherri Shepherd is still learning her way through many issues and views while she also was brought onto the panel to add a new “view” to the program. Elizabeth has also stayed on The View because Barbara and the producers have continued to want her “views” expressed. No one has to agree with everything each person says, but the vehemance Frank expresses about some of the women makes me wonder whether he even likes women. If he doesn’t have a problem with women, why such hateful, demeaning remarks about Behar, Walters and Shepherd and therefore, why watch the show? Frank, what dues have you paid in order to critique these women and their performances? And, Frank, why do you watch the show?

By Murphy Mac on 11/29/2008 8:38 am

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U know what Margaret? I think he might be having a hard time with women. U see, most men who do this stuff turn out to be gay. And they reason why he might be saying these evil stuff about the awesome women of The View is because maybe he envies them. He hates that Joy can wear makeup and he cant. He hates that women can gossip and men cant or else they might appear a little on the other side. He hates that these women are getting payed for expressing their views and he cant express his or become famous like them for expressing their views. Then again he maybe just wants to start up some controversial issue on wowowow. Let us remind him Margaret, as u said, that u dont have to agree what everyone says, u just stick to what u think is best. And sometimes dear Frank, it is better to keep your big sarcastic mouth shut when you are gonna be referring to such great WOMEN of The View. You cant do what these women do thats why u criticize them like that. Deal with your issues man, or stop posting your rude comments.

By FeliJane Ramjohn on 11/29/2008 11:39 am

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Dear Felicia, Has anyone ever told you you bear a striking resemblance to our Whoopi? Hummmmmm…. you could be her twin! Now, as for Frank, I doubt that he can continue criticizing the panel of The View without having to deal with you and me in response. Meanwhile, I’ll hope to talk to you later and you just take care of your famous face!!! Maggie

By Murphy Mac on 11/29/2008 12:01 pm

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Hey Margaret, glad to hear that we can be a team, I just wanna say dat its Whoopi’s pic im using since Im a major fan of hers. I cant put up my pic since Im scared ppl will think Im rather ugly.lol.

By FeliJane Ramjohn on 11/29/2008 12:16 pm

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Felicia: I am having a hard time with women. All the divorced women around here cannot seem to stop sending me their phone numbers. I don’t lie to them. I just want to take the skin boat to tuna town. Any suggestions? You mentioned something about being gay. Watch out, you’re with a group of broads that opposed Prop 8. I voted yes on Prop 8. I don’t hate Joy because she wears makeup, I actually thinks she looks good for an old bag. I bet she looks atrocious without the makeup. I’ve become famous on wowowow, what more could I ask for. Did you capitalize the word women for a reason? As for being rude, I didn’t call you gay.

By Frank Marks on 11/29/2008 7:47 pm