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

Stop with the legal bull. Here’s the deal. You and I on our own talk radio show. We’ll have a point<>counterpoint type show, we’ll agree on what we agree on, and disagree on what we disagree on. We give the audience our honest opinions on all subjects, not just politics. No bullshitting. If either of us is backed into as corner with no way out, we say uncle. The purpose will be to invole our audience as much as poosible. We can’t take calls all day, as that will look like our one and only format. You will obviously receive the lions share of the profits (oh, there will be profits). We’ll call it Frank-n-Whoop, or Whoop me, or Whoop there it is, doesn’t matter. With the proper marketing, we’ll have businesses kicking the door down to advertise with us. We’ll start in N.Y. or L.A. we’ll then go nationwide. I sound confident, I am. What do you think?

By Frank Marks on 11/30/2008 2:54 am

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I’m thinking there isn’t enough time in this world for me to bother.

By Mugsy Peabody on 11/30/2008 3:06 am

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Seems a friend of mine was locked out from commenting on this blog. If I’m not mistaken all the women of the View, especially Whoopi are gung ho when it comes to peoples rights. This may a blog for “women” but men want equal rights to share their thoughts as well. Taking away someones right doesn’t seem to be fair. I sound like the gays regarding prop 8. The gays terroize innocent people protesting on the streets. Seems Whhopi was out there with them one night protesting and carrying on. My friend should have his say on here. Whats the difference? Regarding the talk radio show, if you want to be in the top five within two years, lets bury the hatchett, and do it.

By Frank Key on 12/01/2008 1:39 am

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If your friend was blocked from commenting on this website, Frank, it is because he violated the rules of the site. And then he changed his name and came back as you. But still he hasn’t figured out that this website which is for women is not for him. Which shows that he isn’t very bright, and would also explain the completely bigoted stupid remark about gays “terrorizing” “innocent” people. Be sure to close the door as you leave. Thanks.

By Mugsy Peabody on 12/01/2008 2:58 am

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Mugsy: Here are the rules of this site. I have broken some rules. Lets take your last resposne to me and see if you’ve broken any of them. The Ten Commandments of Commenting on wowOwow: Thou shalt not call one another derogatory names Thou shalt not make personal attacks on other readers or contributors Thou shalt not write anything libelous Thou shalt not ever make threats against another reader or contributor Thou shalt not use racist language Thou shalt not use violent language Thou shalt not swear excessively Thou shalt not have more than two identities registered from the same computer Thou shalt not solicit for goods or services Thou shalt not post or forward spam I don’t swear excessivley, although it depends on what you consider excessive. I may be a wise ass, but I’m not violent. My purpose for being here was to tell you your use of the N word was not appreciated. I used the N word in full to show other people its vulgarity. Why don’t you close that door yourself. I have been degoratory, I’ve also apologized for it. (Sometimes). In this one repsonse of yours alone, you called me a stupid bigot. Please don’t dance around it saying you only commented on my remarks. That doesn’t hold water. I’ve been called an idiot, a bastard and much more. Why am I a stupid bigot for saying gays are terroizing people when they protest? What do believe they’re doing, being hunky dory? They walk down the middle of a street causing a traffic jam, while people want to get home to their children, some have children with them. Whats a four year old to think when a gang of yahoos are walking close to their parents car preventing them from driving? Would that be a good time to teach them about homosexuality? Get real, its terrozing. If you want to protest, stay out of peoples way. If I’m blocked from this post, its not because of my language, its because no one has an answer for me. So I’ve been a smart ass, I admit it. Look to your left every morning at work if you want to see the definition of smart ass. Even yourself, Palin doesn’t know Africa is a contienent. Prove she said that. Everybody on here cannot stop talking about the rights of others. What about my rights?

By Frank Key on 12/01/2008 3:11 pm

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Your “rights” to WHAT, exactly - acting deranged (creating multiple accounts to half-assedly pretend to be other people) and harassing others (admittedly coming here just to “find” Whoopi and incessantly spout off the same B.S. on every blog related to her)? Let me understand this: it’s okay for you to suggest homosexuals and women aren’t worthy of equality, yet you’re going to whine and cry about “rights” over a JUSTIFIED WEBSITE BAN? I know I post on this website quite a bit, but even *I* feel compelled to stop and suggest that you PLEASE get a LIFE…SIR.

By Kryssi K on 12/02/2008 2:44 am

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Kryssi: I have the right to be on this website. I didn’t create mutiple accounts, I was blocked because some on here don’t like me. You’ve been derogatory towards me at times; Why haven’t you been blocked? When gay people become a true majority I’m sure they’ll be able to enjoy gay marriage. 4% of the population isn’t enough. I have a life; DO YOU?

By Frank Key on 12/05/2008 4:24 pm

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Oh, and the “N Word” incident was MONTHS ago. It’s already been discussed AT LENGTH. Are you honestly expecting Whoopi to single you out and publicly apologize for something so trivial just because you harass women on a website? I wouldn’t hold my breath, Frank. Get a grip and get over it.

By Kryssi K on 12/02/2008 2:47 am

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Being terrorized by gays on the street, Frank? Well, I guess that makes you a coward, doesn’t it. Women in the United States deal with 94,000 REPORTED rapes a year; children are abducted by nonfamily members at the rate of 60,000 a year. Spousal murder by men? Or shall we talk about sexual abuse by priests, clerics, preachers, Boy Scout troop leaders, male teachers, or other men in power? Men have waged a war of terrorism on women and children in this country for centuries. So why don’t you indeed get a clue about where you are? Women have listened to fools like you our entire lives, and by the time we hit middle age, we really aren’t at all interested in hearing much of what a character like you has to say.

By Mugsy Peabody on 12/02/2008 3:31 am

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Ladies, ladies … this individual is not worth wasting the space on this site or you losing your peace over and wasting your time and energy. He is obviously overcompensating for some lack. Frank, Do us all a favor—buy yourself some Enzyte™ and get off the wOw site.

By Serena . on 12/02/2008 5:23 am

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Mugsy: When you’re backed into a corner, do one of two things. Name call, then hang up. That MO fits you perfectly. I’m sure you were speaking of Iraq, or Saudi Arabia when making that statement regarding women being abused? Here is a wow blog to help remind you of such treatment.http://www.wowowow.com/post/saudi-women-still-struggle-break-free-abusive-husbands-145914 Women haven’t listened to fools, you’ve listened to fools. Stop blaming your country for everything. I’m sure you’re angry, try to slowly let it go. You’ll feel better. If you want to talk about sexual abuse by priests, lets. James Flosi the founder and CEO of Aidscare, was a former Chicago priest. Flosi is an accused child molester. The Arch Diocese of Chicago has substantiated the claims against him. He is presently being sued by his victims. James Flosi and Aidscare were given millions of your taxpayer dollars by the one and only Barack Obama. Is kickback one or two words? I can be a wiseass, but I’ve never lied to you. You should worry about your new Attorney General who pardoned two terroists. Eric Holder didn’t contact the families of any of these terroists victims. He didn’t ask these terroists the whereabout of other known terroists or other information. He just let them out of jail. Rham Emanuel is a complete lunatic, He sends dead fish to people he doesn’t like. Hillary just stands there and grins while Billy is banging everything that breathes. What a team. Regarding the problems we’ve caused in Iraq. You’d rather have Hussein back in power? Hussein had 10K women raped during his invasion of Kuwait. His sons would rape women in front of thier children, then kill the father. Hussein killed 500K of his own people. So whats your beef with invading Iraq? What I’ve descibed above is gone, thats victory.

By Frank Key on 12/02/2008 5:05 pm

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Frank, I’m not backed into a corner. I’ve told you I think you’re a bigot and a fool. You are both. And so thick-headed that you simply don’t understand that you don’t belong on a website for women over 40. You’re an insensitive clod, in other words. And no amount of trying to categorize me for challenging you on it will change anything. So I’m no longer responding to your posts.

By Mugsy Peabody on 12/02/2008 5:43 pm

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Mugsy: I understand this is a website for all people to write on. I have to be thick headed as to protect this vast resovoir of factual information I rationalize every second. We’re all fools at sometime in our lives. I may be insensitive at times, but I don’t bullshit. If you say I’m a clod, you’re a clod ten fold. I don’t care if you ever respond to me. Only a truly miserable person would rant the N word like you did on your show. Did you apologize to your studio audience, or do you care? You said you took the N word out of the hands of people that were using it, and use it the way you want. What people? Try to let it go. Sheri said she was raised with that word. Her parents must have been terrible people for teaching their daughter bigotry. In case people missed it, here is an encore performance. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3HWXej9N8Vg

By Frank Key on 12/03/2008 11:25 pm

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Now we know why Frank’s mother keeps having to clean something sticky off the computer keyboard in her basement IGNORE FRANK, ladies. He’s owning the entire site with his creepy comments, none of which are worth diddly.

By Char Star on 12/04/2008 10:34 am

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I’ve thought about what you told me when you said I was insensitive. You’re right. I’ve always been able to use either my voice or my writings to piss people off. I believe my opinions are correct. That word insensitive has bugged me a bit. I remember one comment where I said Whoopi Goldberg hasn’t paid her dues. I looked at her/your IMDB, shes been in a ton of stuff. Her dues were paid quite some time ago. The comment I made about Sheri’s parents has also bothered me. Your right when you said using the N word is the way it is. I would prefer nobody used it, but I have no right involving myself in the subject. I can’t stop giving my opinions, but what I’ve said to you was uncalled for. I’m sorry. Do not respond, as long as you know.

By Frank Key on 12/04/2008 10:49 pm