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

Frank, I appreciate your comments. But let’s clarify one thing. I am not Whoopi Goldberg. There’s also someone on the site who thinks I must be Lily Tomlin. I am not. Whoopi paying her dues, oh my god! Has she ever. Frank, pretty much everyone thinks their opinions are correct, of course, but there are ways of using your voice or your writings so people actually hear you. When they’re pissed off, as I was, they simply dismiss you as a wingnut and you lose your credibility. So if you really want to think about how to get your ideas across, maybe consider how others hear you…. All best, MP

By Mugsy Peabody on 12/04/2008 11:08 pm

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Mugsy: Its always been that way with me. I speak my mind…give my opinions…I dont lie…I don’t ride with the majority if its in the least bit fake…it never fails…I’m always the bad guy. When I stated true facts about Obama, I was branded an idiot. When I gave my opinion on Prop 8, I was branded a moron. Then it blows up into a battle, then I usually try to back someone into a corner. I remember when I said gays were terroizing people, I was chastised. When I saw them walking down the middle of a busy street giving no regard to people in traffic…holding signs that have nazi swastikas painted on them…physically knocking a cross from a womans hand…I have a right to say they’re terroizing people. Yopu mentioned people hearing me…I’m always heard…Its their choice if they listen. I’d like four hours on a talk radio show with a woman partner as an equal participant. I’m like a major leauge baseball player. In one game, I hit two home runs, one double, one single, stole second base, had four RBI’s (runs batted in). While in left field, I dropped one routine fly ball (an error). After the game, even though my team won, the reporters never talk about my hitting, only the error. Same thing here.

By Frank Key on 12/05/2008 1:21 pm

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But Frank, I’m saying you’ve stopped growing. You can still move forward. You had some kind of experience on the street, and have branded all gay people with your experience. I am gay, have been for decades, and have done none of those things. And denying me the right to marry the person I choose is wrong under the law. Gay people have been terrorized by straights for centuries. So you have holes in your arguments the size of Alaska, and when challenged, you claim to be right. So yes, it blows up into a battle. What I’m saying is, if you have something to say, there are ways to say it that get paid attention to and ways that make you look like a fool. We’re all still growing, and I think you could do this.

By Mugsy Peabody on 12/05/2008 2:09 pm

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Mugsy: I haven’t stopped growing, just because I don’t believe in gay marriage. The gay protesters I described before were terroizing innocent bystanders, I’m sure some children. You assume I was personally involved with their protest. You are 100% wrong. My information came from news reports showing gays walking down the middle of streets holding up traffic. I also saw many signs, one of which had a nazi swastika on it. I saw two or three gay women disrupt a church service in MI. Do you condone any of this this behavior? I in live CA, if the yahoo judges cannot find a loophole to turn over the peoples vote, I will be voting the same as I did last month. You have branded all straight people by saying they have terroized gays for centuries. You obviously had some kind of experience with them. You mentioned my arguments have holes the size of Alaska in them. What arguments? You couldn’t help show your contempt for Palin by using Alaska as an example. Who’s the real fool?

By Frank Key on 12/05/2008 3:58 pm

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I am proud of you Frank!!

By Serena . on 12/05/2008 5:25 am

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Serena: Thank you. Have a nice weekend.

By Frank Key on 12/05/2008 1:47 pm

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Frank, one thing that a lot of people find useful, helpful, and actually fun is Toastmasters International (http://www.toastmasters.org). There’s a location finder thingie on the left of the homepage at the top, so you can plug in and see what is close to you. Like anything, you should go three times to see if it’s something you want to do.

By Mugsy Peabody on 12/05/2008 3:35 pm

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Mugsy: I’ve heard of Toastmasters, they’re a scam that just wants your money. They’re like Scientology, if the dues go up don’t complain, just be happy. I’d rather go to an Amway meeting.

By Frank Key on 12/05/2008 4:13 pm

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Okay, Frank. That’s it. End of conversation.

By Mugsy Peabody on 12/05/2008 5:07 pm

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Mugsy: End of conversation because of Toastmaster comment or gay marriage comment? Or both. Like I said, I’m like that baseball player who made an error, but chastised for days. That player, Reggie Jackson of the New York Yankees back in the 70’s. Gay marriage isn’t about gays, its about marriage. If a woman divorces her husband for cheating; can she marry another woman if neither is gay?

By Frank Key on 12/05/2008 8:17 pm

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I retract my previous statement.

By Serena . on 12/05/2008 6:05 pm

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Do you accept reponses to your comments?

By Frank Marks on 11/29/2008 8:56 pm

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No Margaret, its Whoopi’s Picture Im using. Im a huge fan of hers. Lol. We will have to talk. Lata

By FeliJane Ramjohn on 11/29/2008 12:13 pm

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Ok, Felicia, I believe you…. you’re just using her picture. I can understand that. I’m a huge fan of hers too. I always wanted to be Murphy Brown so I should have Candice’s picture for me…LOL! I couldn’t pull it off… I’m not a blonde. Oh well…. Maybe I could try for “That Girl“‘s picture… yes, I could do Marlo’s picture but I’ll just stick with my own for a while. Maybe Lauren Bacall wouldn’t mind….. I’ll study on it for a while…. I’m sure your face is just as good as anyone else’s on this site, but you do what you want… I just like your thoughts so yeah, we’ll be a team.

By Murphy Mac on 11/29/2008 3:29 pm

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I watch The VIew every day and every day I say this will be my last day. I think its time for Barbara to call it a day…..I am so over her patting herself on the back that she was first woman to this or that and then Joy acting like her and Barbara are best friends. Barbara is as phony as they get and surely would not socialize with anyone on the View unless necessary. Whoopi is a pleasant addition. Hasselback is clueless and Shari is trying hard to keep up. I dont know how this show stays on the air. They are continually bragging about themselves because no one else will. The shows when Barbara is not there is better and less tense. Lets suggest that Barbara retire….yeah!!!!!!!

By MS. Gerry Sarkisian on 11/29/2008 4:16 pm