Jimmy Kimmel is taking a break from his late-night TV duties for the summer again, and in his place, a series of guest hosts will each fill in for a week. One of the fill-ins being brought in for Jimmy Kimmel Live! is none other than actress, comedian and media personality Rosie O’Donnell, and her hiring is garnering a lot of attention. Some individuals on certain ends of the political spectrum have had strong reactions to O’Donnell joining the show. Now, an expert is weighing in on the alleged principle behind the move.

O’Donnell’s guest host stint was announced by Kimmel during the June 18th broadcast of his titular talk show, at which point he revealed his other replacements for his two-month vacation. At the time, the host quipped that as a “special treat” for U.S. President Donald Trump, he was bringing in “one of his all-time favorites,” Rosie O’Donnell, to “keep the hooks coming.” Kimmel’s comments were meant to reference the fact that O’Donnell had historically been critical of the president like himself.

Public relations expert Christopher Lee – of the Foresight Strategies Firm – recently weighed in on Kimmel’s decision to bring in O’Donnell. While speaking with OK! Magazine, Lee said there were allegedly some key factors that went into Kimmel’s rationale for adding O’Donnell to the guest host list:

O’Donnell also has her fair share of experience when it comes to hosting talk shows, as she headlined her own eponymous series from 1996 to 2002 and won multiple Daytime Emmy Awards. Then, in 2006, O’Donnell became a panelist on ABC’s The View, where she feuded with co-host Elisabeth Hasselbeck and got into heated discussions with others as well. O’Donnell eventually left the show in 2007 and has since been reluctant to return. Her experience and dissatisfaction with President Trump aside, the Harriet the Spy alum also seems to have respect for Kimmel, who she welcomed back after his suspension in 2025.

Among the most vocal opponents of Rosie O’Donnell hosting Kimmel is political pundit Megyn Kelly, who reacted to the news on an episode of her podcast. Kelly called the roster of hosts – which also includes Colman Domingo, Tiffany Haddish, Ike Barinholtz, Anthony Anderson and Jelly Roll – as a “litany of left-wing comedians.” Yet Kelly specifically took issue with O’Donnell’s inclusion and laid out past political comments she’d made. As of this writing, neither O’Donnell nor Kimmel have responded to Kelly’s sentiments.

This summer break comes from Kimmel after what’s been an eventful set of months for him and his staff. As previously alluded to, Kimmel’s show was suspended indefinitely in September 2025 after he made comments in regard to Charlie Kirk’s death. Disney reinstated the series days later after holding internal discussions with Kimmel. More recently, Kimmel joked about First Lady Melania Trump looking like a widow ahead of the alleged assasination attempt at the White House Correspondents' Dinner, and he received backlash after the fact.

As for what Jimmy Kimmel Live! viewers can expect from these upcoming episodes, that remains to be seen. Tiffany Haddish and Anthony Anderson have hosted the show before, though Rosie O’Donnell, Colman Domingo and others are newcomers to leading the program. The stream of fill-in hosts begins with Haddish on July 6th at 11:35 p.m. ET, and O’Donnell will take to the desk, starting on August 17th amid the 2026 TV schedule.

On Saturday morning, it was revealed that Oscar-winner Diane Keaton had died at the age of 79. The news about the actress who starred in massive movies like Annie Hall and First Wives Club has led to an outpouring of tributes from Hollywood actors who loved her. Many of them, including Bett Midler, Steve Martin and more, had their own experiences working with her on the set of her iconic movies and called her a personal friend.

We’ll start with Bette Midler, who starred with Keaton in The First Wives Club back in 1996. She was quick to go on Instagram to say this:

Now, the third part of the trio, Goldie Hawn, has yet to comment on the loss at the time of this article’s publication, but her daughter Kate Hudson found the perfect scene of Keaton’s to celebrate the kind of presence she brought to the screen from The First Wives Club. Check it out:

The First Wives Club is such a quotable movie, and we’ll never forget Diane Keaton’s performance in it.

Another one of Keaton’s famed co-stars is Steve Martin, whom she was in the Father of the Bride movies with, and he paid tribute to her in a fittingly funny way. Here’s what he wrote shortly after news of her passing:

Keaton and Martin reunited with their Father of the Bride cast back in 2020 for charity, and seemed to be close. Martin found a lighter way to remember the talented actress, as we’d expect from the comedian.

Kimberly Williams-Paisley, who played their daughter in those movies, wrote this in an Instagram post:

Along with being in a lot of rom-coms and becoming a great director while still being an actor, Keaton played a lot of mom roles over the years, including in 2007’s Because I Said So with Mandy Moore. The This Is Us actress also penned a tribute to the late star, writing on Instagram:

Keaton is survived by her children, Duke and Dexter, whom she adopted in her 50s. The actress never married. Keaton's The Book Club co-star Jane Fonda also took to Instagram to say this:

Another fellow Oscar winner, Viola Davis, who never got to work with her, wrote this on Instagram following the news:

Similarly, Rosie O’Donnell sent all the love to Keaton’s family after hearing the news, which was originally reported by People. In her words on Instagram:

Here’s one more tribute from Octavia Spencer on Instagram. Clearly, a lot of women (inside and outside of Hollywood) really looked up to Diane Keaton:

As of right now, we don’t have details about Diane Keaton’s passing, other than she died in California with the Los Angeles Fire Department responding to her home at 8 a.m. on Saturday, October 11.

Here at CinemaBlend, we send our condolences to the family, friends and fans of the incomparable Diane Keaton.

Now and Then is one of those ‘90s movies not enough people talk about anymore. Considered at the time the Stand By Me of female friendship movies, the 1995 film showed us the summer four teenage girls spent in 1970 and how they made a pact to be with each other, even in adulthood during the '90s.

I’ve always had my eye on the friendship pairing between Roberta and Chrissy for being total opposites, though they work well together. But, after re-watching the comedy-drama, I’m still upset that the two didn’t end up together romantically as adults.

The Original Script Intended For Roberta To Be Gay

Back in 2023, on Now What? With Brooke Shields, Rosie O’Donnell, who played older Roberta, said her character’s lesbian identity was cut out. She got real about a producer (a rep later told People she meant to say that the studio, New Line Cinema, made the final decision) who reportedly saw the movie and wanted to take out “every little, tiny thing that I had done to build the character into an accurate gay woman.” That fear the studio allegedly had is a real shame. With Now and Then being a coming-of-age story, it would have been radical and invigorating to see a young queer character in the ‘70s, and later as an adult in the '90s, navigate her sexuality at a time when coming out wasn’t common.

The Harriet the Spy actress also acknowledged that Now and Then came out during a time before great LGBTQ+ characters made an impact on television, like in Will & Grace, or when Ellen DeGeneres came out. Even though O’Donnell didn’t explicitly say that the script had Roberta and Chrissy as endgame, it still would have been a great opportunity for Roberta to have explored her sexuality if she started to have feelings for her best friend.

Roberta And Chrissy Looked Out For Each Other More Than Their Other Friends

Throughout the female friendship movie, Roberta and Chrissy were shown to be closer to each other than to Samantha and Teeny. When it came to being there for Chrissy, Roberta was the first to run to her rescue, specifically protecting her from The Wormers’ jello balloons or trying to get bird droppings out of her hair while everyone else laughed.

However, the one scene that really made me ship Roberta and Chrissy was when Roberta pretended to drown in the pond, and Chrissy was the only one willing to do mouth-to-mouth. While Samantha and Teeny saw Roberta’s faking as a moment of defeat for not being quick to perform CPR on their friend, Chrissy saw it as a moment of anger and hurt that she pretended to be dead. After Roberta apologized to Chrissy, the awkward looks between the two suggested that maybe something more could have happened if their friends hadn't interrupted them.

Chrissy Wanted To Get Married To A Doctor, Which Roberta Ended Up Being

Towards the third act of Now and Then, Chrissy had her three friends make a pact to always be there for each other, saying, “If Teeny goes off to Hollywood or I marry a rich doctor.” Yet, lo and behold, Roberta ended up being a gynecologist as an adult who delivered Chrissy’s baby. But unfortunately, Roberta is not the doctor that Chrissy married. It’s Morton, the geeky kid who was pining for Chrissy in 1970. Roberta instead "lives in sin with her boyfriend." Those random pairings just don't sit right with me.

It would have been a sweet reveal if the film revealed that the doctor Chrissy envisioned marrying ended up being her best friend, Roberta. For Roberta to have delivered her wife's baby would have been really romantic and a cute ending for the two. Especially the endearing exchange the pair had after the delivery, where they both mouthed “I love you” to each other.

Their Differing Personalities Could Have Balanced Each Other Out

The two were very different from each other. Roberta was a tomboy who cussed, played sports, and wasn’t afraid of confrontation. Chrissy, on the other hand, was girly, against cursing, and was the farthest thing from an athlete.

Despite the differing personalities between Roberta and Chrissy, they could have helped each other grow if they had ended up together. Roberta would have inspired Chrissy to push out of her comfort zone, and Chrissy would have helped bring out Roberta's softer side. When opposites attract and build a life together, it can be a beautiful thing.

A Same-Sex Pairing Would Have Embraced Queerness In The ‘90s

There were a few films of the ‘90s that had LGBTQ+ themes, but had bad representation. In movies like Ace Ventura: Pet Detective and The Crying Game, transgender reveals were depicted as a shocking twist that led to characters reacting by throwing up. Movies like Clueless and My Best Friend’s Wedding had lovable male gay characters in supporting roles, but were depicted as stereotypical with no development.

Now and Then could have been a ‘90s movie where we see that by the time Roberta is an adult, she’s embraced her queerness and settled down with a lucky lady. If Chrissy and Roberta were endgame, the romantic pairing could have shown audiences of the era that female childhood best friends can evolve into life partners without the relationship being viewed as tragic or as a comic relief. Their authentic portrayal of lesbian love could have simply been just as ordinary, warm, and loving as any other couple’s.

No matter how many times I rewatch Now and Then, I’ll always ship Roberta and Chrissy, with plenty of disappointment that the two weren’t endgame. I’d like to believe that if the planned film-adapted TV series panned out and was made today, LGBTQ+ inclusivity would have been seen through the pairing of the two pals, with hints that Roberta and Chrissy had the potential to develop more romantically. To further see where I’m coming from, you can find the friendship dramedy available to rent or purchase on digital streaming platforms.

Who Wants To Be A Millionaire returned to ABC in the 2024 TV schedule with a premiere featuring Jon Mulaney and Nick Kroll, followed by Kenan Thompson and Kel Mitchell. For the new episode on July 17, prolific actress Rosie O'Donnell and Abbott Elementary star Lisa Ann Walter will be in the hot seat to try and win money for charity. In an exclusive episode clip (seen above), the duo's fate relies on their knowledge of puns and eels. While Walter plays a teacher in ABC's hit school-based sitcom, does that translate to game show trivia? Take a look to find out!

With $16,000 at stake, the two actresses were on the verge of making it to the next tier and getting that much closer to $1 million for their charities when they faced the eel/pun question. Personally, I get a kick out of the reveal that the Abbott Elementary teacher landed on the right answer not due to an encyclopedic knowledge of puns, but because she could name moray as a kind of eel. She deserves that bow she took at the very end, and it's easier than ever to understand how she won Celebrity Jeopardy Season 2.

Fortunately, the wait to see Lisa Ann Walter and Rosie O'Donnell's full attempt to win $1 million isn't much longer, as their episode airs tonight at 8 p.m. ET on ABC. The episode will also feature comedian Sebastian Maniscalco and actor Omar J. Dorsey as a duo playing for charity. If you missed last week's Who Wants To Be A Millionaire season premiere, you can find it streaming now with a Hulu subscription.

This primetime reboot is currently in its third season on ABC after it premiered in 2020, and this is the first that could be filmed with a live in-studio audience. Jimmy Kimmel once again is on board as host, and he has at least one big challenge in the role that Regis Philbin didn't back in the earliest days of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire thanks to the fourth lifeline.

The four lifelines of the current Millionaire are the options to phone a friend, poll the audience, cut the possible answers down to 50/50, and ask Jimmy Kimmel for his input... without Kimmel having any inside info about the answers. He wasn't able to clinch a win for John Mulaney and Nick Kroll when they faced a question about the infamous Succession bag in the premiere, but they still won a good amount of money for charity anyway.

See how much money Lisa Ann Walter and Rosie O'Donnell ultimately win for their charities on July 17 at 8 p.m. ET on ABC, ahead of a new episode of Claim to Fame at 9 p.m. ET. Plus, see where Who Wants To Be A Millionaire ranks on our picks for the 30 best TV game shows of all time!

Hocus Pocus' Sanderson Sisters, played by the ever-talented leading trio of Bette Midler, Kathy Najimy and Sarah Jessica Parker, helped give this movie the cult following it has today. But did you know that Rosie O’Donnell could have been part of the original cast of the Halloween classic? The former host of The View explained why she turned down a major role in the fantasy-comedy movie.

If you could picture Rosie O’Donnell as one of the Sanderson Sisters, who would you pick? The temperamental Winnie who could carry out a tune, the crooked-smiled Mary who can ride a mean vacuum, or the child-luring Sarah? During her interview with The Hollywood Reporter, O’Donnell revealed which 17th-century witch she was this close to playing.

Wow! So, this Daytime Emmy winner could have been the one wearing that hat-shaped wig and crooked smile. I definitely think that with the comedy styling O’Donnell has, she’d be able to pull it off. On the other hand, it would have been a very different role compared to the stuff she’s done in the past. She made her film debut being part of the cast of A League of Their Own, playing the third basewoman Doris, and was also part of the foursome of friends in one of the best female friendship films, Now and Then. While this absolutely would have shown up on O’Donnell’s list of iconic roles, she’s had plenty under her belt that have made her the gifted actress she is today.  

You don’t have to rewatch Hocus Pocus to know that Rosie O’Donnell is not present in the cast of this cult classic. THR asked the former daytime host if it’s true that she turned down the part of Mary, and here’s what she had to say.

I can understand that. The character of Mary isn’t like Sarah Jessica Parker’s character, who had all the sex appeal, or Winnie, who was the front-runner of the child-sucking trio. You’d have to be okay with playing more of the dim-witted sidekick who’s there to bring about a few chuckles. The Harriet the Spy actress explained more why she didn’t feel like this role was meant for her.

It’s true that even if it’s just acting, not everyone has it in them to play a role that involves terrorizing children. As Rosie O’Donnell is a mother of five children, she may not have wanted to put herself in that mind frame. I’ll admit, even I thought that child-luring plot was too dark for a Disney movie. Looking back on this movie 30 years later, this SMILF star was asked if she regretted the decision to turn it down.

Neither do I! I feel like if I was to attempt that crooked smile for weeks of shooting, it would probably stay that way for me. In Hocus Pocus 2 when Kathy Najimy reprised her role, however, she admitted her crooked smile was flipped to the other side considering the previous side was too hard for her to attempt anymore after 30 years. That fact that she was able to do it at all was impressive and clearly a standout to the character that Najimy helped make memorable.

Rosie O’Donnell may not have played Mary in Hocus Pocus, but it’s plain and direct that she had good reasons why it wouldn’t have worked for her, and Kathy Najimy made the role a real standout for herself. You can watch the two Hocus Pocus films with your Disney+ subscription. Also, keep your eye out for a third Hocus Pocus movie and keep up with CinemaBlend to see if it’ll get a theatrical release or go back to streaming.

Rosie O’Donnell has had a wide-ranging career. While she’s a successful actress and comedian, she also served as a co-host on The View for a short while and had her own talk show, The Rosie O'Donnell Show. Both of those hosting stints ended a while ago, and O’Donnell seems to have a lot more reverence for her time serving on own talk show than the former program. After recently critiquing ABC's daytime staple, the star opened up what she believes made her own series work so well.

During an interview with ET, the A League of Their Own actress talked about her current career moves and reflected on some of her past endeavors. She revealed how much fun she had hosting her daytime show and shared her pride over the work she and her colleagues did. She said: 

Having a great working environment is essential to enjoying the work you do. It’s good to hear that this is something she really valued and implemented while leading her eponymous talk show. She went on to describe the measures she took to keep her employees happy, saying:

The comedian sounds like she was a great boss, and really made an effort to ensure that her show was a great place to work. Backstage environments for talk shows have been major topics of conversation over the past few years. Staffers on Ellen spoke out about inadequate work conditions on the beloved daytime show back in 2020. And earlier this month, The Kelly Clarkson Show's crew made claims of a “traumatizing” work culture. While the Harriet the Spy alum's show premiered in the late '90s and hasn’t been on TV for a while, it still seems to stand as a shining example of how to conduct business.

In recent weeks, the Sleepless in Seattle actress opened up about her negative experiences working on The View. She famously had a feud with co-host Elizabeth Hasselback and also clashed with Whoopi Goldberg. Former host Meghan McCain, who's also been candid about her time on the program, supported what Rosie O’Donnell had to say about dynamics behind, and in front of the camera. O’Donnell likely won’t be returning to ABC show anytime soon though, based on her comments, it seems she's content with where she is and what she was able to accomplish in the talk show space.

Fans can catch Rosie O’Donnell’s latest project, Rosie’s Theater Kids, which is a documentary about inspiring the next generation of performers that's available to stream with a Paramount+ subscription. And of course, those who tune in faithfully for The View can check it out weekdays at 11 p.m. ET as part of the 2023 TV schedule.

It’s no secret that Meghan McCain still harbors negative feelings about her time on The View, and following some troublesome comments about Whoopi Goldberg from fellow former co-host Rosie O’Donnell, McCain was inspired to speak out again in a column for the Daily Mail. Current co-host Sunny Hostin was asked about that recent drama, and while each of the ladies has said there’s no bad blood between them, Hostin slipped in a little dig at her former colleague, as she defended the ABC talk show.

Meghan McCain has detailed multiple issues she had during the four years she served as a co-host on The View, including the comment from Joy Behar that ultimately led to her exit. She said the Emmy-winning daytime TV show was full of ”toxic mean girl” nastiness and recently backed up Rosie O’Donnell’s claims that people on the show had minimized coverage of important issues to protect their own interests. When Sunny Hostin was asked about the remarks on Watch What Happens Live, she took a sip from her martini before responding: 

Sunny Hostin only addressed the fan’s assertion that Meghan McCain had said The View keeps getting worse, rather than any of the specific accusations made in the column — which Hostin said she hadn’t read. But she followed up the ratings talk with some subtle shade, telling Andy Cohen: 

Is Sunny Hostin suggesting that Meghan McCain might be more fit for the drama of The Real Housewives franchise than the hot topics of The View? She went on to say McCain would be great on The Real Housewives of Potomac, “or any of them.” You can watch the full exchange below: 

Despite the jab at Meghan McCain’s expense, Sunny Hostin maintains that the two are friends, but the same likely can’t be said for other members of The View’s panel. Whoopi Goldberg — who was known to have some pretty cringe-worthy exchanges with McCain on the show — spoke out last year about how The View has changed since McCain announced she was leaving. She said there have been fewer “backstage problems,” and the atmosphere is “calmer” and “better.” 

You can tune into the calmness that is The View at 11 a.m. ET weekdays on ABC, with episodes streaming the next day with a Hulu subscription. 

ABC’s The View has welcomed a number of notable stars to the iconic desk over the years and, after their tenures are done, some occasionally reflect on them. Those sentiments can certainly vary and, this past week, former panelist Rosie O’Donnell shared sentiments regarding former co-star Whoopi Goldberg. O’Donnell, who had two stints on the show between 2006 and 2015, claimed that Goldberg tried to prevent Bill Cosby’s rape allegations from being discussed on air. Goldberg herself has yet to respond to the claims, yet fellow series vet Meghan McCain is now backing O’Donnell up.

Bill Cosby’s sexual assault allegations received much media attention when they began to surface in the 2010s. However, during an appearance on Now What? With Brooke Shields, Rosie O’Donnell suggested that Whoopi Goldberg was able to use her behind-the-scenes influence to minimize coverage on The View. Now a columnist for The Daily Mail, Meghan McCain addressed the comments in a piece that was recently published: 

It should be made clear that that media personality didn’t actually co-sign on coverage of Bill Cosby’s case specifically being diminished. What she more so seems to be referring to is the notion that some topics in general were allegedly just left off the docket in general. She later mentioned that Whoopi Goldberg did eventually weigh in once evidence started mounting against the embattled comic. However, the Fox News contributor still takes issue with one aspect of this purported situation: 

Meghan McCain hasn’t held back on discussing The View since she left the show back in 2021. In more recent instances, McCain’s new gig has provided her with a forum in which she can break down her thoughts. She also gave a lengthy interview later that same year, in which she dropped alleged details on her exit and backstage drama. ABC later clapped back at McCain’s claim that her co-stars created a toxic workplace environment. 

Though she hasn’t been quite as vocal, Rosie O’Donnell has discussed her gripes with the daytime staple. During that same interview with Brooke Shields, she discussed other topics, including her past feud with co-host Elisabeth Hasselbeck.

In her column, Meghan McCain acknowledged that she and Rosie O’Donnell “probably don't agree on much” but are “in sync” in this case. They’ve also both asserted that they would not return to The View if asked. With this new alleged information regarding Whoopi Goldberg now floating around, you can’t help but wonder if either she or ABC will feel compelled to respond. 

Now and Then is one of the best friendship movies that revolves around a group of four women reminiscing about growing up with each other in the 1970s. In that group of friends was tomboy Roberta, played by Wednesday cast member Christina Ricci, who has a close bond with the naïve yet cautious Chrissy. Now, Rosie O’Donnell, who played the grown-up version of Roberta, revealed that her character was originally a lesbian, however, that piece of the character's identity was cut from the movie.

When Now and Then came out in 1995, lesbian relationships on-screen were not portrayed as frequently as straight relationships. Due to this lack of representation, studios were hesitant to include LGBTQ+ relationships in their movies. Now and Then was one of those movies, as Rosie O’Donnell revealed on Now What? with Brooke Shields podcast. She went on to explain that her character, Roberta, was originally written as a lesbian who intended to be in a romantic relationship with her childhood friend Chrissy until it was decided to change her sexual orientation to heterosexual.

According to People, a rep for Rosie O’Donnell said she misspoke about her producer making the change, and that it was New Line Cinema who made the decision about Roberta’s sexual orientation. As the former View host told this surprising behind-the-scenes story to Brooke Shields, it makes me re-thinking Chrissy’s birth scene. It’s true that the evidence really was right there. Especially in one of the childhood scenes, part of Chrissy's vow to her group of friends was for them to always be there for each other through adulthood even if she eventually “marries a rich doctor.” Well, Roberta becomes a doctor. That should have been a foreshadowing moment of what was to come. But instead as adults, Roberta “lives in sin with her boyfriend,” and Chrissy does marry a doctor, but it’s the geeky boy from their childhood she was repulsed with.

The Harriet the Spy actress continued to tell Brooke Shields she was in such disbelief at the time that the change to her character was happening. However, she remarked that this was before the Emmy-nominated series Will and Grace was created and before Ellen DeGeneres first came out in 1997. The Flintstones actress pointed out that being an openly gay female back then was very controversial, and her agent felt it would be risky for her career to take on the role of a lesbian character. However, O’Donnell, who identifies as gay, wouldn’t have let a character’s sexual identity scare her away from a role.

Back in 2012, there was originally going to be a Now and Then series on what is now called Freeform done by the Pretty Little Liars showrunner I. Marlene King. However, this TV series didn’t come to fruition. According to EW, King wasn’t happy with the show taking place in the present day with the flashbacks coming from the ‘90s instead of the ‘70s. As King said, it’s true that one of the most memorable aspects of Now and Then was the 1970s nostalgia. You couldn't forget the music, clothes, and subjects considered controversial back then during that decade like divorce. But, I’d like to believe that maybe if the TV series came to be, there would have been room to explore a romantic relationship between Roberta and Chrissy. 

It’s unfortunate that a romantic relationship in Now and Then between Roberta and Chrissy was never explored in the film. Although, it’s a comfort to know that we’ve come a long way where LGBTQIA+ on-and-off-screen relationships are more accepted and represented today. 

As of right now, O'Donnell doesn't have any projects in the works, but, be sure to follow our 2023 movie releases and the 2023 TV schedule just in case she returns to the screen.

In recent months, The View has been clocking headlines for mysterious fart noises, Whoopi Goldberg apologizing for making offensive Holocaust comments and others, and Joy Behar’s aggressive flirting with Liam Neeson, as opposed to endless rumors about in-fighting amongst the co-hosts. It’s the kind of atmosphere that former host Rosie O’Donnell might be more comfortable with, as opposed to the set-ups that were in place during her pair of past stints as moderator, where she feuded with both Elisabeth Hasselbeck and Goldberg herself. But fans will probably see The View ending outright before the award-winning comedienne would ever return to the daytime hit.

As the latest guest on the podcast Now What? with Brooke Shields, Rosie O’Donnell reflected on past ups and downs in her career, from Penny Marshall hand-picking her to join the stacked cast of A League of Their Own to having her Now & Then character’s lesbian identity erased from the final script. Later in the episode, Shields brought up The View, which O’Donnell was part of from 2006-07, before she rejoined in 2014 ahead of exiting the show again in 2015. She addressed her lifelong love of sports and her dedication to teamwork being a motivating factor whenever she landed the topical chat show, but said producer Bill Getty’s favorable relationship with Elisabeth Hasselbeck caused strife, despite her attempts to stay friendly. Here’s how she put it: 

Elisabeth Hasselbeck certainly wasn’t the only person that Rosie O’Donnell traded barbs with on The View, but that back-and-forth seems to have stuck with her more than 15 years later. The L Word: Generation Q star exited the show for the first time in 2006, with the reasoning given by ABC as being contract-related.

O’Donnell, who hosts her own podcast called Onward, then talked a bit about other arguments she got into during her two stretches on The View. She claimed her attempts to bring focus to the 2007 documentary Ghosts of Abu Ghraib were deflected by Bill Getty in lieu of focusing on “new fall lipstick colors,” and said Whoopi Goldberg pushed back against her effort to shine a light on the Bill Cosby allegations that were spreading. 

When asked if she felt instances like those made her into a “villain,” a label that several former View co-hosts have earned from viewers, O’Donnell said: 

Her second stint on The View, which was bolstered by fellow new co-hosts Rosie Perez and Nicolle Wallace,  was also short-lived. She ended up leaving again in February 2015, sharing her personal reasons for leaving as being tied to health problems. But she doesn't sound like she'd change things around if she had them to do again, even if she probably won't ever go back. When asked about any possible regrets, O'Donnell answered with:

Having also hosted one of the more popular talk shows of the 2000s, Rosie O'Donnell knows a thing or two about how daytime TV programs can be produced in ways that don't make hosts feel like they're being ignored. But while you'd have to look around to catch repeats of that show, new episodes of The View can be found every weekday on ABC at 11:00 a.m. ET.

From time to time, a movie comes around and catches lightening in a bottle when it comes to its cast, and there are few movies that are a better example of this than Penny Marshall’s 1992 baseball drama A League of Their Own. With a lineup that is led by Geena Davis, just one year after the game-changer that was Thelma and Louise, and Tom Hanks right before his career reached the next level, A League of Their Own’s cast had a lot going for it and each member made the most of their time both on and off the baseball field.

It has been nearly 30 years since we first learned of the names of Jimmy Dugan, Dottie Hinson, Kit Keller, Marla Hooch (what a hitter), and the rest of the Rockford Peaches, and you are probably wondering what they’ve been up to lately. Well, look no further, as we have put together a comprehensive list of the A League of Their Own cast and what they’re up to these days…

Tom Hanks (Jimmy Dugan)

Tom Hanks, though already an established star with more than a few successful movies under his belt, became one of the biggest stars of the 1990s in the years following his turn as the Rockford Peaches’ alcoholic coach Jimmy Dugan in A League of Their Own. Within three years of the film’s release, Hanks would have two Oscars (Philadelphia and Forrest Gump) and become the voice of one of the most groundbreaking animated franchises in Toy Story.

In recent years, Tom Hanks, who hasn’t really slowed down all that much, has continued to contribute to the Toy Story franchise while also portraying Mr. Rogers in A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, to name only a few films. Hanks will soon appear in Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis.

Geena Davis (Dottie Hinson)

Geena Davis’ Dottie Hinson was the heart (and oftentimes the brains) behind the Rockford Peaches throughout A League of Their Own, and it’s hard to think of a better actress to fill her shoes. Since leaving the diamond, Davis has continued to lead a successful on-screen career which has seen her lead the Stuart Little franchise and even star in her own sitcom, The Geena Davis Show.

In the past few years, the Academy Award winner (The Accidental Tourist), has provided her talents to movies like Ava and television shows like GLOW on Netflix, where she portrayed the wrestling promotion’s benefactor, Sandy Devereaux St. Clair, in the third and unfortunately final season.

Lori Petty (Kit Keller)

In the nearly 30 years since providing audiences with one of the best representations of overlooked younger siblings in A League of Their Own’s Kit Keller (which was only her fourth film role), Lori Petty has gone on to lead cult classics like Tank Girl and appear in celebrated series like Orange is the New Black, where she portrayed Lolly Whitehill off and on throughout the show’s run. Petty has a few projects in the work right now, including a film with the title You’re All Gonna Die and a HBO Max original called Station Eleven.

Madonna (Mae Mordabito)

It is hard to imagine a world in which anyone but Madonna played “All the Way” Mae Mordabito in A League of Their Own, and thankfully that’s something we’ll never have to do. The singer-turned-actress would go on to have her biggest film hit four years later with Evita, which earned her a Golden Globe for Best Actress. And, while her acting career slowed down over the years, Madonna has continued to be an inventive and driving force in the music industry, with her most recent album — Madame X — being released in 2019.

Rosie O’Donnell (Doris Murphy)

Rosie O’Donnell, who made her film debut as Doris Murphy in A League of Their Own, went on to appear in a few of the most beloved movies of the 1990s including Sleepless in Seattle and Tarzan, but the comedian-turned-actress really made her mark in the realm of television. Since getting her daytime talk show, The Rosie O’Donnell Show, she has gone on to host The View and on multiple occasions and appeared in scripted shows like Queer as Folk, The View, Nip/Tuck, and, more recently, SMILF. O’Donnell, who famously came out on television following 9/11, is an outspoken supporter for LGTBQ rights.

Tracy Reiner (Betty Horn)

Tracy Reiner, the daughter of A League of Their Own’s director Penny Marshall and Rob Reiner, became one of a few members of the original cast to reprise their roles in the 1993 television program of the same name, portraying Betty “Spaghetti” Horn. Following the movie and show (which only lasted six episodes), Reiner went on to appear in Apollo 13 and That Thing You Do!, later showing up in The Princess Diaries and Valentine’s Day (both directed by her uncle Garry Marshall). Since her mother’s death in 2018, Reiner has continued Marshall’s legacy and contributions to various causes.

Anne Ramsay (Helen Haley)

Anne Ramsay was just coming up in the industry when she joined A League of Their Own’s cast in 1992 as Helen Haley, the same year her most famous show, Mad About You, debuted. Over the years, Ramsay has played recurring roles on a number of iconic series like The L Word and Six Feet Under, with one-off appearances on shows like Castle, House, and Animal Kingdom. One of her most prominent roles as of late was in 2019’s Bombshell, in which she portrayed former Fox News personality Greta Van Susteren.

Megan Cavanagh (Marla Hooch)

Marla Hooch, who was quite a hitter in A League of Their Own, was portrayed by Megan Cavanagh. In the years since playing the Rockford Peaches’ best batter, Cavanagh has gone on to show up on a number of shows including Roseanne, ER, The West Wing, and Drunk History, where she portrayed Penny Marshall in a 2019 episode about the history of baseball. You may also even recognize Cavanagh’s voice from the various Jimmy Neutron movies and television programs.

Bitty Schram (Evelyn Gardner)

To some, Bitty Schram will always be Evelyn Gardner, the Rockford Peach on the receiving end of the famous “There’s no crying in baseball” line in A League of Their Own, but others will remember her from her performance as Sharona Fleming from the first three seasons of the USA Network mystery-comedy series, Monk. Outside of those two famous roles, Schram has appeared on Felicity, The Ghost Whisperer, and Kitchen Confidential over the years.

Ann Cusack (Shirley Baker)

Ann Cusack (yes, she’s the sister of Joan and John Cusack), has come a long way since playing the shy and illiterate Rockford Peach in A League of Their Own, with roles in movies like Gross Pointe Blanke, America’s Sweethearts, and Nightcrawler over the years. Where Cusack really shines, however, is in television, where she has appeared on everything from Frasier to Fargo. She has also had prominent roles recently with shows like The Boys, Castle Rock, and Station 19.

Freddie Simpson (Ellen Sue Gotlander)

Freddie Simpson, who played Ellen Sue Gotlander in A League of Their Own, only has a few more acting credits to her name following the 1992 baseball movie. After leaving acting behind, Simpson spent years teaching drama to underprivileged children before moving to Charlottesville, Virginia, where she owns and operates an acupuncture company.

Renée Coleman (Alice Gasper)

Renée Coleman appeared as Alice Gasper in A League of Their Own, but would leave acting behind a few years later and entered the field of Mythological Studies, and specializes in the art of DreamTending. She even published a book on the subject titled Icons of a Dreaming Heart in 2012.

Garry Marshall (Walter Harvey)

Garry Marshall, the acclaimed film and television legend who was also Penny Marshall’s older brother, portrayed AAGPBL founder Walter Harvey in A League of Their Own. Already an icon by the time he appeared in his sister’s 1992 baseball movie, Marshall went on to appear in countless films, shows, and specials over the years while also writing and directing his fair share of projects. In the years leading up to his death in 2016, Marshall released movies like The Other Sister, Runaway Bride, The Princess Diaries, and its sequel The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement.

David Strathairn (Ira Lowenstein)

David Strathairn, who appears in A League of Their Own as AAGPBL general manager Ira Lowenstein, has gone on to have a remarkable career including a turn as Edward R. Murrow in 2005’s Good Night, and Good Luck, which netted him nearly a dozen nominations. Strathairn most recently appeared in the Academy Award-winning drama Nomadland.

Jon Lovitz (Ernie Capadino)

Jon Lovitz only appears in the first few minutes of A League of Their Own, but his portrayal of the physically and mentally exhausted scout known as Ernie Capadino is one of his best performances. Over the years, Lovitz has lent his voice to the underrated animated series The Critic, appeared on The Goldbergs, and has even showed up on A.P. Bio.

Bill Pullman (Bob Hinson)

And then there is Bill Pullman, who shows up as Dottie’s G.I. husband, Bob Hinson, in A League of Their Own. Already a star by the time he took on the small yet important role, Pullman went on to appear in everything from a small summer movie called Independence Day, to the 2019 legal drama Dark Waters and oh so much more in between. Pullman generated a ton of buzz in the summer of 2021 when he led Budweiser’s amazing commercial.

These are just the major players from the A League of Their Own cast and doesn’t even touch on the dreaded Racine Belles. Maybe next season…

If there’s any way to piss off the guys from Fight Club it’s to break their one rule: don’t talk about it. Apparently Rosie O’Donnell did just that back when it first came out and ruffled some major feathers. Over 20 years after star Brad Pitt called her out for it, O’Donnell has addressed the transgression of spoiling the now-iconic film and the fact that stars Edward Norton and Pitt were pretty angry with her when she did it.

While it sounds like a pretty messed up thing to do, not only spoiling a major ending to a huge film but also simultaneously breaking the one rule the film has, it would seem that Rosie O’Donnell had no clue what she was really doing when she went on her show and ruined the ending for everyone watching. In a recent interview with Sirius XM’s The Jess Cagle Show, the long-time comedian and TV personality revealed that all she actually did was say the ending didn’t make sense to her when talking about how much the movie “annoyed” her. Here it is in her own words:

Rosie O’Donnell is definitely known for having pretty much no filter when it comes to what she says, so it's easy to believe her when she says she was just doing what she naturally does and didn’t realize it was something much bigger. Apparently there weren’t many consequences to her words either, because no one told her a thing about it until it had pretty much blown over, at least 3 years later. In the same interview, O'Donnell says it was actually Courtney Love who dropped the bomb on her:

While it looks like Rosie O’Donnell was unaware that she ruined the ending of Fight Club, Brad Pitt was hyper-aware. In fact, Brad Pitt’s annoyance at O’Donnell spoiling the ending of his cult classic hit film made it into the DVD commentary. Here’s exactly what Pitt said on the commentary (via Indie Wire) about the talk show host ruining the wild ending of Fight Club:

Brad Pitt’s feelings were, of course, super valid, but that was quite a long time ago. Rosie O’Donnell does say that she has spoken with Edward Norton since then and everything seemed gravy. It’s very possible that Pitt has also put the past behind him, especially now that O’Donnell has come forward with her side of the story, which makes it seem like the whole thing was just a misunderstanding. What’s a little decades old spoilage between 3 wealthy Hollywoodians, am I right?

Ellen DeGeneres has not had the best year of her professional life. After some of her current employees began to voice their issues with her daytime show, the summer of 2020 saw several former employees come forward and detail a number of troubling problems they'd had with some of the top creatives behind the scenes, leading to three of those executives being fired. Along with that, all of the bad press led to a dramatic drop in viewership between Seasons 17 and the current Season 18, and mid-May saw the host announced that she'd retire after next season. Now, former The Rosie O'Donnell Show and The View host Rosie O'Donnell has weighed in on DeGeneres' exit.

Along with also being a stand-up comedian who came to prominence in the late 1980s, Rosie O'Donnell, of course, knows more than a bit about the daytime talk show game. She hosted her own incredibly popular, multi-Emmy award-winning show from 1996-2002, and then became one of the co-hosts of The View during both Seasons 10 and 18. While hosting her own series, O'Donnell quickly became known as "The Queen of Nice" for her easy-going celebrity interviews and light-hearted interactions with her audience, but that changed completely when she stepped into her role on The View.

So, she probably has a unique perspective on everything that's been happening with Ellen DeGeneres, who's been known for her "Be Kind" slogan for many years, and her talk show over the past year or so. With that, while O'Donnell was being interviewed on The Jess Cagle Show, she was asked about having the title of The Queen of Nice and how DeGeneres' similar public persona might have helped lead to her ending the show after all of the controversies. O'Donnell said:

As Rosie O'Donnell noted, it is an incredible oversimplification to say that Ellen DeGeneres being known as the "Be Kind" lady is what led to what's become of her show and its legacy. But, I can see where it probably also didn't help as very negative and shocking allegations against the show, and DeGeneres herself, began to mount.

If she had, let's say, been known for playfully mean-spirited jokes and not made so much of her brand about being good to others, it likely would have been less surprising for fans to find out that DeGeneres, apparently, wasn't paying much attention to how those working behind the scenes of her show were being treated.

As it stands, the realization that there was enough truth to the claims of sexual misconduct, harassment, assault, and a generally toxic workplace which was also prone to racial discrimination and microaggressions, seems to have caused that major decline in viewers that The Ellen Show has seen in Season 18. We can't know whether or not audiences would have reacted differently if the public perception of DeGeneres had been less focused on kindness, but O'Donnell is probably correct that whatever fans think of you, it's tough to be in such a position for so long.

Rosie O'Donnell also seemed to note that, when hosting a series like The Ellen Show, "it's hard to maintain" balance between that public perception and all of who you are as an individual, so it's fitting that the former daytime host just wants DeGeneres to be able to take some time for herself when her run as one of our talk show queens is officially over.

You can still watch Ellen DeGeneres every weekday, so check local listings, but if you need more to watch, look into all of the 2021 summer TV shows you can see in the coming weeks.

Many around Hollywood and social media have had mixed responses to the controversy that is still surrounding The Ellen DeGeneres Show. Following a number of allegations aimed at the culture of her show, DeGeneres has had her share of detractors. However, there have been a number of fans and celebrities who have come to her defense. Now, fellow comedian and former host Rosie O’Donnell is speaking out on the situation, and she appears to have compassion for DeGeneres.

Rosie O’Donnell recently revealed that she had never appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show because of the host’s tendency to scare her guests. However, during her appearance on the Busy Philipps is Doing Her Best podcast, O’Donnell would later say that as a host, one can’t fake their essence, which is why she has compassion for Ellen DeGeneres:

As previously mentioned, Rosie O’Donnell is far from the first celebrity to speak positively of Ellen DeGeneres. Since her show first came under fire over allegations of a toxic work culture and sexual misconduct from producers, stars like Kevin Hart and Katy Perry have defended her. When an interview surfaced in which DeGeneres appeared to be making inappropriate jokes about Sofia Vergara, the actress also defended the host. DeGeneres has also received familial support through her wife and brother.

Conversely, the behind-the-scenes claims have been corroborated by celebrities. Brad Garrett and Lea Thompson were among those who claimed to have known what was transpiring. At one point, a number of fans across social media were also calling for DeGeneres to be replaced as the host of the show.

WarnerMedia launched a third-party investigation into the show following the claims from former and current employees. Since then, several top producers have been fired from the program. DeGeneres also issued an apology to her staff and has upped the benefits for her employees.

Ellen DeGeneres previously issued a statement on the situation in which she promised to create positive change for the show moving forward. She most recently stated that her next move will be to directly communicate with her fans.

While the current status of the investigation is unclear, one Ellen producer stated early on that the show would not be cancelled. WarnerMedia head Jason Kilar has also stated that the company is fully supportive of DeGeneres.

Before this controversy began, The Ellen DeGeneres Show was filming remote episodes, just as many other talk shows were at the time. The current timeline for the show’s return to the studio is currently unknown.

Keep it here at CinemaBlend for more news from the world of TV and movies.

Hot on the heels of former The View co-host Jenny McCarthy’s headline-making thoughts on working with Barbara Walters is another revelation about the show. Another feud was going down between another co-host and the director. The behind-the-scenes row between Rosie O'Donnell and then-director Mark Gentile is now getting a spotlight thanks to a new book. It allegedly even got so bad HR became involved.

Telling her side of the story in the new book Ladies Who Punch: The Explosive Inside Story of “The View,” Rosie O’Donnell explains her issues with The View director. She asserts that it was due to what she considered to be Mark Gentile’ "incompetence" (via Huffington Post). However, insiders at the talk show told the book’s author a different story.

They state that Rosie O’Donnell went after the director because he had previously turned down an offer from her. That offer was reportedly made when O’Donnell was hosting her own daytime talk show. She later joined The View when he was the show’s director.

The book details multiple instances of Rosie O’Donnell zeroing in on the director, allegedly with “criticism and abuse.” According to insider claims, at the time, Mark Gentile was carrying on an extra-marital affair with a staffer at The View that was treated as an open secret.

The affair was something Rosie O’Donnell would seize on, according to the book. In one instance, O’Donnell is said to have asked the producer Mark Gentile was having the affair with an explosive question during a meeting with other staffers. She asked if Mark Gentile was the father of the baby the woman was holding.

After more than one incident, the director along with two other employees at The View lodged an HR complaint against Rosie O’Donnell. No action was taken on it. Despite all of the allegations against O’Donnell, it did not stop ABC from bringing her back.

Rosie O’Donnell joined The View in 2006. She left in 2007. Seven years later in 2014, Disney-ABC Television’s then-president Anne Sweeney, recruited O’Donnell for a second stint. O’Donnell reprised her role as co-host in 2014. She left again a year later in 2015. O’Donnell cited the toll the show was taking on her health as the reason.

For her part, Rosie O’Donnell said she does not understand why the director went to HR, wondering if it was because she told people he had fathered a child outside of his marriage.

In the end, things became so volatile between the pair that Mark Gentile decided to try avoiding her. Whenever she entered the studio, he left. Gentile was not around during Rosie O’Donnell’s second run on The View. For its part, the show seems to be in a happier spot these days. It recently welcomed back co-host Whoopi Goldberg via a joyous reception.

New episodes of The View air weekday mornings at 11:00 a.m. ET on ABC.

One of the tried and true genres of filmmaking is the always popular romantic comedy. Moviegoers long for a fun night at the theaters, with a romantic storyline to help propel the overall story forward. As far as romcoms go, there are few quite as iconic and beloved as Nora Ephron's Sleepless in Seattle. The 1993 classic was surprisingly self-aware, poking fun at the genre while also capturing our hearts through Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks' cross-country courtship. Sleepless was a massive hit when it first arrived in theaters, and it still managed to stay at the forefront of pop culture. I recently spoke to actress Rosie O'Donnell ahead of Sleepless in Seattle's 25th anniversary release, and she revealed its unique magic decades later.

While Sleepless in Seattle seemed plausible during its initial release, it now invokes strong feelings of nostalgia. This is likely because the majority of the film's events and problems could be solved instantly if there were smart phones around. Meg Ryan would be listening to a podcast instead of a call-in radio station, and she could also probably google Tom Hanks' character and find out exactly where he was. And just like that, the magic of Sleepless is gone.

The inception of smart phones and other devices has seemingly put a major road block in the way of a variety of storytelling. Plot points like the ones used in Sleepless in Seattle couldn't function in a modern movie, instead having to be swapped for something like a dating app. Writers of new movies (especially horror flicks) must now find a logical way to write out smart phones, and therefore allow for their characters to be more vulnerable and have moments of surprise.

Although there can't really be a modern version of Sleepless in Seattle, that's part of what makes the Nora Ephron classic so special upon rewatch. They simply don't make them like that anymore. And like Rosie O'Donnell told me, it's able to elicit a sense of tranquility, as we're brought to a simpler time. And for the generations of Sleepless fans out there, there's a new edition available for home purchase now.

The 25th Anniversary Edition of Sleepless in Seattle is available now. In the meantime, check out our 2018 release list to plan your next trip to the movies.

They say show business is all about who you know. Word of mouth travels fast, so having a good working relationship with casts, crews, and directors will make or break a new star's career. One such actress who learned this early on is Rosie O'Donnell, who is currently starring in Showtime's new hit show SMILF. Rosie's first movie role was in the iconic baseball classic A League of Their Own, where she shared a ton of scenes with pop star Madonna. The two had a close relationship, which actually helped O'Donnell book her second movie: Sleepless in Seattle. I recently spoke to Rosie ahead of the release of Sleepless in Seattle's 25th anniversary addition, where she revealed how Madge helped her get the supporting role in Nora Ephron's classic romcom.

Well, that's a lesson learned. Never doubt the power of Madonna, because the legendary pop singer has enough connections and fans to help make change happen. For Rosie O'Donnell, it was merely being friends with the Material Girl that helped get her in the door to play Meg Ryan's best friend in Sleepless in Seattle.

Ultimately, Sleepless and A League of Their Own was a killer one two bunch for Rosie O'Donnell, and allowed her to ascend to the TV and movie icon she would eventually become. Sleepless in Seattle is one of the most iconic romantic comedies ever, and still has the ability to trigger feelings of love and nostalgia with its generations of fans. It also made $227 million on a $21 million budget, accruing two Oscar nominations along the way.

Sleepless in Seattle revolves around Meg Ryan's Annie Reed, with Rosie O'Donnell playing her friend and co-worker Becky. As Annie falls in love with Tom Hanks' character by listening to a radio show, Becky is her confidante and wingwoman in her quest for happiness. Rosie got one of the biggest parts in the movie, and rounded out a cast including Victor Garber, Rita Wilson, David Hyde Pierce, and Gaby Hoffman.

The 25th Anniversary Edition of Sleepless in Seattle is available now for home purchase, and will include special features and a new deleted scene. You can catch up on Season 1 of SMILF on Showtime's On Demand services. In the meantime, check out our 2018 release list to plan your next trip to the movies.

Over the course of the last few months, Saturday Night Live has experienced an insane resurgence in popularity and relevance. The sketch series has embraced political satire with an intensity not seen since Will Ferrell regularly lampooned George W. Bush, and its humorous take on the Trump administration has resonated with a good percentage of audiences. Between Alec Baldwin's regular portrayal of the President and Melissa McCarthy's recent take on Press Secretary Sean Spicer, it's obvious that everyone has become fair game. Now it appears that Rosie O'Donnell wants to get in on the action by playing Donald Trump's Chief Strategist, Steve Bannon. Check out her new Twitter profile picture below to see for yourself.

Notice something slightly off in Rosie O'Donnell's Twitter profile? It looks like the actress/comedian photoshopped herself onto a picture of Mr. Bannon for one of the most double-take inducing photos that you will see all day. While I'm sure the final product would look somewhat different from this piece of concept art, I have to admit that the resemblance is almost uncanny. Rosie O'Donnell has made no secret of the fact that she's already willing to portray Steve Bannon on Saturday Night Live, and while she has not been confirmed to appear yet, there seems to be a great sense of enthusiasm from some corners for it to happen.

Of course, as many of you know, Saturday Night Live already has a depiction of Steve Bannon that makes regular appearances. This version of Bannon doesn't bear any real physical resemblance to the man, as it's simply a member of the cast wearing a Grim Reaper costume. Such a depiction (while funny) isn't the most sustainable recurring character, so bringing Rosie O'Donnell into the fold could represent the next evolution of the character on the series.

If Rosie O'Donnell eventually signs on to portray Steve Bannon on Saturday Night Live, it will mark her first time on the series in quite a while. Although she has hosted the show twice, she has not made an appearance on the sketch comedy series in over twenty years -- if you don't count Horatio Sanz and Bobby Moynihan's respective impersonations of her. Given the strength of the writing on SNL's recent politically charged sketches, we think she will probably be able to dust off her comedic chops with incredible ease. The Trump and Spicer impersonations are already nearly perfect; let's see what Ms. O'Donnell can do with Steve Bannon.

We will keep you up to date regarding whether or not Rosie O'Donnell will portray Steve Bannon on Saturday Night Live. Alec Baldwin will take over the hosting duties this Saturday at 11:30 p.m. EST on NBC, so we can rest assured knowing that the Donald Trump impression will make an appearance.

For more information concerning all of the highly anticipated spring debuts, check out our comprehensive midseason premiere guide.

The 1988 film Hairspray became a cult classic almost instantly. The inspirational story centers on plump teen Tracy Turnblad, who, against all odds, wins a spot on a local dance TV show in 1962 Baltimore and launches a campaign to integrate the all-white program. Tracy meets a host of wild characters while dancing on the show and quickly becomes a local celebrity. The film inspired a Tony award-winning Broadway musical which ran for more than six years and, in turn, inspired a 2007 musical film adaptation.

That 2007 film starred, among others, John Travolta (in drag), Queen Latifah, Michelle Pfeiffer and Christopher Walken. Now, NBC is doing their part to keep the Hairspray legacy alive with this year’s musical production, Hairspray Live!, which will air on the network in December.

Seeing as how the year is rolling right along, we’re finally starting to get some casting news on Hairspray Live!. NBC is revealing the musically inclined actors who will appear in the live show, so let’s take a look at who’s signed on so far.

Maddie Baillio – Tracy Turnblad

The most important part of Hairspray is, of course, Tracy Turnblad, and NBC's live musical has found the character in newcomer Maddie Baillio. She'll be the one to usher Tracy into the world of local fame when she lands a spot dancing on The Corny Collins Show. Baillio, a sophomore at Marymount Manhattan College, was hired for the role after auditioning along with nearly 1,000 other women at an open casting call. While she has no professional theater experience, she has starred in productions with the York Theatre Company’s musical theater training program. Baillio has performed at the Kennedy Center, Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center.

Jennifer Hudson – Motormouth Maybelle

Motormouth Maybelle is an important part of the story of Hairspray. She owns the local R&B record shop and hosts the monthly “Negro Day” on the local dance show that Tracy Turnblad becomes a dancer on. She helps Tracy and her friends on the show learn some new dance moves and becomes instrumental in Tracy’s desire to integrate the show. Maybelle is also the mother of Seaweed, a teen who begins an interracial romance with Tracy’s friend, Penny.

Jennifer Hudson is, of course, best known for her Oscar and Golden Globe winning role as Effie White in the 2006 film Dreamgirls, which was also based on a Broadway play. The actress and singer got her start on Season 3 of American Idol in 2004, and her eponymous debut album opened at #2 on the Billboard 200 chart, selling over 500,000 copies in the U.S. during the first six weeks of its release. Hudson has starred in several films since 2006, including The Secret Life of Bees, Winnie Mandela and The Inevitable Defeat of Mister & Pete. She’s also appeared on musical television shows Smash and Empire. Hudson is currently completing her Broadway debut in a revival of The Color Purple.

Harvey Fierstein – Edna Turnblad

Edna Turnblad is the indomitable force that has inspired Tracy to be the positive, confident teenager that she’s become. Despite the fact that Edna is ashamed of her own weight and has agoraphobia, she has nothing but the strongest belief in her daughter and is even a bit overbearing when it comes to helping Tracy pursue her goals. Edna is behind Tracy in whatever she does, and helps her when Tracy decides to spearhead the integration of the dance show.

It would be hard to argue that Harvey Fierstein isn’t the right person for the part of Edna; he originated the role in the Broadway production and played the part there for two years. The multiple Tony award winner is also writing the teleplay for the TV musical. The gravelly voiced actor has made many TV and film appearances, including Miami Vice, Torch Song Trilogy, Cheers, Murder She Wrote, Mrs. Doubtfire, How I Met Your Mother, The Good Wife and Nurse Jackie.

Derek Hough – Corny Collins

If it weren't for Corny Collins there would be no Hairspray, since it's his teenage dance show that Tracy wins a spot on and becomes locally famous for appearing on. The handsome and generous host is very willing to give people chances when he feels they deserve them, and has no problem letting Maybelle and African-American dancers onto the show.

Derek Hough is certainly likable enough to play the part of a dance show host, especially since he's best known for his work on Dancing with the Stars from Season 5 through Season 21. The professional dancer and choreographer has helped six celebrities win the mirrorball trophy, and Hough's won two Emmys for his choreography on the program. He's appeared in several stage shows, including Footloose: The Musical in London in 2006 and the New York Spring Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall in 2015. From 2014 until early this year, he made several guest appearances on the ABC musical drama Nashville.

Martin Short – Wilbur Turnblad

A woman like Edna needs a patient, understanding husband, and that's what Wilbur is for her. He's incredibly loving and supportive of both his wife and daughter. For the role of Wilbur, the production of Hairspray Live! has nabbed a comedy genius who's been in the game for a long time: singer, comedian, writer, actor and producer Martin Short. Short is largely remembered for his time on SCTV from 1982 through 1984, and his various appearances on Saturday Night Live from 1984 through last year, but he's made almost 100 TV and movie appearances. Short has been seen in Three Amigos!, Three Fugitives, Father of the Bride and its sequel, Arrested Development, Damages, Weeds, How I Met Your Mother and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.

Kristin Chenoweth - Velma Von Tussle

Every story needs a good villain, and for Hairspray Live! Velma Von Tussle fills that role. Velma owns WYZT, the station that The Corny Collins Show is broadcast on. Because of that, she's the boss, and is the main one stopping the show from integrating the way Tracy would like. She's also incredibly angry that Tracy becomes a local star by dancing on the show, seeing as how she feels that stardom belongs to her daughter, Amber. The former pageant queen is vain, arrogant and snobbish, and relishes bullying Tracy for her weight.

Kristin Chenoweth was largely known for her Broadway work for many years. She won a Tony in 1999 for You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown and received another nomination for originating the role of Glinda in Wicked. She's also won acclaim for her television work; she won an Emmy in 2009 for Pushing Daisies, and was nominated in 2010 and 2011 for her guest appearances on Glee. Chenoweth has also given her talents to film and TV shows like Frasier, Bewitched, The Pink Panther, The West Wing, The Good Wife and GCB.

Ariana Grande - Penny Pingleton

What's a semi-outcast soon-to-be heroine going to do without someone to confide in? Luckily for Tracy, she's got Penny Pingleton on her side, and will continue to have her best friend when Ariana Grande takes over the role in the live production. The awkward teen shares Tracy's deep interest in The Corny Collins Show, and they are each others' only friends until they meet Seaweed. Grande has had most of her experience, and success, as a singer. Her first two albums, Yours Truly (2013) and My Everything (2014) debuted at No. 1 in the U.S., with her latest album debuting in the second position this year. Grande has also worked as an actor since 2009, and has gone on to appear in iCarly, Victorious, Sam & Cat and Scream Queens.

Rosie O'Donnell - Gym Teacher

Rosie O'Donnell is not known for her work playing mean characters, but she'll certainly be branching out in Hairspray Live! as the gym teacher who torments Tracy Turnblad. O'Donnell first rose to stardom in the 1980s as a stand up comedian, and later went on to appear in a variety of movies and TV shows. She has had roles in Gimmie a Break!, Sleepless in Seattle, A League of Their Own, The Flintstones, Nip/Tuck and The Fosters among her 52 credits.

Sean Hayes - Mr. Pinky

As the owner of Mr. Pinky's Hefty Hideaway, Mr. Pinky gives Tracy a shot at even more local fame when he hires her to be a spokesperson for his boutique. Sean Hayes, best known for his role as Jack on Will & Grace, has signed up to bring the character to life. Hayes has also appeared in Billy's Hollywood Screen Kiss, Scrubs, 30 Rock, Portlandia, Parks and Recreation, Smash and The Millers.

Andrea Martin - Prudy Pingleton

Unfortunately for Penny, she has a super uptight, racist mother who is not on board with Tracy's progressive ideas on race relations at all. In fact, she considers Tracy to be a bad influence on her daughter for that very reason. SCTV and Broadway veteran Andrea Martin will be taking on the role of Penny's strict mom for Hairspray Live! The prolific actress has over 150 film and TV credits, including Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, My Big Fat Greek Wedding, Ed, Rugrats, Nurse Jackie, Sesame Street, Modern Family and Difficult People. She's won two Emmy awards and has also been nominated for several awards for her theater work, winning Tony awards in 1993 and 2013.

Billy Eichner - Rob Barker

The second act of Hairspray Live! will feature a small appearance from Billy on the Street host Billy Eichner as TV newscaster Rob Barker. The WZZT reporter will go on camera to talk about Tracy's efforts to integrate The Corny Collins Show, and her evading law enforcement. Eichner has appeared in New Girl, Parks and Recreation, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, lent his voice to Bob's Burgers and currently stars on the Hulu show Difficult People.

Dove Cameron - Amber Von Tussle

Actress Dove Cameron will be taking on the role of Tracy's teen nemesis, Amber Von Tussle. As the daughter of Velma, Amber is a spoiled rich girl who feels she should always be the one to win. While she's not as racist or cruel as her mother, she still enjoys making fun of Tracy for her weight, and the two become fast enemies over who should get the spotlight on The Corny Collins Show. Cameron is mostly known for her dual role as twins on the Disney Channel sitcom Liv and Maddie, but she's also appeared on Shameless, The Mentalist and Austin & Ally.

Remember to check back here to learn about all the casting updates for Hairspray Live! as the year goes on.

As Rosie O’Donnell addresses in her recent video to her fans, there’s been a lot of speculation out there about why exactly she has decided to leave ABC’s The View, and like the show itself, most of it has been filled to the brim with drama. So naturally, O’Donnell wanted to put all the rumors to rest. Watch as she shares the real, heartfelt reason she is leaving the daytime talk show.

The official announcement came over the weekend, that Rosie O’Donnell was indeed quiting the fan-favorite talk show with the intention of concentrating on her family life. The View had some problems over the past months, and O’Donnell was a major voice within them. But, as the rumors have spread that O’Donnell just couldn’t deal with having a less dominant role on the show (as Whoopi Goldberg holds the seat of moderator, one that Rosie O’Donnell once had), O’Donnell had a sincere and emotional reason that she probably had hoped wouldn’t need to be brought up.

O’Donnell suffered from a heart-attack a couple years ago, and since then she has been an avid promoter of heart-health and awareness. And in her video she admits that the real reason for her departure is to care for her own health. As a heart-attack survivor there are three important elements of sticking to a healthy lifestyle: “minimize your stress, maximize your exercise, and control your diet”. And according to O’Donnell, her time on The View was not exactly “minimizing stress”. On top of that, she just recently went through a divorce, and wants to focus on her children. O’Donnell insisted that there was too much going on at home, and the one thing she could control was leaving work, taking that stressful element out of her life, at least.

The video response was touching, and necessary, but it still seems a bit off that instead of bringing about these issues on the actual show, the departure is being kept fairly hush-hush, as O’Donnell will pretty much just disappear from the show this week without any addressing from the co-hosts. But, as the actress/comedian put in her video message, she didn’t want to bring up her departure on the show, despite everyone insisting on it. She said:

The ‘on-record’ story that ABC announced, and now O’Donnell is verifying about her need to be home and focus on her family is believable, but of course, as the internet always loves to do, the drama surrounding the sudden departure will cause speculation. Whether or not there is any sound evidence that O’Donnell is leaving because of her role in the show, and the pay associated with that role, we may never know. All we know now is to let O’Donnell move on, and not to burden her with any added stress. Staying healthy is the top priority.

Anyone following the latest scoop on ABC's The View knows there's been no shortage of drama. Well, the latest news, while not so unexpected, is still quite shocking. Rosie O'Donnell has officially been confirmed as quitting the daytime talk show to concentrate on her family life.

The View has been on a very rocky road over the last few months with O'Donnell at the center of the bulk of it. It is no secret that she has had a on/off relationship with the show, having already exited once before in 2006 after making controversial comments about the Bush administration and their dealing with the war in Iraq. However, like with most relationship issues, time proved to be a powerful healer and in July of 2014 the two powerful entities joined forces once again. We're guessing this time, though, it's probably going to be a permanent split. As reported by Page Six, here is what O'Donnell's rep Cindi Berger had to say on her client's departure from the talk show and how her somewhat recent split with wife Michelle Rounds played into the decision:

It was only a couple of months ago that O'Donnell was rumored to be leaving The View, so her certain exit isn't all together surprising. Apparently she has been having difficulty adjusting to her new role on the program, filling a panel seat vs. sitting in her prior chair of show moderator. Word spread across the internet late last year that the loud and outspoken O'Donnell was struggling with the current dynamic under current sitting moderator Whoopi Goldberg. Could Whoopi's now-infamous giant chair have finally put the nail in O'Donnell's coffin? If it did, we'll likely never get the full story anyhow. What we do know as far as the “on-record” story goes with O'Donnell's separation from The View is that it appears amicable. Here's what ABC said of the split in a recent statement:

How things will pan out from here is anybody's guess. Rumors recently started swirling that the show's other Rosie (Perez) was potentially going to be disposed of but ABC put those rumors to bed, calling the internet speculation “simply untrue.” Hopefully, for the sake of the show's survival they're telling the truth as losing both Rosies at the same time would likely prove devastating for ratings.

It’s only been a few days since Sherri Shepherd and Jenny McCarthy were officially dropped from ABC’s daytime series The View. Not one to linger on bad news, ABC has already started looking for replacements for the two cast members. This morning, it seems the network has settled on pursuing a former host to take one of the program’s now-open slots. If the deal officially goes through, Rosie O’Donnell will be re-joining The View very soon.

ABC hasn’t officially announced the famous woman’s return. However, TMZ is openly stating her return is imminent, while other news outlets seem to think the deal is close to working out. If she does sign on, she’ll join Whoopi Goldberg on the panel. The rumor mill also indicates that ABC is looking to hire two more lucky ladies to round out the panel, with TMZ claiming they are looking for a conservative and a famous Latina individual.

If O’Donnell does join The View, it marks her first big gig since her talk show on OWN ended back in 2012. While her OWN show may not have brought in big ratings, her original tenure on The View did. When Rosie O’Donnell signed on to the talker back in 2006, she became known for her outspoken opinions. She eventually left the series after having an on-air disagreement about the Iraq War that caused some waves. Funnily enough, current moderator Whoopi Goldberg actually ended up being her replacement.

It’s interesting that the show might want to shake things up years after they wanted O’Donnell to leave. However, The View, once a morning juggernaut, has been less dominant in the ratings lately, especially since Barbara Walters retired in May. Maybe what the show needs is a funnywoman who can shake things up. Additionally, it seems the problem they had with O’Donnell is water under the bridge. The woman appeared on The View this past February for the first time since she left in 2007. Since Goldberg and O’Donnell are both dominant personalities, maybe some real debate can finally be sparked. The show’s been lacking intelligent debate since Walters left. Shepherd’s a nice lady who sometimes offers interesting information, but in the opinion realm, she’s kind of a wet noodle. And we all know where Jenny McCarthy’s wackjob opinions have gotten her.

If Rosie O’Donnell does return to The View, I don’t know if she will be the best fit for the series. However, I do appreciate that O’Donnell has always been a woman to try new activities and to never give up when projects don’t always work out for the best. You can catch new episodes of The View on weekdays at 11 a.m. ET.

Rosie O’Donnell and Michelle Rounds were planning to get married soon, but now, life has forced those happy plans to the backseat. The famous comedian announced via her blog earlier this week that Rounds has been diagnosed with Desmoid Tumors, an extremely rare condition affecting about one in three hundred thousand. The disease isn’t actually a cancer, but it acts cancerous and can suck out energy.

After having surgery back in June, Rounds has continually grown stronger, and the couple are hoping they’ll be able to tie the knot next summer. Rather than gifts, they’d like all well-wishes to be donated to the Desmoid Tumor Research Foundation, an organization they’ve been trying to raise money for since the diagnosis.

Rounds reportedly began getting sick after a lovely trip to Big Sur. It was Mother’s Day, and she had a searing pain that wouldn’t let up. Trips to doctor after doctor followed without any real progress. As the weeks went on, the situation got worse until the Desmoid Tumors diagnosis was able to offer a path back into the light.

Without any information beyond what Rosie chose to release on her blog, it’s hard to know whether Michelle is in the clear or just doing better, but regardless of the situation, Pop Blend wishes both she and Rosie nothing but the best. Here’s to hoping they’re able to walk down the aisle in the wedding of their dreams next summer.

It looks like it’s the end of the road for Rosie O’Donnell’s talk show comeback. The actor/comedian returned to the format as host of The Rosie Show, which premiered last fall on Oprah Winfrey’s OWN. It was announced today that the show will end this month.

Deadline posted the statement, stating that the final episode of The Rosie Show will tape on Tuesday (3/20), to air on OWN on Friday, March 30. Statements from Winfrey and O’Donnell were both included in the announcement, and both expressed gratitude.

While struggling ratings may be to blame for the decision not to continue the series, there were also rumors floating around that O’Donnell was “feuding” with the network over her desire to return to New York, according to what Daily Mail reported last week. That may or may not be an exaggeration, but there was talk about the show possibly moving to New York earlier last week, along with word that O’Donnell had put her Lakeview Chicago house up for sale. Perhaps the fact that she was planning to move really was an indication that the show wasn’t going to be renewed. Either way, as Rosie’s proven to be pretty vocal in her opinions, I’m inclined to believe the gratitude she expressed in her statement is genuine.

Rosie O’Donnell might be one of the most polarizing celebrities on the planet. One minute she’s espousing opinions about how relatable she is to the average audience-a truth. The next minute she’s talking about initially retiring at 40 ‘cause she truly thought she would die young-ridiculous, and assumes a level of cognizance we just don’t have. After that she might bluntly discuss not wanting to return to NBC because of the way they treated Conan—a lie, a joke, or poor word choice? At the end of the day, O’Donnell’s a household name, and she has the capacity to do very well on Oprah’s OWN.

Though Cinema Blend announced months ago O’Donnell was looking for work, it was a bit of a surprise she decided to move to OWN instead of basic cable. According to THR, O’Donnell was very close to signing up to host a program on one of the major networks. Regarding her mind change, O’Donnell said:

That seems like more of a cheap shot at NBC than a real reason to say no to a major network contract. Likely, O’Donnell was ready to try something new. Aligning yourself with the biggest talk show mogul of all time is certainly a smart way to do that. She’s clear on one thing, though:

O’Donnell may not be as motivated as Winfrey, but she’s right when she says she brings an ease of viewership Oprah can’t match. Her format should fit well into the OWN programming. She’ll begin with a punny monologue, move into conversations with celebrity guests, and do games with small prizes. The host does hasten to add the gifts will be small and she’s not trying to do what Oprah does. Not that Oprah was worried, but I’m sure it’s nice to know her new host really won’t “aspire” to step in her shoes at any point.

The Rosie Show will air on Monday, October 10.

Less than two weeks away from the launch of OWN, Oprah’s new cable network, there’s still plenty of question marks. The media mogul herself won’t start appearing regularly until her daytime talk show ends its historic run in September. Rosie O’Donnell too will be absent until at least that point, but still, there’s a sense of general optimism about what the network could eventually be. With Discovery giving up its health channel and almost two hundred million dollars in capital to get started, lofty dreams of turning a profit within five years are being quietly discussed. But how will they get there? The answer is star power.

According to The New York Times, Oprah recently offered U2 frontman Bono his own show, and while no plans are yet in place for that probably never going to happen proposal, it does gives us a glimpse into the rationale behind the network. Some channels attract viewers through premises, others do it through showcasing likeable, proven personalities. Almost nothing is known about Rosie O’Donnell’s new talk show, but all her former television endeavors indicate people will watch. Almost nothing is known about what exact role Oprah’s time will turn into, but she’s been the most popular entertainer on daytime television for decades. The same principal applies to Dr. Phil and Suze Orman who will both be around in some capacity.

With or without Bono (probably without), OWN has name recognition its side, and that’s a lot more than can be said for most cable networks.

Rosie O’Donnell, who was last regularly seen on TV terrorizing Elisabeth Hasselbeck on The View, is looking to make a permanent return to the tube. Her new project isn’t another talk show though; Rosie is heading to primetime.

Michael Ausiello reports that O’Donnell is in talks with NBC to producer her own weekly primetime variety show. NBC is also still trying hard to get Leno to stay and is said to be pitching the same concept to him. However, Leno is expected to leave the peacock network entirely after his contract is up in May, so it looks like Rosie has it in the bag.

Rosie’s rep declined to comment on the news, but there is buzz that NBC isn’t the only network after the funny lady. CBS is apparently also trying to get her on board, but a deal with NBC is more likely.

I’m all for O’Donnell returning to TV, but I wonder if a primetime variety show actually has much of a chance. The genre was a staple in the 70s, but I’m not sure that people today have the patience for it. However, given the success of shows like American Idol and So You Think You Can Dance, maybe something that showcases a matchup of these talents and adds Rosie’s humor actually has the potential to be the next big thing. As long as the variety aspect doesn’t involve Rosie’s famous haikus, I’m good.