Journalists Respond To Rosie O’Donnell’s Departure

Star Jones is too busy to guest host on The View, Matt Lauer is shaking in his boots and Meredith Viera pulls a Barbara Walters. Here are three different takes on Rosie O’Donnell’s decision to leave her morning talk show.
Star Jones:

“I actually found out on the plane. I was flying in yesterday and my seatmate said, ‘Did you hear that Rosie is leaving ‘The View?’ I had no idea and when I landed, of course, I found out that she announced it. I wish her the very best in what she is doing next as I do for all the ladies over there, and I know whatever they do next is going to be great.”
When asked about the possibility of coming back to “The View” for a guest host role, she said, “No, I have a job. It’s going to start later in the summer at Court TV. I’m going to be pretty busy myself.”

Matt Lauer responding to buzz that Rosie is joining the Today show cast come September:

“I think she may be a little controversial for the fourth hour of the ‘Today’ show. With a new show, we kind of have to walk a little bit of a tighter line than she’s used to walking. It might work well for us; I don’t know how well it would work for Rosie.”

Meredith Viera:

“I actually was surprised. I heard rumblings in the past that she may not stay beyond the one year. The show has done so incredibly well and it’s revitalized itself and she’s put a lot of great energy into it. And it appears that she’s having a really good time and I thought probably she would stay on. I don’t know exactly what happened. I take her on her word that they couldn’t reach an agreement on the contracts, and as she says, ‘It’s showbiz. That happens.’ She will do great and ‘The View’ will do great. I spent nine years there and the people in front of the cameras and behind-the-scenes are phenomenal at what they do and they will be fine.”