Thinking About ‘The View’

This morning on ABC's "The View," Katharine McPhee, the No. 2 American Idol and fellow Nortre Dame High School alum, was the guest co-host, added to the schedule to cover up for Star's untimely and seriously too-dramatic exit.

I set my DVR to it, because I enjoyed watching her on American Idol. I voted for her and I wanted her to win. I own it. I also recorded it because Kathy Griffin was on it, too. I sat down to watch it, wondering what Katharine would have to say for herself, hoping she wouldn't embarrass herself. But I didn't get more than two minutes through. And it wasn't because of Katharine.

Barbara Walters (three posts, two mentions of Babs; something is wrong) began the discussion by asking Kat, who, we find out later, was named after Katharine Hepburn, to address the myriad rumors swirling about her absence from the first three weeks of the American Idol tour. She addressed them just fine, reacting to them in an exasperated tone obviously having grown tired of hearing it all. It only lasted a minute or so.

Then the subject of the White House comes up and the fact that the Idolers are headed there to meet America's leader. Now, I recently heard that another host on the show, Elisabeth, is conservative and is often chided for her views and inane comments. I had never seen it for myself. Until ten minutes ago. To paraphrase what ensued would be doing a disservice to the poor woman who so steadfastly holds her red-state heart to her chest. The transcript follows, readers, thanks to my DVR and a little patience on my part.Joy: The American Idol people, the ones who lost and the ones who won, are all going to the, to meet Bush. Now doesn't Bush have more to do? (Seriously.)

Barbara: You're going tomorrow to the White House. (Thank you for paying attention.)

Joy: Isn't he busy with Hezbollah? That he now wants to deal with American Idol. What is that? (Seriously.)

Elisabeth (interrupting): He wants to keep a perspective on American Idol. It's huge. I mean more people voted on American Idol than probably -- (What?)

Kat (interrupting): Than they voted for him. (Be quiet, Katharine.)

Elisabeth: -- than in the election.

[Audience laughter.]

Joy: I can't believe you're defending him in this, too! (Seriously.)
Elisabeth: I'm just saying like this this is something that's big. This is just as big. What was it? 63 million votes.

Kat: I mean it is exciting. (And the subject change.)
The ladies went on with a little banter about what Katharine would wear and what they would do.

In case you missed it, Elisabeth on The View thinks the American Idol folks going to the White House tomorrow is JUST AS BIG as what is going on in the Middle East. It is just as big as the supposed "diplomatic efforts" under way.

Definitely.

Oh for the love of god, now Barbara is talking about Lance Bass. Would it have hurt the group, she asked. And Elisabeth chimed in. (Shut up, Elisabeth.)

I can't watch this anymore. Fast-forwarding to Kathy Griffin.