People: Rosie has her share of thorns

Three months into the Reign of Rosie, “The View” has become must-see TV.

But is it the type of viewing that series creator Barbara Walters was bargaining for?

Rosie O’Donnell‘s inclusion in the daytime chat show’s cast has boosted ratings but seemingly brought along a controversy du jour – the latest being last week’s verbal mudfight between O’Donnell and Donald Trump.

Commenting on Trump’s decision to let Miss USA Tara Conner keep her crown despite underage drinking, O’Donnell said: “Left the first wife, had an affair, left the second wife, had an affair. Had kids both times, but he’s the moral compass for 20-year-olds in America.”

Trump’s retorts included a suggestion that O’Donnell, a lesbian, was “very attracted to Miss USA so she probably wanted to put the crown on her head herself.”

While vacationing outside of the country, Walters issued a statement pleading for peace.

“Donald Trump is a personal friend of mine and has been a good friend to ‘The View’ for many years,” she said. “I’m sorry there is friction between Donald and Rosie.

“That said, I do not regret for one moment my choice to hire Rosie O’Donnell as the moderator of ‘The View.’ I certainly hope and expect that this tempest will pass quickly.”

Since joining in September as Meredith Vieria‘s replacement, the outspoken O’Donnell has also made waves by accusing Kelly Ripa of homophobia; mocking spoken Chinese; saying actions by Oprah Winfrey and pal Gayle King were “very typical of gay relationships”; and declaring that “radical Christianity is just as threatening as radical Islam.”

Even co-host Joy Behar got into the act last week when, during a discussion of how to draw more attention to Time magazine’s annual person of the year, she said: “You have to put like a Hitler type, like you put Donald Rumsfeld there or something.”

Walters envisioned a show with irreverent, back-porch chatter for women when she invented “The View” a decade ago.

“It always had an edge to it, but not a cutting edge,” says television expert Bill Carroll. “Rosie brings a cutting edge to the show.”

She’s also brought renewed attention, rare for any program in its 10th season. The typical “View” audience of 3.3 million so far this season is up 13 percent over the same period in 2005, according to Nielsen Media Research.

During an interview with The New York Times in September, Walters said she didn’t mind strong opinions.

“But I don’t want us to be bashing anybody,” she said. “We’ve talked about that, and Rosie is very conscious of it.”

Walters publicly acted as a peacemaker in November after O’Donnell accused Ripa of homophobia for a remark she made about Clay Aiken. Walters noted the next day that O’Donnell and Ripa had talked “and all is well with the world.”

“It’s a different show when (Walters) is there,” says Carroll. “It’s a little bit tamer.

“It’s like when you’re having a sleepover and mom comes into the room. When she isn’t there, the pillow fight is on.”

The birthday bunch

Actor Richard Widmark is 92. Actor Donald Moffat is 76. Record producer Phil Spector is 66. “America’s Most Wanted” host John Walsh is 61. Drummer Lars Ulrich (Metallica) is 43. Actor Jared Leto is 35.