People: Rosie drops out of ‘View’
Rosie O’Donnell has fought her last fight at “The View.”
O’Donnell on Friday asked for, and received, an early exit from her contract at the daytime chatfest following an angry confrontation Wednesday with co-host Elisabeth Hasselbeck.
She had planned to leave the show in mid-June because she could not agree to a new contract with ABC executives.
It ends a colorful eight-month tenure for O’Donnell that lifted the show’s ratings but no doubt caused heartburn for show creator Barbara Walters. O’Donnell feuded with Donald Trump and often had snippy exchanges with the more conservative Hasselbeck.
Wednesday’s argument began over O’Donnell’s statement last week: “655,000 Iraqi civilians have died. Who are the terrorists?”
Conservative pundits accused O’Donnell of calling U.S. troops terrorists, and she called Hasselbeck “cowardly” for not defending her.
According to a New York Post report, O’Donnell’s chief writer, Janette Barber, was led out of “The View” studios later that day after she was caught drawing mustaches on photographs of Hasselbeck.
Yes, he was hammered
Ty Pennington, host of ABC’s “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition,” pleaded no contest Friday in a misdemeanor drunken driving case.
A judge placed Pennington, 42, on three years’ probation, restricted his driving privileges for 90 days and ordered him to participate in an alcohol program and attend a Mothers Against Drunk Drivers meeting.
No-love-lost story
Prosecutors declined Friday to charge Ryan O’Neal with assault with a deadly weapon for firing a gun during a brawl with his son.
O’Neal claims he fired a warning shot to scare his 42-year-old son, Griffin O’Neal, who had attacked him with a fireplace poker. He says the poker struck the younger O’Neal’s girlfriend, who was eight months’ pregnant.
In 1983, police responded to a fight in which O’Neal knocked out two of his son’s teeth.
Springer fever
And speaking of Jerry Springer, the talk host has been taping an NBC sitcom pilot while preparing to take over as host of the network’s “America’s Got Talent” beginning June 5.
Springer’s appearance on ABC’s hit “Dancing with the Stars” last fall resulted in the offer to replace Regis Philbin on the talent competition.
Cream and sugar
Finally, on the reunion beat, Jack Bruce, bassist for legendary rock supergroup Cream, says he has agreed to again play with drummer Ginger Baker, his frequent sparring partner, and guitarist Eric Clapton.
And the seven Osmond siblings – Alan, Wayne, Merrill, Jay, Donny, Marie and Jimmy – will join forces this summer for a TV special celebrating 50 years in show business.
The birthday bunch
Actor James Arness is 84. Sportscaster Brent Musburger is 68. Singer Stevie Nicks is 59. Actor Philip Michael Thomas (“Miami Vice”) is 58. Actress Pam Grier is 58. Country singer Hank Williams Jr. is 58. Comedian Bobcat Goldthwait is 45. Singer Lenny Kravitz is 43. Actress Helena Bonham Carter is 41. Actor Joseph Fiennes is 37. “South Park” co-creator Matt Stone is 36.