By April MacIntyre Nov 19, 2008, 22:56 GMT
Rosie O'Donnell is bringing the classic variety show back to television Wednesday, November 26th at 8/7c on NBC.
Rosie O'Donnell is bringing the classic variety show back to television Wednesday, November 26th at 8/7c on NBC. © A. Gilbert / PR Photos
She will also have a slew of celebrity guests, which include: Alanis Morrissette, Jane Krakowski, Elmo, Ne-Yo, Liza Minnelli, Anti-Gravity with the Lombard Twins, Kathy Griffin and more.
Rosie O'Donnell spoke to reporters on a conference call and said not to expect any politics or arguing on her upcoming variety show.
O'Donnell says the nature of "The View" was political and controversial, but on her variety show, set to air on NBC at 8 pm/ET on the night before Thanksgiving, her only job is "to give people an hour to forget about their troubles," she said.
"Variety shows were a big hit in the '70s when the economy was in the crapper, and gasoline was scarce, and people's belief in the political system was shaky. It's the right time" to do a variety show again, she said in the conference call.
The show is described as a melange of monologue, comedy bits, and music, is inspired by the variety shows O'Donnell loved growing up in the 1960s and '70s.
O'Donnell spoke about her marriage too.
"I realized when Kelly and I were married it was in some ways an act of civil disobediance as much as it was a love story," she said. "I kind of found it surprising that people say you're not vocal enough. I'm not vocal enough? ... I've lived my opposition to Proposition 8 and have for... years."
She took another swipe at "The View" Queen bee too.
"No matter what Barbara (Walters) wants everyone to believe, and think and act as if everyone gets along... it's just not the reality," O'Donnell said. "People don't get together and have dinner once a month. They don't, the View ladies."
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