When you go mainstream, might as well go all the way.

Rapper Snoop Dogg, who in recent years has been moving farther away from a “thug” image,  makes his soap opera debut today and Friday on “One Life to Live.”

That’s right. Snoop on a soap. Wonder how that affects your street cred?

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So they announced the Daytime Emmy nominations on “The View” this morning and “The View” nabbed seven noms. Hmmm. Why are they announcing the Emmy nominations on “The View”? Just wondering.

The big winner, however, was CBS and “The Young & the Restless.” The network garnered 56 nominations, including 17 for “Y&R,” which was nominated for outstanding daytime drama. Read the rest of this entry »

Quick, rope off the couch! Tom Cruise is coming back on “Oprah.”

On May 2, the queen of daytime TV is set to do a one-on-one interview with Cruise from his home in Telluride, Colorado. Then, on May 5, Cruise joins Oprah at her studio in Chicago to celebrate his 25 years in films since his breakout role in “Risky Business.” Apparently, friends and colleagues will surprise Cruise with “special taped messages honoring his work in movies.” 

Cruise hasn’t visited with Oprah since his infamous interview on June 23, 2005, when he turned her couch into a trampoline and it was determined by many that he is certifiably bonkers (That’s the clinical name for it).

This time, I’m hoping he’ll swing like a monkey from the studio rafters. Well, we can always dream.

Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama will join the ladies of “The View” next Friday (March 28) for what is being called a “no-holds-barred” interview.

“Obviously, this is a huge day for ‘The View,’” says executive producer Bill Geddie. “This is a critical moment for Senator Obama, and we will be devoting most of the show to his interview.”

It’s Obama’s first appearance on the show since he dropped by in November 2004 to promote his latest book. He had been scheduled to appear again last September, but Obama canceled so he could be in Washington to vote on hate-crime legislation.

Meanwhile, ABC announced that it will televise the next debate between Obama and Hillary Clinton, scheduled for April 16 in Philadelphia. However, there’s no truth to the rumor that Bruno Tonioli, Len Goodman, Carrie Ann Inaba will be on hand to judge the performances and pick a winner.

Whoopi Goldberg made a smooth transition into her new gig on “The View” this morning as the estrogen-laden gabfest launched its 11th season.

Whoopi proved to be an engaging and personable addition to the show, although it was sometimes difficult to gauge what her impact will be because her co-hosts — Barbara Walters, Joy Behar and a pregnant Elisabeth Hasselbeck — tended to hog the floor during conversations that ranged from the Senator Larry E. Craig scandal to Michael Vick’s dog-fighting woes.

Still, Whoopi has seldom been shy about expressing her opinions. Give her some time and I’m sure she’ll be going toe-to-toe (mouth-to-mouth?) with all of them.

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CBS has set Oct. 15 as the debut date for Drew Carey on “The Price Is Right.” Carey will be hoping to fill the very big shoes of Bob Barker as television’s longest-running game show launches its new season.

Barker retired in June after 35 years on the show.

It’s official: Whoopi Goldberg has been picked to replace Rosie O’Donnell as moderator on “The View.”

Barbara Walters made the announcement during today’s show, and cameras cut immediately to a joyful Whoopi bouncing down the studio aisle and slapping hands with audience members.

“I love this show,” said Goldberg. “I love coming on it. I love hanging out with you guys.”

My initial reaction is to give the move a thumb’s-up. Not only does Whoopi bring back some diversity to the “View” panel, she is pretty much on par with Rosie when it comes to being politically minded and boisterously outspoken. And “The View” needs a rowdy voice like that — if only to keep everyone on their toes.

I can hardly wait to see the first sparring match between Whoopi and Elisabeth Hasselbeck.

For the Associated Press story, click here.

A popular morning gabfest just got a lot more quiet — and perhaps a lot less interesting. Rosie O’Donnell has just announced that she’ll be leaving “The View” after only one year. The reason? Money, of course. Rosie and ABC apparently could not agree to terms on a new contract.

Ms. Mouthy will exit the show in June.

In her one year on the show, Rosie vented her wrath toward a number of people — from “American Idol” judges, to Donald Trump, to Kelly Ripa. And while many of us would have paid big money to have her jaws wired shut, her verbal spewings boosted the show’s profile — and ratings. And so now Barbara Walters and her fellow producers have a big mouth to fill.

What do you think? Did your day just get a little less Rosie? Or are you gleefully humming “Ding Dong the Witch is Dead”?

For the full Associated Press story, click here.
Photo courtesy of ABC

We’re nocturnal creatures here at the Freak blog, so we don’t always see a lot of daytime television (Is “Captain Kangaroo” still on?).

Still, in the interest of fairness, we want to point out that the Daytime Emmy nominations came out this morning.

Soon-to-retire game show host Bob Barker has a chance to win his 18th award after picking up a nomination. Meanwhile, the CBS soap opera “Guiding Light” led the pack with 17 nominations. Another CBS soap, “As the World Turns,” captured 16.