1-25-11 - Rosie's Back from Sundance and Rosie Radio Will End in June

In case you missed it...

SUNDANCE, OPRAH'S BIG ANNOUNCEMENT AND OSCAR NOMINATIONS
Rosie was fresh back from Sundance today!  She said it was fun and exciting!  She attended a party celebrating the launch of OWN's documentary series.  Oprah showed up as a surprise and Rosie was originally told she was going to introduce Oprah at the party!  Rosie said that gave her a huge amount of stress because it's hard to introduce an icon!  Then she found out, Oprah was going to introduce her and Rosie was relieved.  Overall, Rosie said it was really great to be at Sundance and different from the last time she attended for the All Aboard documentary.  She said Sundance used to be "a big SWAG festival" and it always felt weird, as a rich celebrity, to walk into a booth and take a bunch of free stuff.  She's never liked that.  But this time, it was a very different experience for her because it was more about the films.  The only disappointing thing about being out there was she wanted to get together with some friends like Rita Wilson, Geena Davis, etc and they couldn't connect because of scheduling conflicts. 

Rosie said she hopes since Oprah is her boss now she can learn to relax around her.  She said she has such a huge reverence for her, it's hard for her to be normal around her.  Rosie, her publicist Cindi Berger, and some of the OWN producers had plans to watch some documentaries together in the hospitality suite.  It was after all the events of the day and Cindi asked them what everyone was wearing to watch the films.  They were told they were dressed casually so Cindi told Rosie it was okay if they came to watch the docs in their pajamas.  Cindi (dressed in her Michigan sweats) and Rosie (in her t-shirt, boxers and black socks) walked into to the room and there was Oprah, Gayle and all the producers dressed very nicely!  They were the only two in their pajamas and Rosie was horrified!  Rosie gritted her teeth and quietly told Cindi she was "dead when they get back to the room."  And Rosie was also bummed she left her Kindle on the plane.  She took the red-eye and got back yesterday early in the morning and slept until her kids got home from school and was up in time to see Oprah! 

Rosie then discussed yesterday's Oprah where she announces she has a half-sister she never knew about! Rosie thought the entire episode was so revealing and wrought with emotion.  Bobby loved the part when Oprah talks about how her sister had so much integrity that she didn't go to the press with the story and "sell her out" as her other sister did.  Rosie said her brother Eddie called her when he was watching the show too and was in shock!  Rosie and Eddie have just finished filming Who Do You Think You Are together researching their own family ancestry.  The scene in the episode when Oprah's half-sister hears her birthmother say she was a beautiful baby made Rosie cry.  She said it ripped her heart apart.  Rosie took a call from a listener who used to ask his mother why he's never seen his birth certificate.  After his mother died his mom's older sister (who he never knew existed) came looking for her.  During that phone-call he found out he had brothers and sisters he never knew about!  Rosie took another call from a listener who also loved yesterday's Oprah Show.  Rosie said it was very brave of Oprah to do the show and thought she was pretty amazing for doing it the way she did. 

The staff then discussed the 2011 Oscar Nominations!  Pete was excited to announce to the staff that Gasland was nominated for Best Documentary!!!!!!!  Rosie said she flew out to Sundance on the same plane as Kenneth Cole and his wife Maria Cuomo, the sister of New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo.  Rosie gave Maria a copy of Gasland and asked her to give it to the Governor for him to watch hoping he'll keep it in mind when he votes on hydrofracking for natural gas in New York State.   Pete read all the nominees for Best Picture and the only film Rosie didn't predict to be nominated prior to the announcement was Winter's Bone.  

Rosie said James Franco was on her plane back on her way back to New York and she stopped and told him what great work he's done this year. 

LOVING PAUL RUDD, JUDD APATOW'S COMMENTS ON GERVAIS AND JASON SEGEL
Rosie said she's realized she must be the only one on the planet who hasn't seen The Hangover and she's going to rectify it.  She recognized an actress (Rachel Harris) out at Sundance but couldn't place where she knew her from.  Rosie was talking to her about it and Rachel said, "You probably know me from The Hangover."  Rosie said she has to see that movie!

Rosie had Chelsea with her in Utah and took her to see How Do You Know starring Paul Rudd.  Rosie said she knew right away it was a James Brooks film because he has such an identifiable look/feel to his movies. Rosie told the staff she was once in a James Brooks' movie entitled I'll Do Anything and no one on the staff had remembered that except Bobby!  Rosie said it was originally supposed to be a musical but then they edited it and cut all the music out.  She LOVED  How Do You Know and she loved Paul Rudd.  Jeannie told Rosie if she loves Paul Rudd, she has to see I Love You Man.  Pete and Jeannie then listed off every movie Paul was ever in and Rosie asked Pete to make a list for her of all his work. 

Rosie then wanted to discuss Judd Apatow's recent commentary on the Ricky Gervais hosting of the Golden Globes.  Rosie said Judd used to be a dishwasher at the East Side Comedy Club when she was a standup there.  Pete read Judd's statement.  Rosie agreed.  She said once you become part of the inner circle of celebrities, and a celebrity in your own right, you cannot joke like you're an outsider anymore.  The joke doesn't work because you've become "one of them."  Janette said she hates mean humor because it's just mean and not funny.  Rosie then took several callers who also love Paul Rudd and told her to see William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, Dinner for Schmucks, and Forgetting Sarah Marshall!  Rosie thought about inviting him on the radio show and having him as a guest!  

Rosie also enjoys Jason Segel who she's seen promoting Gulliver's Travels.  Rosie said she's never even recognized Jason and that's how she knows she's old.  Pete recommended Rosie watch How I Met Your Mother because he loves it.  One caller recommended Rosie see Rudd's The Object of My Affection.  Janette said The Object of My Affection is a fantastic book.   Rosie said she loves Paul so much she wants to get a poster of him to put up in her room.  Lastly, Rosie took a call from a listener who dated Paul Rudd in junior high school!  She said he's the sweetest guy in real life too. 

KEITH OLBERMANN STEPS DOWN, BRENDAN'S OKAY AND JANETTE'S HOWARD CRUSH
Rosie said with the recent announcement of Keith Olbermann leaving MSNBC all their thoughts immediately went to Brendan, their former Executive Producer, who left Rosie Radio in December to join "Countdown with Keith Olbermann."  Everyone was worried if Brendan still had a job.  Rosie said she spoke to Brendan and everything is fine because his contract is with NBC.  Rosie and Janette hadn't heard the reason for why Keith is leaving MSNBC though they heard rumors that it was because of the buyout deal with Comcast or because of his suspension recently.  But as of right now, neither party is officially saying why he left. 

Janette had some exciting news!  Seems the Howard Stern staff heard of her crush on Howard and her offer to provide him with unlimited head should she ever have the opportunity and he thanked her on air!  He listened to her talking about her crush on him and played it on air and then Howard actually said, "Thank you, Janette."  Janette is overcome.  Howard said he thought it was great but that he's ugly and his fans think he's ugly too.  Janette told Howard he needs to spend some time in his mirror.  She told him he's gorgeous and to look at the gorgeous model, Beth, who married him!  When Howard heard about the offer for unlimited head he said Janette might change her mind when she smelled his balls!  Apparently, at a certain age, your balls start to smell.  Janette said Howard has no reason to worry because she lost her sense of smell using Zicam so the offer still stands.  Janette said she was thrilled to hear Howard talking about her.  Howard even said the next time Rosie Radio tapes from the Sirius studios in New York City he's going to come by and meet the person that sees his true hotness!   Janette did an interview on Howard 100 and she gets a thrill every time she hears Howard say her name.  Janette then went into a long speech about how Howard is in a category all his own and if she saw him on the street, having no idea who he was, she would turn around to take another look because he's so handsome.  Janette said it's almost like he's in slow motion and there's music playing in the background when he moves.  As soon as she heard Howard would stop in to meet her the next time they're in NY, she called Deirdre to find out when they're going to be there next!  She wants to get in shape!  She said she knows she's not going to land him and he's not going to offer her an "all day sucker."  Rosie said if Beth gives Howard "a pass" it could be an interesting day for sure!  Stay tuned!

HEAVY, PIERS GETS IT RIGHT AND THE GAY SUPERBOWL COMMERCIALS
Rosie then wanted to discuss last night's episode of Heavy.  She said she liked it better but if the trainers are going to explain what they're doing with the weight-loss participants every single week, she's going to lose interest.  Rosie wished the women featured on the show weren't such crybabies.  Janette said it probably only seems that way because of editing.  She said in reality television, if you're not exploitative, you've got no show. 

Rosie then played a clip of Piers Morgan interviewing Joel Osteen:



After the clip, Rosie and Janette said they loved that Piers didn't let up on his questioning of Joel.  Rosie said she was impressed that Piers didn't let him off the hook for his statements. And Bobby and Rosie both think Joel seems a little gay in his mannerisms!  James' biggest issue with the interview was that if someone is going to preach that being gay is a sin, they need to own it and not make excuses.  And he thinks it's annoying that Joel says you can't pick and choose which items in the scripture to follow while he's picking and choosing! 

Rosie and the staff then discussed two Superbowl commercials with a gay theme and whether or not they're offensive. Bobby said someone posted them on his Facebook page and he thought they were funny.  Janette agreed and said she thought it was cool gays were being seen in this way and not a derogatory way.   Rosie didn't like the ads however and thought there was a very derogatory feeling with them.  She didn't like the way the female neighbor looks at the men with such disgust and she didn't like it how they're saying gay men  have to be grabbing each other's genitals.  Rosie found them quite offensive and said they only promote gay stereotypes.  After she explained it Janette, Janette actually began to understand how they promote stereotypes.  Rosie took a call from a listener who felt the ads promote gay mockery.  Rosie wished gay people could be seen honorably and with equality instead of in a stereotypical way such as this.  The last caller said gays may be taking themselves too seriously and was glad gays were being seen at all in the media and that people can talk about it today now.  Rosie asked the caller if it was good to see African Americans as Aunt Jemima or eating watermelons when they first were portrayed on television.  The caller told Rosie she had a point!

ROSIE RADIO ENDING IN JUNE AND BOBBY'S BROADWAY UPDATES
Next, a caller asked Rosie if they'll be continuing Rosie Radio when her television show premieres on the OWN network.  Rosie told him no.  She said she thinks she's going off radio and it will be in  June of this year,  because she's going to begin working with Oprah.  She said they're talking to Sirius to see if they can do something together and hoping to continue it in some form but Rosie Radio as we know it, will be done June first.   

Then Bobby announced some Broadway news.  Theoni Aldredge passed away and they dimmed the lights on Broadway for her.  Bobby said Theoni was an icon in the musical theater world.  He was honored to work with her in the Broadway production of Nick and Nora.  Bobby said he shopped for her fabric swatches and at the end of the run she made him a miniature dress on a board with all the fabric swatches he had gathered for her.  She signed it and he still has it framed in his apartment. 

THE GAME GAME
This game was entitled, "The Game Game."  During this game, James described a popular board game and the player had to guess which game it was.   

ROUND ONE
Rosie: a board game featuring rich Uncle Penny Bags.  She said Monopoly and was correct.
Pete: players must figure out who killed Mr. Body.  He said Clue and was correct.
Janette: you can get 50 bonus points for using all your letters.  She said Scrabble and was correct.
Jeannie: a dice game where players roll 5 dice for certain combinations.  She said Yahtzee and was correct. Rosie and Jeannie used to play Yahtzee at Tiffany's Wine and Cheese Cafe.  They would get a platter of cheese and pepperoni and if they got a Yahtzee they had scream Yahtzee (at the top of their lungs) as if they had a frog in their throat!  Rosie and Jeannie laughed as they were remembering the old days. 
Bobby: in this table top game, one must consume the most marbles with a plastic replica of a large herbivore.  He said Hungry Hungry Hippos and was correct. 
caller: you need good hand/eye coordination to play game where the board is a cavity of a man with a bright red light-bulb for a nose.  She said Operation and was correct.

ROUND TWO
Rosie: a balancing tower game.  She said Jenga and was correct.
Pete: this game simulates a person's travel through life, college, marriage, etc.....Rosie said the question was invalid because James said the name of the game (Life) in the question.  She wanted Pete to have another one.
Pete (2): in this game one must catch the cheese pieces and not get caught.  He said Mousetrap and was correct.
Janette: in this game one might advance your general only to have him encounter a bomb game piece.  The answer was Stratego and she got it. 
Jeannie: this game is an adaptation of royal game of India where players roll to try to get their pieces to the center space.  She said Parcheesi and was correct. 
Bobby: in this game you use bluffing and deceit by creating a fictitious definition for a word while trying to sound convincing.  The answer was Balderdash but he didn't get it and was out.
caller: in this game you try to reach the top of the game board of 100 squares based on India's game ladder of salvation.  The answer was Chutes and Ladders but since they used the name of the game in the clue Rosie had the caller go again.   
caller (2): the most notable feature of this game is the pop-o-matic clear plastic hemisphere in the center of the board and the first person to get their pieces around the board wins.  The answer was Trouble but she didn't get it.  Rosie gave her a gift anyway. 

ROUND THREE
Rosie: teammates try to guess the word by the drawing intended to represent it.  She said Pictionary which was correct.
Pete: this game features the characters "Gramdma Nut" and "Frostine."  He said Candyland and was correct. 
Janette: this game consists of two players guessing game cartoon characters and their first names.  The answer was Guess Who? but she didn't know it so she was out. 
Jeannie: the object of this word guessing game is to have the player guess the word without using the word or any of the words on the card.  The answer was Taboo but she didn't get it and was out. 

TIEBREAKER -Rosie vs. Pete
Rosie: the object of this game is to place ones pieces in the corner opposite the pitted hexagram by single moves or jumps over the pieces.  She said Chinese checkers and was correct. 
Pete: the player must form a chain of a dozen plastic simians.  He said Barrel of Monkeys and was correct

Rosie: this game is for teenage girls where they must purchase all the items on their shopping list.  It was Mall Madness but she didn't know it. 
Pete (for the win): A strategic board game where the primary objective is world domination.  The answer was Risk and he got it!   

PETE WON!  (though no one cheered)

STATE OF THE UNION AND JACKIE'S OKAY
Rosie said she'll be watching the State of the Union tonight and hopes it will be really good for the President since he's such a good speaker.  She's interested to see what it's like with the Democrats and Republicans mixed amongst each other as opposed to opposite sides.  Janette said she has to see them do something more than sit differently.  She wants to SEE them actually work together and see results before she's convinced there's a change.  Bobby encouraged Janette to have patience and said we have to take it one step at a time.  Janette said she would like to see world peace by morning. 

Rosie ended the show saying that her best friend (and Jeannie's best friend) Jackie recently had a health scare.  Jackie has always gotten ganglion cysts on her hands and wrists since she was a kid.  Rosie would smash them with a dictionary to break them open so she wouldn't have to go to the doctor.  The last time she, Jeannie and Jackie went out together Rosie tried to do it to one that didn't break.  Jackie went to the doctor and was sent to a specialist because there was concern that it might be cancerous.  It was not.  Jeannie and Rosie talked about how their lives felt like they've stopped for an entire week.  Rosie said she cried to her therapist about it too.  Rosie's therapist reminded Rosie that no matter what happens she's going to survive it.  She told her that's what we teach our children and we have to believe it too.  Rosie and Jeannie were thankful Jackie was okay and planned a celebratory night out soon.

Rosie closed the show. 

As for the news about the Rosie Radio ending....
while I am so incredibly sad to see it go,
and I will miss all my blogger-friends and recap readers,
I feel so lucky to have been a part (in a tiny way) of something so extraordinary. 
And for that I feel blessed.     

and that's what you missed -kw