Co-host: Nene Leakes from Real Housewives of Atlanta

Hot Topics

• Last night was a rough evening for one of the View cohosts. Nicolle said, “I know Republicans aren’t supposed to complain – but –“ She went on to describe how her wonderful husband travels often and sometimes, after a day of working, it’s tiring to go home to her second job as Mom. Last night, “the wheels fell off,” and her young son dropped a five pound bag of flour on his head! Rosie O advised Nicolle to let her son play with the flour, which is exactly what Nicolle did. Her toddler kept busy with the flour for almost an hour, until the dog got into the act by attempting to eat the mess. Whoopi announced, “I am scared of your life right now!” Nicolle recovered from the night by relaxing with the DVR, The Voice, Adam Levine, and a glass of wine. She said being a television personality means she won’t be able to swear at her dog or her kid any more, but both Whoopi and Rosie O assured her, “Oh yes, you can!”

• A grand jury is expected to vote soon on the case of Eric Garner, who died after allegedly being subjected to an illegal choke hold by the NYPD back in July. Rosie O watched news coverage of the grand jury with her son and found it difficult to explain why the unarmed man died after being confronted by officers for selling loosies (untaxed cigarettes). Nicolle pointed out that the choke hold policy in NYC has been refined and the chokehold was outlawed for use by police in 1993. Attention to this case, she says, is an example of the power of cameras. Nene asked Rosie O, “Did you know what a loosie was?” Rosie O exclaimed, “No, I’m a nonsmoker!” She then asked if selling loosies is illegal. Nicolle explained how the selling of loosies is prohibited because the city wants the tax money from tobacco sales. She reminded everyone not to judge all cops by what we see in these videos. She feels that with cameras on police officers it will be easier to identify actual cases of wrongdoing.

Nicolle then mentioned Charles Barkley’s recent comments about how there are some black people who are bad, and some who are not. The cohosts agreed that people of all colors can be bad – with the exception of Hawaiian people, according to Rosie O. She said, “I’ve spent a lot of time there, and there are no bad Hawaiians.” Nicolle went on to describe Barkley’s comments about how people should protest peacefully, that that looting and rioting is ridiculous. Whoopi agreed, saying “Somebody went to work every day. Why take it out on them?” Rosie O recalled Martin Luther King’s words about riots being “the language of the unheard.” However, that doesn’t make it right. Whoopi feels the people who riot should put their thoughts on the Internet with their photos so everyone can see who they are.

• Michael Brown’s stepfather is being investigated for inciting riots with comments he made after the grand jury’s decision not to indict was announced. Rosie O believes the family has been through enough. As a parent, she can understand the emotions behind his comments in that moment and feels he should be forgiven. Nicolle pointed out that Michael Brown’s family has been aware of the attention on them throughout this story and the responsibility that goes along with that attention. She doesn’t think the stepfather’s comments are the reason people looted, but that his words didn’t help the situation either. Rosie O expressed her surprise at Michael Brown’s parents even being able to stand up at that moment, let alone speak. Nicolle agreed that video of the comments showed strong emotions. Whoopi mentioned the efforts Michael Brown’s parents have made by going around the world to speak for peace, saying they have done a lot of good since then. The cohosts all felt people should show compassion to everyone involved, including the officer.

• Rosie O loves Frozen! Whoopi referred to yesterday’s show when she “lost it” a little bit over Frozen’s lack of people of color. Rosie O then described how she watched the movie last night and took photos of all of the people in the movie who were beige to brown to black. She shared these photos, prompting Whoopi to exclaim, “There’s only one black woman. They keep moving her around and changing her dress!” Nicolle laughed, saying, “There are more black people in the Republican party!” Rosie O simply replied, “Ladies, let it go!”

• Dale Scott, a long-time umpire for Major League Baseball, recently came out as gay. Whoopi informed the audience that the MLB has long known of Scott’s marriage to his husband and never had an issue with it. Rosie O remarked that Scott’s husband is even on his health insurance policy.

• Nene’s huge sparkly ring caught Whoopi’s attention. Rosie O asked if the ring was real. Nene said, “No, it’s fake.” When Rosie O looked surprised, Nene laughed, saying, “Of course it’s real!” Rosie O asked if Nene traveled with armed guards to protect the ring. Whoopi asked about Nene’s current role as the wicked stepmother in Cinderella on Broadway. Nene said she loves the role, but it is very tiring. Her dressing room is full of flowers and art from fans. She will be appearing in Cinderella until January 3, 2015.

• Visit The View on Facebook to vote for tomorrow’s Hot Topics!

• NFL player Darnell Dockett drew criticism for reposting a photo of Malia Obama on Instagram with the original poster’s caption of “When her prom?” Nene dislikes the idea of reposting negative things. She feels Dockett is too old to share photos of a 16 year old – he is not one of her peers. Rosie O thinks Malia is cute. She talked about how her now 17 year old daughter Chelsea looked older than her age when she was 12. Adult men would look at her in public, causing Rosie O to yell at them, “She’s only 12!” She described the experience as nerve-wracking. Nicolle pointed out that there’s nothing normal about being of dating age when you are the President’s daughter. Whoopi focused on another aspect of the Instagram post, saying to the original poster, “Punctuation is never a bad thing.”

• Gender segregation in some Austin, TX, schools is drawing criticism. Whoopi explained that some critics feel having boys and girls in separate schools reinforces gender stereotypes. Rosie O described the history of the decision, saying two Austin schools were failing. Students were performing sex acts in the bathrooms and teachers were struggling. School administrators decided to use one school for only boys and the other for the girls. After this change, performance improved. The cohosts agreed that parents need to decide what is the right school environment for each child. Whoopi commented on her elementary years, when kids didn’t even know what sex was. Nicolle mentioned the Internet’s effect on children, but Nene thought culture and society had more of an influence. Rosie O said kids used to have to go to the 7/11 and ask the guy behind the counter if the wanted to see something naughty, but now they can go online, type in one word, and see something damaging. The cohosts also mentioned television commercials as another source of sexualized content.

• A viral video remake of Sia’s video for Chandelier had the cohosts cracking up. After losing a Fantasy Football bet, a man recreated the video shot for shot. Nene said she loved it; it was fabulous!

Guest

Seth MacFarlane: The creator of Family Guy and Ted, Seth has just released a new holiday album. Rosie O expressed her long-time admiration for Seth and asked about his desire to be a Disney animator. Seth described his years at college, when movies like The Little Mermaid were coming out of the Disney studio. He wanted to be an animator for Disney, but when The Simpsons came to television he felt he was better suited to that kind of animation. He then animated the pilot for Family Guy. Whoopi asked if he recently Instagrammed his first drawing of Stewie. Seth described his process of designing a character, starting with the voice. With Stewie, he went through fifty designs before he was happy with it. Nicolle told Seth she thought his voice was incredible and that he’d find a whole new fan base with his singing. She asked what kind of music he grew up on. Seth said he got into big band music because of his grandfather and then, in college, discovered jazz and icons like Sinatra. He will be performing with the San Francisco Symphony on New Year’s Eve. Nene asked Seth if he would ever perform on Broadway. He replied that he is interested in the idea, but it would be a big time commitment. “I would love to write a musical,” he shared. Seth then impressed everyone with a great impression of Kermit the Frog, asking Rosie O, “Where your prom at?” Seth’s new album is titled Holiday for Swing. He performed the song “Let it Snow.”

Audience Giveaway

Each audience member received a copy of Seth MacFarlane’s album Holiday for Swing and an S+ sleep sensor from ResMed.

Hot Topics

Today’s Guest Co-Hosts: Mario Cantone and Alicia Menendez, host of AM Tonight

• Idina Menzel retracts her statement about a planned sequel to the hit movie Frozen. She corrected herself by saying she assumes there will be a sequel because of the movie’s popularity. Mario and Rosie O enjoyed a spirited debate over classic Disney movies versus newer films like Frozen. While Rosie O feels modern movies are more interesting to children, Mario prefers the artistry of the classic hand-painted animation.

• Chris Rock recently stated in an interview with New York Magazine, “If poor people knew how rich rich people are, there would be riots in the streets.” The co-hosts discussed perks enjoyed by the wealthy, such as the First Class lounge for Virgin Airlines passengers, which feature free food and massages. Nicolle recalled the scene in the movie Jerry Maguire where Rene Zellweiger’s character says, “First class, that’s what’s wrong. It used to be a better meal, now it’s a better life.” Rosie O agreed that lifestyle is like an alternate universe. The co-hosts talked about the “swag bags” celebrities often receive at events, which Whoopi pointed out are a way of compensating for their time without paying them. She mentioned the income tax now placed on swag bags and their typically high-priced contents.
This discussion led to a conversation about how many celebrities, like Rosie O and Whoopi, earned what they have now by working hard every day rather than being born to wealth. Rosie O asked the question, “Does the middle class still have the opportunity to rise, or has that been diminished?” Alicia stated she thought it was still possible, and Whoopi talked about how she was raised to rely on herself for what she wanted rather than to wait for others. Nicolle expressed her feeling that this is why people are upset with politicians; they are not talking about diminished opportunities. Whoopi pointed out, “We voted them in.” Mario shared his feeling that people can find hope and opportunity every day.

• Madonna is featured on the cover of Interview magazine. Inside, she appears topless in one photo. Rosie O admired Madonna’s pride in her beauty, saying, “Express yourself, don’t repress yourself.” She and Nicolle laughed that they would be naked all of the time if they looked like Madonna.
 
• The Shoe Cam showcased Whoopi’s crazy banana shoes. The shoe designer, Kobi Levi, was in today’s audience. Whoopi shared her shoe shopping secret, which is to Google “wacky shoes” or “crazy shoes.”
 
• President Obama announced a plan to provide funding for body cameras for police officers. Rosie O asked if the officers in Ferguson, MO would be getting these cameras. Nicolle described the funding process, in which local police will apply for the funding for body cameras. She believes many cops feel dissed and that until communities and the police connect, they won’t heal. She also stated an opinion that the cameras will show heroics and bravery, reminding people that cops do dangerous work. Rosie O pointed out the bigger issue of systemic racism, while Nicolle mentioned the militarization of local police forces. Alicia pointed out that places like NYC, with the UN headquarters, may need heavier equipment, but not every department has those same needs. Whoopi reminded everyone that police cars have had cameras on them for some time and that officers in NJ and Los Angeles already wear body cameras. The hosts agreed it was a brilliant idea. Whoopi said people want to know who the bad guys are and to see what is really happening, which the body cameras will demonstrate.
 
• A blogger made comments about Jennifer Anniston’s role in the movie Cake, saying actresses resort to “going ugly” for serious roles, appearing without makeup. Whoopi recalled learning as a child that wearing makeup is just what women have to do. Rosie O talked about being asked to audition for roles described as chubby or ugly, while Mario expressed his opinion that cosmetic surgery reduces facial mobility. Rosie O talked about how she never wears makeup when not on TV, which causes people to frequently tell her she looks better without makeup.
 
• Kathy Griffin will be the new host of Fashion Police.

• Rapper Li’l Wayne attracted criticism for buying two cars for his daughter on her 16th birthday. Li’l Wayne pointed out that one of the cars was actually a gift from the girl’s mother, but people are upset at the lavish gifts. Mario felt that if parents have the money to buy such gifts, it isn’t a big deal. Nicolle pointed out that the very rich are very rich, which most people can’t relate to, but it is Li’l Wayne’s prerogative to spend money how he wishes. Rosie O described her approach of purchasing a $20,000 vehicle for each of her children as they graduate high school. She said some find it exorbitant, but she did work her way up from nothing. The co-hosts discussed driving laws for teens in different states and Nicolle shared how horrible her parking skills were when she was a 16 year old driver.
 
• Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair appears on a Christmas Card with his wife. His odd smile had the co-hosts discussing what was really going on in the photo. Rosie O thought he didn’t look happy, while Nicolle felt the awkward photo was the result of a former politician who is no longer surrounded by a staff.
 
Guests:
 
Glenn Close and John Lithgow stopped by The View to talk about their new play A Delicate Balance. The pair star as a married couple whose family unravels. Glenn Close talked about how this is her first live show since she won a Tony for her appearance in Sunset Boulevard in 1995. She took a break from Broadway when her daughter was six. John Lithgow also hasn’t appeared on Broadway since his kids were young. He and Glenn Close shared laughs and memories of their roles in The World According to Garp, also starring Robin Williams. The co-hosts asked Glenn Close if she really did have the infamous knife from Fatal Attraction. She surprised everyone by reaching behind her back to reveal the knife in a display case. She said any time a prop like that is used close to an actor’s face, it must be made of paper and that this particular prop was just beautiful.
 
Jennifer Hudson appeared live from Los Angeles in honor of Giving Tuesday. She talked with Nicolle and Rosie O about her work with Johnson’s brand to launch their More Hands, More Hearts charitable initiative. The program distributes baby care kits to families in need across the country. Jennifer got into Giving Tuesday as a way to give back and focus on kids. The issue hits close to home for her. She showed Rosie O and Nicolle an adorable rubber ducky that is part of the kit, saying her five year old son still loves his. Her new album, JHUD, was released on September 23.

Audience Giveaway:
 
Each member of the audience will receive two Johnson’s baby care kits – one to keep and one to give to someone in need.

Hot Topics:

• Andy Cohen, host of Watch What Happens Live, joined the ladies at the table to discuss today’s hottest topics!  
• Janay Rice Speaks Out: Ray Rice had his suspension lifted after it was determined that the NFL overstepped their boundaries.  Now his wife Janay is speaking out about the apology she issued at the original press conference. Janay is saying that the NFL suggested she apologize for her role in the incident.  Janay says she does accept some blame because she too broke the law and got arrested.  Rosie O said there’s now speculation whether another team will want to draft Ray Rice.  Whoopi is sure some other team will take him since he’s such a good football player and since this is the first time he’s had any kind of problems with the law.  Whoopi thought it was true that Janay shouldn’t have put her hands on Ray either, because you never know how someone is raised and what could happen if you do.  She’s also happy Janay was so resolute in her knowing that this incident would not mean the end of their relationship.  Rosie P pointed out that Ray Rice spat on his wife before she hit him, so that might have been what caused her to lash out.  She agrees that women should not hit men, but she firmly believes a man should never hit a woman, especially when you’re a strong man like a football player.  She’s glad he apologized and said it’s not for them to judge their marriage.  Rosie P was really bothered by the attacks against Janay from other women.  She thinks we should offer compassion for victims of domestic violence and Rosie O agreed.  Rosie O mentioned a new documentary on HBO entitled Private Violence that talks about why women stay and what the advice is if you’re in this situation.  She said millions of Americans are in violent homes trying to live and most of us cannot even imagine what it’s like for them.  Nicolle said she thinks the NFL deserves a “smack” for botching this at every level.  She said domestic violence is a serious issue and playing in the NFL is a privilege.  She’s mostly concerned that nothing will change in the NFL because of this incident.  Andy wondered what message it will send for the next team who drafts Ray Rice.  He knows Ray’s a great player and apologized but he worries about the message it sends.  Whoopi said if Ray doesn’t get to play then no one should be playing in the NFL because many players have committed crimes and still play.  Whoopi said it’s so rare of Ray Rice to do this and appreciated the fact that he admitted to his wrong-doing from the beginning.  Rosie P said most men who would cold-clock their woman would be in jail.  Rice didn’t serve any jail time and that’s most likely what the public has a problem with.  Whoopi said none of us are married to Ray so we don’t deserve an apology from him or need to “forgive” him.  Nicolle said she’s ready to leave the family alone but she doesn’t think the NFL should get off the hook because they have an arbitrary and inconsistent policy when it comes to domestic violence.
  

  Andy and the ladies discussing Janay Rice

• New Star Wars Trailer: The new Star Wars trailer is blowing up the internet right now and fans across the galaxy are cheering in anticipation of the movie’s release.  Rosie O is a self-proclaimed “Star Wars freak,” she’s been to conventions, she has all the dolls, and she said she got chills when she saw the trailer!  So did Andy.  Though Andy admitted they could simply show dirt with the theme song in the background and he would probably get chills.  Whoopi was almost more excited for the Lego version of the new Star Wars trailer!
• Whoopi on The Tonight Show: They showed a clip of Whoopi from a recent appearance on the Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon. It was a pretaped interview and she had to address all the serious things going on in the world (such as Ferguson) and when Jimmy asked her about the topic she yelled out, “I need a minute!”  She wanted to be able to celebrate Thanksgiving for a minute before having to delve into such serious topics on the show.  When she got home, she said people in her neighborhood were opening their windows and yelling, “I need a minute!”
• World AIDS Day: Rosie P was wearing red in honor of World AIDS Day.  She explained how there are 34 million people still living with AIDS and 35 million people have died from the terrible disease.  She said they’re still hoping for a cure.  Nicolle said she’s proud of our last 3 presidents: Clinton, Bush and Obama who have made great strides in dealing with the AIDS epidemic.  Rosie P said when it comes to the issue of AIDS we must be bipartisan.  She said everyone who has contributed to the fight against AIDS deserves accolades for the progress they’ve made.  Rosie O has lost friends to AIDS, as they all have, and she wanted to give a loving shout-out to one of her friends, Mary Fisher, who at the Republican convention was the first person to really speak publicly about her struggle with the virus.  Rosie O was happy to report that Mary is still alive and thriving.  Rosie O said Mary is an inspiration to everyone.  Whoopi reminded the young people watching that they are not immune to AIDS and they should always protect themselves.  Andy said he has been a gay man living in NYC for 25 years who is still alive today because he protected himself.  And he would NOT be alive if he hadn’t protected himself.  Whoopi said everyone needs to “wrap themselves up” and protect themselves.
• Fear and Fallout in Ferguson: Protests continued throughout the weekend in Ferguson.  Andy said he’s so proud to be from St. Louis but he’s been bewildered at the handling of this case since the start.  He mentioned that Darren Wilson resigned and he’s wondering when the Ferguson chief of police will resign.  He doesn’t understand how that police department continues to work successfully in the community with him in charge.  Rosie P was so impressed with Black Out Black Friday protests.  Rosie O said humanity got the point across through their peaceful protests.  She said we should also not demonize Darren Wilson who is in an unwinnable situation in one of the most segregated places in this country.   She thinks that the circumstances and the setup there made it impossible for peace.  She said we have to look at the situation in a much larger way.  Everyone at the table was touched by the photo of the 12 year old boy embracing a police officer at a protest that went viral this weekend.  Nicolle said this situation won’t get better until the police force starts connecting again with the people they’re supposed to protect.  She mentioned a story about a Ferguson police officer who refused to wear a gas mask when out dealing with the protesters of Ferguson because he didn’t want his face to be hidden from the people he protects.  She said we need a million acts like that until things will start to get better there.  Whoopi loved that story too and called the police officer remarkable for showing the protesters that he’s a person too.  Rosie O mentioned the St. Louis Rams who came out of the tunnel before a football game this weekend with their hands up.  Nicolle said the players actually got into a lot of trouble for making that statement.  She said the spokesman for the St. Louis police department said they were being disrespectful of the police officers that kept the game safe.  Whoopi said maybe if we assume the best in others, instead of the worst, we could assume the players weren’t being disrespectful but were raising their hands in solidarity with their town.
• Frozen 2: Rosie O was beyond delighted to announce that there is going to be a Frozen 2!  Rosie O begged the creators to let her be a troll, even if she only has one line.  Andy said when he heard that news his first reaction was, “I’m so happy for Rosie!”
• Aides Behaving Badly: Republican aide, Elizabeth Lauten, is under fire for a Facebook post she made about how the First Daughters carried themselves at the turkey pardon before Thanksgiving. Nicolle said if there was a “thought bubble” above the president’s head it would surely say, “This is the dumbest event on my calendar.”  She thinks the Obama daughters are beautiful and magnificent.  She said dissing the children of a president will live with this woman’s career forever.  Rosie P called the aide’s comments “appalling.” She said the president’s daughters have nothing to do with the political conversation.  Rosie O said the aide must not have teenagers.  She merely tries to get her teens to go somewhere for her and she gets ‘tude for it never mind asking them to stand by a turkey as it is pardoned!  Andy said it’s a lesson for everyone that we are all one tweet or Facebook post away from getting fired or destroying ourselves.  He said you have to think before you tweet and he’s often wondering if any comment he makes on social media is the comment that’s going to get him fired.  Whoopi said as an adult, it’s fine if you have an issue with the president or the first lady, tweet them, but don’t go after the daughters because you disagree with their parents.  She thinks Elizabeth’s mom and dad need to sit her ass in the corner!
• Body By Jake: The ladies and Andy all discussed how incredibly ripped Jake Gyllenhaal is looking for his newest role in the movie Southpaw! They discussed how actors often take on physical transformations for their art and Rosie O joked that she’s actually gaining weight for a movie she’s writing.

The Ladies of The View and Andy Cohen!
(photo credit ABC The View)

Must Have Mondays: The View has partnered with select vendors to offer the hottest gifts of the season to viewers for up to 78% off the retail price.  You can see all the items they’re offering HERE while supplies last!

Guest:

Andy Cohen: Andy Cohen sat down with the ladies of The View to discuss his new memoir entitled The Andy Cohen Diaries: A Deep Look At a Shallow Year.  The book is a diary of his life over the past year and he said it was inspired by the The Andy Warhol Diaries.  Andy said the The Andy Warhol Diaries reads today like a pop-culture time-capsule and he wanted to do something similar so he wrote a diary of his year regarding pop-culture and published it to see what happens!  He joked it could be called Diary of a Name Dropper because he drops so many names in the book.  Rosie P said that she’s in the book and Andy said she was drunk on his show!  He simply responded, “Well, sweetie.  You weren’t sober.”  But he said it’s okay because he made her the drinks!  He said none of the celebrities he mentions in the book have been terribly angry about what he discusses.  He said it really was about dishing on the backstage happenings at his show and what it’s like being him for a year.  But he still wants to be able to book guests on his show so it’s not mean-spirited.  He said he is a celebrator of life and people and he wanted that to come across in the book.  He admitted he’s truly a super-fan.  Andy made People magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive issue in the section about sexy men who love their dogs!  He said the diary is also a love story between him and his dog whom he rescued about a year ago.  Andy said he’s dating and he’s actually on Tinder to which Nicolle and Whoopi responded, “What’s Tinder?”  Andy explained what Tinder was for the ladies and the studio audience.

Audience Giveaway: Members of the studio audience went home with a Colorful Flat Iron by Eva NYC (as seen in the Must Have Monday segment) and a copy of The Andy Cohen Diaries: A Deep Look at a Shallow Year in print and the audio version!

Quoteables:

Nicolle:  [regarding AIDS as a political issue] “You now actually have three Presidents: President Clinton, President Bush and President Obama who have made equal and admirable strides for really dealing with this issue.  It is the only terrain that is purely nonpartisan where everybody is equally committed.”  
Rosie P: [about Andy Cohen getting Rosie P drunk on his show] “I’m a cheap date!”
Whoopi: [regarding the AIDS epidemic] “All  you young people, you are not immune to this. This disease does not care how old you are.”
Rosie O: “I am a Star Wars freak.”
Rosie O: [to the producers of Frozen 2] “Please let me be a troll.  Even if I have one line.  Just ONE LINE!”
Andy Cohen: [regarding AIDS] “I have been a gay man living in NYC for 25 years and I’m still alive because I protected myself.  I would not be alive if I hadn’t protected myself.  ”
Andy Cohen: “We are all one tweet and one Facebook post away from getting fired or destroying ourselves.”