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Ann Romney to go solo on The View as Mitt skips essential campaign stop Ann Romney goes where Mitt fears to tread and takes The View by storm
(about 4 hours later)
Back in 1997, when Barbara Walters created The View, you used to hear her voice over the opening credits explaining what the show was meant to be. Back in the day 1997 to be precise when Barbara Walters created the View, you used to hear her voice over the opening credits, explaining what the show was meant to be.
"I've always wanted to do a show with women of different generations, backgrounds and views: a working mother; a professional in her 30s; a young woman just starting out; and then somebody who's done almost everything and will say almost anything. And in a perfect world, I'd get to join the group whenever I wanted.""I've always wanted to do a show with women of different generations, backgrounds and views: a working mother; a professional in her 30s; a young woman just starting out; and then somebody who's done almost everything and will say almost anything. And in a perfect world, I'd get to join the group whenever I wanted."
On Thursday, Ann Romney joins the group which, every four years, inserts itself the political debate with an intense focus on presidential politics. This time, the segment is called Red, White and View. For candidates (and their wives) who want to appeal to undecided women in swing states, it has become as essential a stop on the campaign trail as small-town diners in Iowa or Ohio. Fifteen years later, the show has spawned dozens of imitations around the world Loose Women is its British incarnation. For presidential candidates (and their wives) who want to appeal to undecided women in swing states, it has become as essential a stop on the campaign trail as small-town diners in Iowa or Ohio. Last month's joint visit by Barack and Michelle Obama garnered a whopping 4.3 million viewers.
In the early days of The View, you got the sense that the women liked and respected each other. And you liked and respected them well, not all of them, but at least one or two of them. The group had a good energy. You felt you could join in the banter. This election year, the political segment is called Red, White and View. On Thursday it was Ann Romney's turn to take her place on the blue sofa. She was supposed to be accompanied by her husband, Republican presidential candidate Mitt, but he cancelled his appearance earlier this week. (A decision that presumably looked pretty smart after his "binders full of women" remark during Tuesday's second presidential debate spawned such derision).
In those days, the show's panel featured the highly watchable, intelligent and empathic Meredith Vieira. Joining her was the colorful Star Jones. Jones openly battled with her weight, her nightlife and her outsize personality but she was also a trained lawyer who had begun her network career as a legal analyst for NBC News. Joy Behar appeared from time to time she filled in when Walters' other commitments took her away from the show. And finally, there was the short-lived tenure of the ditzy Debbie Matenopoulos, who was removed after a couple of seasons to be replaced by Lisa Ling and then Elisabeth Hasselbeck. Romney came out wearing her signature scarlet dress, to standing applause, and sat on the center of the couch, to be confronted immediately by Walters. [Mitt] said he didn't want to come on with us "because we are high risk and we are sharp tongued," she said.
Writing in the New York Times, Caryn James said: "The idea that those women should be smart and accomplished is still odd enough to make The View seem wildly different." "He said sharp and young," countered Mrs Romney, smiling brightly. Score one to her.
It was a ratings hit. It still is. It does extremely well in two demographics that are crucial to advertisers women aged 18 to 34 and 25 to 54. The show consistently wins its time slot. Without missing a beat, Walters moved on to Romney's shifting position on abortion. "I wonder what your views are," she asked.
Last month's joint visit by Barack and Michelle Obama's garnered The View a whopping 4.3 million viewers, the highest viewership the ABC daytime talk show has seen since the president appeared solo on the show May 15 and the second-highest it has drawn since May 2011, according to Deadline Hollywood. "The good news is I'm not running for office and I don't have to say what I feel," said Mrs Romney, sunnily. Score two.
On Thursday, Ann Romney will presumably have to defend her husband's "binders full of women" comments. Mitt dropped out earlier this week, and these remarks brought into the public domain via the "47%" video might explain why: "Mitt has always been a pro-life person," she added, explaining that her husband was against embryo research. "This is an issue that is so tender. The most important thing we can do is have respect for each other."
The View is fine. Although The View is high-risk because of the five women on it. Although one is conservative, four are sharp-tongued and not conservative, Whoopi Goldberg in particular. Although last time I was on the show she said to me, 'You know what, I think I could vote for you.' And I said I must have done something really wrong. Then she went in for the kill. The difference between what women were talking about when Romney campaigned four years ago and now was "heart-breaking, Barbara. This year what I hear... 90, I would say 95% of what I hear is, 'Help, please help'."
In the old days, the show was the perfect forum for political debate. But now the host line-up has changed dramatically gone are Vieira and Jones, replaced by Goldberg and the token conservative Hasselbeck. (Hasselbeck's professional credentials consist of being a 2001 contestant on Survivor and marrying pro-footballer Tim Hasselbeck.) Behar has become a permanent presence, but she seems distracted, perhaps by her own show on Current TV. Walters drifts in and out. The intelligence has been diluted and the shoutiness amplified. More often than not, the hour of The View resembles a Real Housewives reunion without the moderator. "Economic help, you mean," offered Walters.
Would you like to spend time discussing the issues of the day with these women? I'd have nothing to say. But I'll be watching later as Mrs Romney sits down to chat. "Absolutely," said Mrs Romney, with all the conviction provided by her uncheckable number. Score three.
Whoopi Goldberg tried to have a go at the fact that Mitt Romney did not serve in Vietnam because he was on a Mormon mission, but she got her facts mixed up and the fumble gave Mrs Romney the opportunity to point out that although neither her sons nor her husband had served in the military, they had all served on church missions; she added that one of her sons is a doctor who treats military veterans. Cue loving applause from the audience.
Score four.
After another commercial, Elisabeth Hasselbeck, whose professional credentials consist of being a 2001 contestant on Survivor and marrying the American footballer Tim Hasselbeck, turned to Mrs Romney and asked if there had been a moment when she and Mitt had almost broken up.
"Well, not according to him," was the smiling reply.
However, she said, early on in the relationship, when he was on his mission and they were apart for three and a half years, she dated a lot and came close to breaking his heart.
The questions were getting softer and softer.
In the early days of The View, the show was the perfect forum for political debate. But the host lineup has changed dramatically – gone are the empathetic Meredith Vieira and the colorful Star Jones. In are Goldberg and the token conservative, Hasselbeck. Walters, older and less with it, drifts in and out. The intelligence has been diluted and the shoutiness amplified. More often than not, the hour of The View resembles a Real Housewives reunion without the moderator.
Mrs Romney's appearance finished against a vast photo of Ann and Mitt, all the kids and the 18 grandkids. The picture was of an all-American family who make dinner, clean up and share the household chores when together. Yes, all of that takes place at the family's "Lake House", but no-one bothered to comment on that. There was no mention of binders of women, either.
The Romney segment closed with the ladies of The View slumped against the couch while their guest remained perky and upright.
'You are a wonderful advocate for your husband," Walters had said.
She got that right.