Celebrity Updates: "Dancing's" New Star, Pam's New Gig, And Rosie's New Apology

by Michele Cheplic | More from this Blogger

02 Mar 2007 04:48 PM

In a previous blog I mentioned that producers of ABC's mega-hit, "Dancing with the Stars" were racing to find a replacement for contestant Vincent Pastore, who dropped out of the competition earlier this week. With less than three weeks until season four's premiere, Pastore announced the show's physical demands were too rigorous for him and he "felt it appropriate to step aside and give someone else the opportunity."

Enter former "Cheers" star John Ratzenberger. Show executives told hosts of "Good Morning America" that the actor, who played Cliff Clavin on the popular barroom sitcom for 11 seasons, would take Pastore's place.

Who said that actress Pamela Anderson's is doomed to be typecasted? Oh, yeah, I did. Can you blame me? Did you catch her last foray into primetime? (Her last show, "Stacked," about a hot looking blond babe working in a bookstore was yanked after just one season.) However, the failure hasn't stopped Anderson from pursuing other acting gigs. In fact, according to tabloid reports, the buxom blond is teaming up with her former "Baywatch" producers to create another series - a "fantasy-based drama" that takes place at a Malibu beach club. Typecasting... Anderson... Come on!

Finally, Rosie O'Donnell has once again lodged her foot in a familiar place---her mouth.

On Wednesday O'Donnell and fellow "View" co-host Elisabeth Hasselbeck got into a heated discussion regarding the government's access to citizens' phone conversations. Shortly after Hasselbeck said she supported the move liberal O'Donnell responded, "Elisabeth, you are very young and you are very wrong." A New York newspaper later reported that Hasselbeck accused Rosie of ageism and broke into tears off-camera. Then, in what some critics are calling a "forced apology," yesterday afternoon, Rosie issued this statement on her personal blog: "i said some of elisabeth's comments were ignorant which was ignorant itself."

What's more, a show insider reportedly told the newspaper that O'Donnell's latest insult was "the last straw" for Hasselbeck and that the 29-year-old is looking to leave the popular ABC chatfest. The insider revealed that Hasselbeck was shopping for a permanent spot at E! Interesting... wonder what show creator Barbara Walter's has to say about this one? My guess, not much, since Walters herself has made Hasselbeck cry on air (then later issued an on-air apology for doing so).

So, is Hasselbeck simply a crybaby or has O'Donnell added yet another name to her growing list of enemies?

Learn more about Michele Cheplic

Michele Cheplic was born and raised in Hilo, Hawaii, but now lives in Wisconsin. Michele graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in Journalism.

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Valorie Delp (49340) 02 Mar 2007 07:06 PM

Both! She's a cry baby and O'Donnell has a long list of enemies. You have to figure that on a show where the whole point is to take women who have completely different points of view there would be things said. So you build a bridge get over it! But Rosie is not the queen of nice any longer!

Michele Cheplic (37339) 03 Mar 2007 05:43 AM

I'm with you Valorie! Thanks for the comment and for making feel that I am not the only one who thinks Elisabeth is a cry baby ;)

NatureGirl1 (109) 04 Mar 2007 02:43 PM

Maybe she's a crybaby, but Rosie is a bitter harpy who jumped the shark a long time ago.

Tristi Pinkston (10839) 09 Mar 2007 01:31 AM

Jumped the shark? I've never heard that expression before but it sounds hysterical, whatever it is!

Michele Cheplic (37339) 09 Mar 2007 08:49 AM

"Jumped the shark" means the moment when something has reached its peak and its all downhill from there. A cheeky little phrase don't you think? I've seen it used to describe TV shows that were once popular and then declined in popularity. ;)