I totally agree that the other ladies on the view were intimidated by Star's persona. She has a strong personality and she had it before she started to lose weight. However, I think that her confidence is more evident now and they are blaming it on the weight loss. She looks better than she did when she first started and they know that she is outshining all of them. She is the only one of the show, besides Barbara, who is really a star outside of the show. They have every reason to be intimidated. I can't wait to see what she does next.

you know when she got married and lost the weight, she changed the dynamic on the show.
- you had the "i'm just like you soccer mom" meridith
- the "divorce' with the sharp tongue" joi
- the young one (we're on what? young host #3? ditzy @zz elizabeth)
- and the "SINGLE + HEAVY sassy sista"

i don't like how she was done, but honestly she wasn't fitting in with the other hosts and ALL of their chemistry was off. For a while I DVR'd this show every day, but since the wedding I haven't been able to watch an entire show.

i don't like how she was treated but i'm glad she has this opportunity to move on and move UP.

Middle American housewives--who are, at least before the advent of TiVo, are the target audience of The View, and daytime television as a whole, really. Star's wedding and mysterious weight loss alienated that target audience. For the most part, it's hard to survive on daytime TV if you're a diva. Star's too much of a star for daytime TV. Regardless of my views on her, I think she'll do fine.

Oprah's not a diva--we've seen her at her highs and lows, and she's more than willing to admit that she's not perfect. That's why Middle America loves her.

Star's going to be on Larry King Live tomorrow to talk about this.

Soror Star:

GET IT ALL SAID!!!! :D :D

And on Today tomorrow (Friday).

What I love is all of the hyperbole about dignity and betrayal. Really? If Star has known for months that her contract was not renewed, then that means that she had to go into work every day and pretend as though nothing had changed. Smiling and laughing as though she had not been played. She was the one who endured what I can only imagine was personal humiliation--that was, at the same time, very public--when she found out that they had selected Rosie O'Donell to replace Meredith Viera. That was a blatant and deliberate slap in the face. And then for Walters to say that they couldn't pretend any longer? Please. :rolleyes:

I am not her biggest fan either, but I am incensed about all of the melodramatic language that Babs used to describe Star's exit. I am not fooled by it either, though the majority of the viewing public probably is. The ABC executives and the executives at the view handled this situation very poorly. To me, Star handled the whole thing with dignity and on her own terms. That, at least, is something.

Star calls Baba a hyprocite (NY Daily News)
 

Star Jones Reynolds has launched a bitter counterattack after Barbara Walters sensationally dissed her on yesterday's edition of "The View."

In an exclusive interview with the Daily News, the TV diva fought back after the show's creator said she felt let down, and that she was no longer welcome on set.

"For Barbara to say she felt betrayed is the height of hypocrisy," Jones Reynolds said last night.

Walters, who opened yesterday's show with the remark: "And then there were three," told viewers she was surprised when Jones Reynolds interrupted Tuesday's broadcast to say she was quitting.

"We gave her time to look for another job and hoped that she would announce it on this program and leave with dignity," said Walters, confirming Jones Reynolds' contract for a 10th season had not been renewed.

"But Star made another choice."

Speaking candidly to News contributor Jawn Murray, Jones Reynolds said she was humiliated by Walters' decision not only to let her go but to hire archenemy Rosie O'Donnell as co-host.

"Rosie had attacked me on every single evening entertainment program," said the 44-year-old former lawyer. "Barbara used that week to call her and invite her to be part of a show that I helped launch nine years ago."

O'Donnell criticized Jones for not confirming that her 150-pound slimdown was partly due to gastric bypass surgery.

Jones Reynolds recalled the April 21 phone call from her agents telling her she was being dropped from "The View."

"Barbara did not call me herself," she said, bitterly. "After nine years, she didn't call me. They told me my contract would not be renewed because my approval rating had gone down. ... I was like, whoa!"

She claimed producers had previously assured her that her job was safe when she challenged them about replacement rumors.

"I came to work every day. I held my head up. I operated in grace and dignity," she explained. "I knew since April but I still came to work."

The catfight really began after Jones Reynolds told People magazine that "The View" had not offered her a new contract and "I feel like I am being fired."

Fur flew when Walters retorted in an interview that Jones Reynolds "lost the audience" and viewers were turned off by her astonishing weight loss and divalike behavior preceding her 2004 wedding.

Jones Reynolds countered by blasting Walters' decision to install O'Donnell as co-host in the fall. "[O'Donnell] had been so vicious and nasty to me."

O'Donnell couldn't resist another swipe, writing on her Web site blog yesterday that she had spotted swarms of camera crews waiting outside ABC's Manhattan studio.

"Drama is as drama does," O'Donnell wrote. "Everybody breathe."

A source at "The View" said the staff was glad to see the back of Jones Reynolds, adding: "Star has very effectively alienated everybody on the show."

Meanwhile, a friend of the outspoken star said Jones Reynolds and Walters have not been in contact since Tuesday's show.

It's funny that "they" have such a big problem with her weight loss. Folks are still in search of a mammy-figure.

Ironically, I've heard they are looking at Flo from Good Day NY/LA. After the way they treated Star, I don't know if any black female personality would want that job.

^^
Flo Anthony? I'd heard Bo Griffin and Sherri Shepherd (if they were looking for a larger-sized AfAm female celebrity). Most AfAm female celebrities, I'm sure, would look askance at the situation.

But I have to be realistic -- I knew Starrah was toast as soon as they brought in Roseanne O'Donnell.

I was thinking of Bo. Flo wouldn't want that job, especially with the way she's been dogging Baba and Rosie on the radio.

I agree with you on this on, ST. :)

preach!

Barbara doesn't realize how lucky she is that Star didn't get up there everyday and act the fool once she knew she'd been fired. People have shot up their workplaces over less humiliating things than this. Star came on time, did her job, was (usually) professional (or at least as professional as everybody else on that show), and she kept her mouth shut about losing her job until almost the end. She left on her own terms, and by doing so, is generating some major PR for herself!!! Obviously, Star is no dummy. She'll probably get at least a reality show out of this.

Plus Star showed remarkable restraint by not smacking that bubblehead Elizabeth before she walked out! Landsakes, give the woman an award!!

Star Jones is alright by me
 

Watching the interview with Larry King, and I promise you, Star is HANDLING that man! She is straight carrying him and he doesnt even know that he is being carried! Every time he tries to catch her in something or put words in her mouth (which he is attempting alot since he and Barbara are super-tight), she flips it right back on him and leaves Larry at a loss for words. It is so refreshing to see someone NOT get played by the media and be able to articulate exactly how they feel. That is a sharp woman and I went from feeling indifferent towards her to actually liking her. I wish her the best from one professional African-American female to another!