TV's Top News Ladies: Will They Sink or Swim?

With Meredith Vieira's debut on "Today" this morning, the game of musical anchor chairs between Vieira, Katie Couric and Rosie O'Donnell is now complete. So we're left to wonder: which of these women will score big in the ratings and which will fall flat on her face?
Meredith Viera, Katie Couric, and Rosie O'Donnell
Couric scored 13 million viewers in her debut as anchor of "The CBS Evening News" and, while her audience declined slightly by week's end, she still led NBC and ABC by three million viewers. But week two has gotten off to a poor start as Katie dropped to third place on Monday with 7.49 million viewers, slightly behind ABC's 7.87 million and NBC's 8.27 million.

Katie anchored Monday's newscast, the fifth anniversary of 9/11, from Ground Zero and seemed to have trouble holding back tears as she closed the telecast.

While rumors of Rosie O'Donnell clashing with her fellow "View" co-hosts have surfaced (who didn't see that coming?), Rosie's debut on the show also equaled ratings gold -- four million people tuned in, a 54% bump over the same day last year.

Sources have told TMZ that Rosie has complained about the show's production and that Elisabeth Hasselbeck has been openly hostile to her. Rosie even butted heads with Barbara Walters before Rosie even debuted -- Walters didn't approve of Rosie's cryptic blog messages she wrote on her site.

Rosie's rep denies rumors of bad blood, saying, "Everyone gets along great."

And finally, it will take a few days to see how Meredith Vieira does in her new locale, but the former "View"-er did show signs of at least being somewhat nervous (who wouldn't be?) as she flubbed a line on her first toss to commercial break.






Tags: katie couric, KatieCouric, meredith vieira, MeredithVieira, rosie o'donnell, RosieO'donnell, the view, TheView, today

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61. rosie is the best

she has brought life back to the view ,

elizabeth couldnt win a argument against rosie if rosie was sleeping

because rosie is always right and liz isnt ,,, she is on the wrong side of every

issue

and love joy and babs always

theresa

Posted at 8:14PM on Sep 30th 2006 by theresa scanlon

62. There is a reason why the ratings are up. People are waiting for the train wreck. We all know it's coming, we just can't way when. Rosie is a mess and a loose cannon trying to shove her gay life style down everyones throat. She will fall and it will be huge just like her.

Posted at 8:27PM on Sep 30th 2006 by Lenn K.

63. The View is getting real high ratings thanks ro Rosie. Rosie cares about all people . She only offends people that like to descriminate.

Posted at 8:26PM on Sep 30th 2006 by billy croll

64. I CAN SEE WHY THE NETWORKS WANTED TO SHAKE THINGS UP AND MAKE SOME CHANGES...HOWEVER, ALTHOUGH I WAS A FAN OF ROSIE BEFORE I THINK SHE HAS TROUBLE SHARING THE SPOTLIGHT WITH THE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE VIEW...I AM NOTICING THERE TENDS TO BE COMPETITION AMONG THE VIEW MEMBERS NOW...I ADMIRED STAR JONES FOR HER INTEGRITY, BUT SOMEHOW THAT GOT OVER TURNED...I FELT VERY SORRY FOR STAR TOWARD THE END AS SHE HUNG HER HEAD DOWN IN SADNESS A LOT, BUT WALKED AWAY WITH HER HEAD HELD HIGH WHEN SHE SAID SHE WAS LEAVING...

Posted at 8:34PM on Sep 30th 2006 by PATTI

65. I think Rosie is just disguting! She sits on that panel thinking she is so high and mighty, and they all try to compete for air time, but it is Rosie who speaks the loudest. To think, I thought that was impossible with Joy Behar there. I will no longer be watching the view and couldn't care less. BW has a dud on her hands instead of a show that was making her a lot of $ and kudos.
Am glad that I have other things to do at that time, I won't miss the show.

Posted at 10:46AM on Oct 1st 2006 by Di

66. THE ANDY DICK SEGMENT ON TODAY'S "THE VIEW" SHOW PLUMMETED THE SHOW TO A NEW LOW! IT WAS OFFENSIVE, SALACIOUS AND TOTALLY INAPPROPRIATE FOR DAYTIME TV.
I AM SURE THAT SEGMENT WAS ROSIE'S IDEA. I ALSO THINK JOY WAS PROBABLY GRITTING HER TEETH THROUGH IT ALL. AND VERY UNCOMFORTABLE WITH MOST OF THAT BIT.

Posted at 4:27PM on Oct 8th 2006 by GLORIA

67. It's Columbus Day and I am home from work on holiday. While enjoying some free time on the internet I wonder...does anyone work anymore? After reading this site I ask who wants to watch these women, and why do you care about them so much? Quite frankly I don't give a hoot who said what when. Turn off your T.V.'s and enjoy life!

Posted at 9:17AM on Oct 9th 2006 by E. Miller

68. I love to hear articulate opposing views and lively debate. I find diversity interesting and thought provoking. Rosie adds none of this to the view. It is true she seems to have few wholesome values, but that is not the base problem. She is sarcastic, defensive, and vicious to those with whom she disagrees. Her camera stares have become tiresome and her rhetoric is beginning to grind. It would be refreshing to see someone on the show that is thoughtful and open to other people's ideas.

Posted at 11:52AM on Oct 9th 2006 by T Stewart

69. i think katie couric made a big mistake going into evening news, It totally does not suit her personality, and after viewing her on the today show for so long, as a quirky and animated news person, her role at channel 2 is just not working for me. I really didn.t follow her goodbye's so if she left for more money, or sleeping in, or even for exploring new waters, i think she made a mistake. I think she loves to laugh and have silly moments and misses her co -anchors more than she imagined she would. You gotta love it and maybe have some fun while you work. She is way to blah and stiff, I wish she had stayed at the today show. matt and she made that show work, and although meredith is a nice person, it seems, she doesn't have katie's natural wit. I hope her move was to benefit her daughters, and as a mom, I can certainly understand that to be her priority.
Best wishes and i hope it was a smart move for her all in all.i think channel 4 will feel her absence in it's ratings real soon. An upstate New York fan.

Posted at 1:17PM on Oct 9th 2006 by JANETTE

70. The View went from a classy to trashy when they hired Rosie! She needs to GO if the show is to survive!

Posted at 2:23PM on Oct 10th 2006 by Jay

71. I think Rosie O'Donnell suck. She is loud and obnoxious and is doing nothing for the ratings on "The View". BW made a ginormous mistake with this one. I do not watch the show anymore because of Rosie. She is so worried about everyone else's secret but she made sure to take her time and come out of the closet when SHE was ready. So back off Fatso!!!!

Posted at 10:51AM on Oct 10th 2006 by Tamika

72. Four Words. GET RID OF ROSIE!!!!!!!

Posted at 10:53AM on Oct 10th 2006 by Tamika

73. I don't think Meredith, Katie or Rosie will do well in their new roles. All three shows were better before the changes. But, time will tell.....

Posted at 7:08PM on Oct 10th 2006 by Barb

74. I think Rosie is great for the show puts alot more laughs on the show which it needs and shes a good combo with Joy . I don"t like what they did to Star the way they did it

Posted at 8:39PM on Oct 26th 2006 by Cheryl

75. Hate what is happening to the view. Do not watch much anymore due to the rudeness of Rosie. When I do, it is hard to believe how she does not want anyone else to share their opinion. Love Elisabeth and Joy, and of course Barbara, Bill also. What were they thinking? Even your guests are not able to finish their sentences or your demonstrators TRYING to tell us what they are there for. Rosie is unbelievable, I said before and say again it is becoming Rosie's View.

Also I heard how she talked about Il Divo, could not believe it. We all love them, and her saying that their clothes looked bad or used and they sounded terrible. If I were them I would sue her.

Posted at 2:19PM on Oct 13th 2006 by Phyllis

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