The View

Whoopi Goldberg's soaring high in the entertainment world now, but the view -- much less the smell -- wasn't always rosy.

We got Whoopi in NYC where our fearless photog asked her about the worst job she's ever had.

Whoopi Goldberg sure sounds like she's not going to bail on "The View" when her contract is up in a few months.

We got Whoopi in SoHo Wednesday and she's definitely not definitive, but it sounds like she's satisfied with the gig.

Raven-Symone threw a giant rock from inside her glass house, and it's bouncing back in her face -- because her refusal to hire people with "black" names has some people calling for her to be fired.

"The View" co-host admitted on Thursday she discriminates when it comes to people with names like "Watermelondrea" ... and would not hire someone with such a unique name.

Of course, that comment came from a black woman named Raven-Symone ... while she was rocking a hot pink mohawk.

The irony is not lost on 'View' fans, many of whom are blasting Raven on social media and even calling for her to be replaced ... by Rachel Dolezal.

Whoopi Goldberg isn't denying she's pissed at someone at "The View" -- in fact, she sounds angry in this video -- but she's refusing to call it a "meltdown."

Whoopi allegedly went off recently on 'View' execs -- according to the The Daily Mail she dropped the 'n' word and called herself a slave doing the bidding of her ABC masters. The report claims it was because she'd been cut out of an editorial meeting.

Outside the ABC studio today, our photog referred to the incident as a "meltdown," and then Whoopi took him to school. But watch ... she also strongly hints someone's stepping on her toes behind the scenes.

The party's over for "The View" and more of its advertisers -- Party City, Snuggle and McCormick spices all decided to yank advertising in the wake of the Miss America/nursing controversy.

The companies followed the lead of Johnson & Johnson and Eggland's Best which pulled their spots from the ABC show on Thursday.

McCormick, a Fortune 1000 company, replied on Facebook to an upset consumer, "Like you, we also value and admire nurses, so we have paused advertising on the daytime television show."

Snuggle's statement included, "Please join us in thanking and celebrating nurses for the critical role they play in our healthcare system."

You'll recall, the wheels started falling off when Joy Behar poked fun at Miss Colorado wearing her nursing scrubs during last weekend's pageant. Even though Joy apologized ... the backlash continues.

"The View" may need a nurse to stop the bleeding, because TMZ has learned 2 major advertisers have cut the cord after the women went off on the nursing profession.

Johnson & Johnson and Eggland's Best are pulling ads from the ABC show. EB seems to be making things final, saying, "In light of the comments about the profession recently made ... we will no longer be advertising." J&J says they've "paused our advertising accordingly."

Co-hosts Michelle Collins and Joy Behar criticized Miss Colorado during the talent portion of the "Miss America" pageant Sunday for wearing her nurse-garb.

The two tried to smooth things over with an apology on Wednesday but it looks like the big business wigs weren't buyin' it.

We reached out to "The View" for comment ... so far no word back.

"The View" co-hosts did nurse damage control Wednesday ... with one of the ladies squarely owning up and another doing the moonwalk.

Michelle Collins and Joy Behar lampooned Miss Colorado who came out during the "Miss America" talent portion in a nurse's uniform. Thing is ... she's really a nurse, and the jokes didn't go over well.

Joy was very honest and said on Wednesday's show she just screwed up.

Michelle, on the other hand, kinda pulled a "my-best-friends-are-nurses" thing, talking about how much she loves them.

Barbara Walters is on the verge of tarnishing her legendary TV career ... IF she dares to return to "The View" -- at least that's what her friends are telling her.

One of Barbara's more famous counselors, Julie Chen ... went on "The Howard Stern Show" this morning and said Barbara really is considering going back to the show she created -- but she's getting strong advice to avoid it like the plague.

As Julie put it ... "That ship has sailed. No one can turn it around."

Julie and Sharon Osbourne had more to say about the possible move -- but what's weird, of course, is they co-host "The Talk" ... a main competitor of "The View." So, they've clearly got a dog in the fight.

Can't say Joy Behar isn't fair -- she's treating Caitlyn Jenner the same as she would anyone else, and sometimes that means giving her a good jabbing ... same as everyone else.

We asked Joy if she thought Caitlyn would make a good co-host for "The View" -- seeing as how the show could use a shot in the arm. Plus, as a former co-host ... Joy should know what it takes.

Check out her answer -- Caitlyn's transition hasn't changed one personality trait which is NOT a great fit for TV hosts ... according to Joy, anyway.

Rosie O'Donnell filed divorce papers Friday ... 3 weeks after announcing she and Michelle Rounds were splitting.

Rosie filed in Manhattan, and in the docs she calls the marriage "an irretrievably broken relationship." The papers also reveal they have a prenup, according to People ... which first reported the filing.

In the docs, O'Donnell says they've been separated since November.

She dropped the bombshell of their break-up at the same time she first revealed she was leaving "The View."

Rosie O'Donnell says temptation is everywhere now that she's single ... especially when she's face to face with some obsequious students from Barnard College.

The freshly single O'Donnell showed up over the weekend at "The Vagina Monologues" in NYC.

Rosie announced she and wife Michelle Rounds were going their separate ways, the day before she released her HBO documentary talking about life as a married woman.

Rosie O'Donnell is making a clean break -- leaving her wife AND quitting "The View" ... all in one fell swoop.

Rosie's rep confirmed she and Michelle Rounds are splitting after 2 and a half years of marriage. The couple adopted a baby girl together in 2013.

Rosie also announced next week will be her last on "The View." She just returned to the show last September -- and her departure comes amid rampant speculation that Rosie Perez would be the one exiting.

The New York Post first reported O'Donnell's departure.

Whoopi Goldberg's got back ... problems and it's creating a rift between her, the other "View" co-hosts and producers of the show -- who think Whoopi's new chair is a major eyesore.

When Whoopi returned from her two-week injury sabbatical Tuesday, she brought a new ergonomic chair for support. All the women used the same chair ... so Whoopi's wouldn't look different.

According to our sources, producers felt the chairs looked clunky on camera ... so they yanked them for Wednesday's episode -- but Whoopi stood (or sat) her ground in the new chair.

And yes ... it stood out.

We're told Whoopi has no plans to change back, so producers are struggling to find a way to make it more pleasing to the eye.

A distinguished group of Hispanic women are blasting "The View" for allegedly making disparaging remarks against co-host Rosie Perez ... saying they are both racist and sexist.

The group referring to themselves as #YoSoyRosie is responding to a "View" source who spoke to the NY Daily News and said Rosie, "is not the sharpest tool in the box," and most recently told Variety that "Ms. Perez can't read a TelePrompTer."

The group just

, obtained by TMZ , "questioning a woman's intelligence is an old stereotype that is sexist and in this case also racist" and they go on to say "when you disparage the only Latina on 'The View', you disparage all Latinas."

#YoSoyRosie members include high profile names like New York City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito and NY Secretary of State Lorraine Cortes-Vazquez and best selling author Esmeralda Santiago.

Rosie is scheduled to appear on "The View" Thursday to address the comments.

Rosie O'Donnell is a "malcontent" who is bringing down "The View" and is impossible to deal with ... so claim well-placed sources in the show's production.

We're told Rosie came in thinking she'd be in the lead position at the table -- "the moderator." We're told she was outraged when it became clear the title and the power belonged to Whoopi.

Our sources say Rosie has been impossibly rude to members of the cast and crew, both on and off camera.

We're told she seems "very depressed" and has few personal interactions with anyone off camera.

The ratings are down and execs are blaming Rosie.

The honchos have tried talking with Rosie but they say it's like talking to a wall. They doubt she will even finish the season and another season we're told is "out of the question."

Rosie's rep tells TMZ ... "This is absolutely false! Whoopi Goldberg has been the moderator since Whoopi was hired and Rosie knew that before she took the job."

Original "View" co-host Debbie Matenopoulos doesn't need an umbrella, because she has plenty of shade ... which she happily threw at one of the show's new panelists.

A very pregnant Matenopoulos was hanging out at Craig's in West Hollywood and had glowing reviews for 3 members of the new foursome -- Rosie Perez, Nicole Wallace ... along with Whoopi Goldberg and Rosie O'Donnell. Debbie laid out her issues with one of them.