Oprah’s new network is taking a beating over the last couple days, and who know’s what’s coming next!

Friday it was announced that Oprah was cancelling Rosie O’Donnell’s talk show because of poor ratings. According to Radar Online, one former staffer said of the show “It was such a f**king hellhole!”

Oprah called Rosie herself to let her down easy, and “it was a very strained conversation, obviously,” according to a source close to the situation. “Oprah wanted to handle the announcement of the cancellation in a professional and dignified manner. Rosie thanked Oprah for the opportunity and ended the conversation very abruptly. OWN’s public relations team and Rosie’s publicist handled the language in the press release. Rosie didn’t like the initial language of the press release because she felt that it placed sole responsibility of the failure of the show on her. Oprah didn’t need to get Rosie’s input or approval for the press release, but she was trying to be gracious. Up until the moment that the press release was sent out, Rosie wanted changes made, but Oprah instructed the release to go out, because it needed to go out, and she was just over the drama,” the source added.

Oprah released a statement on the canceling of Rosie’s show: “I thank Rosie from the bottom of my heart for joining me on this journey. She has been an incredible partner, working to deliver the best possible show every single day. As I have learned in the last 15 months, a new network launch is always a challenge and ratings grow over time as you continue to gather an audience. I’m grateful to Rosie and the dedicated Rosie Show team for giving it their all.”

Leave it to Donald Trump (who has never had anything nice to say about Rosie) to dance on her grave.

Trump went on Twitter this morning and wrote, “Rosie O’Donnell has failed again. Her ratings were abysmal and Oprah cancelled her on Friday night.”

He added: “When will media executives learn that Rosie just hasn’t got it. ”

Of course, Trump has been bashing Rosie for years … claiming she was a “pig” and a “loser” after she called him a “snake-oil salesman.”

As for Rosie … we’re told her opinion of the staff was clear — The writers couldn’t write, the producers couldn’t produce, the stage manager couldn’t manage, and the director couldn’t direct.

Mind you, most of these people were seasoned vets who worked on that little show called “Oprah.”

We’re told Rosie’s tantrums were predictable and regular. The one word several high level staffers used to describe R.O. is “bully.”

Our sources connected with the show tell us the staff hated Ro … and the consensus is it was the worst experience they ever had on TV.

And Rosie wasn’t OWN’s only casualty. TMZ is reporting that Oprah slashed the jobs of 15 people at her network today, including two top executives. [UPDATE: The Hollywood Reporter is saying the number is double that. They're reporting Oprah's network fired 30 people.]

Sources connected to OWN tell us … people from at least 3 departments were let go … including the creative services dept., integrated marketing and promo scheduling.

We’re told one of the casualties was the head of the creative services department.

One source tells us the group included people with years of experience in the industry as well as newcomers.

The timing is interesting … considering O just cancelled Rosie O’Donnell’s show. OWN has been struggling with low ratings since its launch.

One source tells us, “It’s like a ghost town over there.”

It sure seems to me like Oprah just got greedy. She had one of the highest rated (if not THE highest rated) shows on daytime TV, was making a bazillion dollars, but chose to leave so she could start her OWN network. Looks like that’s not working out too well for her!

TMZ & RadarOnline

Regis Philbin filmed his last day on Live with Regis and Kelly at his upper west side studio on November 18, 2011.

He taped the show with co-host Kelly Ripa. Also in attendance were his friends including former co-host Kathy Lee Gifford and Bryant Gumble, Maria Menounos, Donald Trump and Regis’ wife and children.

Photos: Fame

Donald Trump, who has taken much flack from the press and public lately, has released a brutal video against Rep. Anthony Weiner, the Congressman who was recently caught up in the Twitter scandal. The Don calls the Congressman a “psycho” and says that he “should never ever be allowed to run for office again.” Donald came that Anthony Weiner used to call him all the time asking for campaign contributions, calling the Congressman a “bad guy.”

Source

In what most everyone saw as a huge publicity stunt, Donald Trump had been flirting with the idea of running for president. I’m not sure who – if anyone – was buying it, but he released a statement today officially announcing he’s NOT running for president.

Full statement:

After considerable deliberation and reflection, I have decided not to pursue the office of the Presidency. This decision does not come easily or without regret; especially when my potential candidacy continues to be validated by ranking at the top of the Republican contenders in polls across the country. I maintain the strong conviction that if I were to run, I would be able to win the primary and ultimately, the general election. I have spent the past several months unofficially campaigning and recognize that running for public office cannot be done half heartedly. Ultimately, however, business is my greatest passion and I am not ready to leave the private sector.

I want to personally thank the millions of Americans who have joined the various Trump grassroots movements and written me letters and e-mails encouraging me to run. My gratitude for your faith and trust in me could never be expressed properly in words. So, I make you this promise: that I will continue to voice my opinions loudly and help to shape our politician’s thoughts. My ability to bring important economic and foreign policy issues to the forefront of the national dialogue is perhaps my greatest asset and one of the most valuable services I can provide to this country. I will continue to push our President and the country’s policy makers to address the dire challenges arising from our unsustainable debt structure and increasing lack of global competitiveness. Issues, including getting tough on China and other countries that are methodically and systematically taking advantage of the United States, were seldom mentioned before I brought them to the forefront of the country’s conversation. They are now being debated vigorously. I will also continue to push for job creation, an initiative that should be this country’s top priority and something that I know a lot about. I will not shy away from expressing the opinions that so many of you share yet don’t have a medium through which to articulate.

I look forward to supporting the candidate who is the most qualified to help us tackle our country’s most important issues and am hopeful that, when this person emerges, he or she will have the courage to take on the challenges of the Office and be the agent of change that this country so desperately needs.

Thank you and God Bless America!

Donald J. Trump

Real estate mogul Donald Trump has been under heavy fire lately, and it seems as if it isn’t going to let up anytime soon. Last night, Bob Schieffer made a statement that rocked The Don’s world on CBS Evening News, responding to Donald’s concerns as to whether President Obama had the grades to attend Harvard.

Bob Schieffer stated:

“That’s just code for saying he got into law school because he’s black.  This is an ugly strain of racism that’s running through this whole thing.”

Donald, in true Donald fashion, spoke with TMZ about the accusations of racism, saying:

“That is a terrible statement for a newscaster to make.  I am the last person that such a thing should be said about.[...]Affirmative action is out there.  It’s a program that is available. But I have no idea whether it applies in this case.  I’m not suggesting anything.[...]Grades are the least important aspect of somebody being president.  It’s not a big subject for me.”

Would you vote for Mr. Trump?

See, Donald Trump isn’t all mean, as he’s oftentimes portrayed. Richard Hatch, winner of Survivor and a current featured cast member of Celebrity Apprentice, turned himself in on Monday to begin his nine month sentence for failing to pay taxes on his $1 million Survivor prize.

Donald wants his reality television buddy to know that he’s got a friend on the outside who wants to help, in whatever way possible.

“It sounds like a very tough predicament, I may ask him if there’s anything I can do … I may get involved and ask him what the hell is going on.”

He goes on to talk about Richard’s experience on Celebrity Apprentice. Even though Richard was less than popular on the show, it doesn’t mean The Don wouldn’t still help him out financially.

“He wasn’t loved on set because it’s a competition but I will say he was respected,” [Would you help him financially?] “[It's]something I’d think about. He’s been a great character on the show.”

Source

Ladies love The Situation (and his abs), but at the taping of Comedy Central’s Roast of Donald Trump, Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino almost gets booed off the stage!

Wearing Aviator sunglasses, Sorrentino’s jokes were hard to follow, but he did manage to insult the other presenters, calling Marlee Matlin “ugly,” Larry King “old,” and Lisa Lampanelli “fat.”

Then the Jersey Shore star told fellow roster Snoop Doggthat he and the Donald had a lot in common because the millionaire developer owned a lot of property and Snoop’s ancestors had been property.

The crowd jeered, and Roast-master Jeffrey Ross had to get into the act.

Still The Situation told UsMagazine.com afterward that he was glad he did the event. “My whole career people have been hard on me,” he said. “But I stood in there. I got through it, and people actually clapped at the end.”

And he noted that despite his off-color comments there’s no bad blood between him and Snoop. “Snoop is an awesome dude,” he said. “Very kind. Me and him got along so well. Between Trump and Snoop, I gained a lot of friendships.”

Perhaps to the dismay of the audience, the reality star added he isn’t ruling out more comedy in the future.

But what were Trump’s thoughts of The Situation?

“And he had at least one fan from the night. “I was honored that he came,” Trump said to Us Weekly. “I thought he was great!”

Source Image via Fame