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
Posted Monday, March 19th, 2012 at 2:14pm
Filed under
Donald Trump,
Oprah,
Rosie O'Donnell |
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