ROSIE O’Donnell – who said a few weeks ago that she’d have no problem carrying both her daily talk show and a role as the Cat in the Hat in Broadway’s “Seussical” – had to call in sick yesterday.
While Rosie managed to make two scheduled stage performances, she did not host “The Rosie O’Donnell Show.”
Kathie Lee Gifford subbed for her pal.
“Rosie will be back [on the show] this morning,” said O’Donnell’s spokeswoman. “She wasn’t feeling well and had a cold.”
O’Donnell has said several times that she plans to give up the talk show in May 2002 when her contract expires to spend more time with her family.
O’Donnell recently inked a deal to take over editorial control McCall’s magazine which will be renamed Rosie’s.
Some insiders have questioned whether O’Donnell can carry the rigorous schedule of hosting “Rosie” and filling in for star David Shiner in “Seussical” until Feb. 10 – especially on Wednesdays, when she has to perform a matinee and an evening show.
O’Donnell’s spokeswoman said “it hasn’t been discussed” whether Gifford will sub for O’Donnell on future shows.
Although Gifford sang a song parody in which she said that O’Donnell called her at 5 a.m. yesterday to sub, it turns out Gifford’s appearance was planned a little more in advance.
“Rosie actually reached out to Kathie Lee late Monday afternoon,” said O’Donnell’s spokeswoman.
“Rosie and Kathie Lee are friends, and Rosie subbed for Regis Philbin and Kathie Lee when Kathie Lee was doing ‘Live with Regis & Kathie Lee.'”
Gifford, meanwhile, could soon earn the title, “Have Sub Will Travel.”
In addition to subbing for the ailing O’Donnell yesterday, she will sub for Larry King tonight on CNN’s “Larry King Live” and told “Extra” she’s available to sub for host Leeza Gibbons.
“One minute I got one phone call and the next thing I had to decide what to wear – that’s what I like about the business, that it changes all the time,” Gifford told last night’s “Extra” about her “Rosie” gig.
Gifford also told “Extra” that she will appear as “Princess Whiff” in an episode of Nickelodeon’s “The Amanda Show” – and hinted she’s available to host “Extra” if needed.
“If Leeza gets sick, she can call me,” said Gifford, referring to “Extra” host Gibbons.