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Ladies Who Punch: The Explosive Inside Story of "The View"
Like Fire & Fury, the gossipy real-life soap opera behind a serious show.
When Barbara Walters launched The View, network executives told her that hosting it would tarnish her reputation. Instead, within ten years, she’d revolutionized morning TV and made household names of her co-hosts: Joy Behar, Star Jones, Meredith Vieira and Elisabeth Hasselbeck. But the daily chatfest didn’t just comment on the news. It became the news. And the headlines barely scratched the surface.
Based on stunning interviews with nearly every host and unprecedented access, award-winning journalist Ramin Setoodeh takes you backstage where the stars really spoke their minds. Here's the full story of how Star, then Rosie, then Whoopi tried to take over the show, while Barbara struggled to maintain control of it all, a modern-day Lear with her media-savvy daughters. You'll read about how so many co-hosts had a tough time fitting in, suffered humiliations at the table, then pushed themselves away, feeling betrayed—one nearly quitting during a commercial. Meanwhile, the director was being driven insane, especially by Rosie.
Setoodeh uncovers the truth about Star’s weight loss and wedding madness. Rosie’s feud with Trump. Whoopi’s toxic relationship with Rosie. Barbara’s difficulty stepping away. Plus, all the unseen hugs, snubs, tears—and one dead rodent.
Ladies Who Punch shows why The View can be mimicked and mocked, but it can never be matched.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published April 2, 2019
About the author
Ramin Setoodeh
3 books44 followersRamin Setoodeh, an award-winning journalist, is the New York bureau chief for Variety. He was formerly a senior writer at Newsweek and has also written for The Wall Street Journal, the Los Angeles Times, and U.S. News & World Report, among other publications. Ladies Who Punch is his first book. He lives in New York City.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 711 reviews
September 3, 2019
Ladies Who Punch by journalist Ramin Setoodeh is the story of popular television talk show The View and the many women who hosted the show in the last two decades. The book reads more like tabloid gossip than an informative behind-the-scene documentation. While it informs, it also makes the reader cringe when there is too much information. The author often comes off as bitchy and vindictive. All in all, an ok read. If you are a fan of The View, you might want to pass on this book.
April 6, 2019
I knew that Rosie O'Donnell had mental health problems before I read this book, but after reading it, I wonder about the mental health of several other former co-hosts, including Barbara Walters (who seems to have had mild dementia near the end of her reign) and Elisabeth Hasselbeck. I also changed my mind about which co-hosts were the most and least likable. Of the original hosts, Star seemed to be the least likable because of her narcissistic, diva behavior, but in this book, she admits her mistakes and so seems more likable (of course, she cooperated with the writer, so she might also be trying to resurrect her career, maybe even book a return to the "View" table like Joy and Rosie). Joy and Meredith's reputations are unscathed in this book, but Barbara comes off as only slightly more likable than Rosie. Whoopi also is less likable in the book (maybe because she didn't cooperate with the author). The most interesting information relates to the firings. Contrary to what Rosie says in the book, Meredith seems to be the only co-host who left voluntarily. Joy and Elisabeth were fired, and the ratings tanked, which is why Joy is back and Elisabeth would be too if she had accepted the producers' offer. Even Barbara didn't really want to go when she finally retired. Anyone who loves behind-the-scenes gossip will enjoy this book. Trump even makes a few cameo appearances.
March 29, 2019
Perfect. Absolute bliss. Wish it were twice as long.
April 11, 2019
Very interesting read about the behind the senses of the show The View. It was fun going to YouTube and reviewing the footage of thing that were discussed.
September 9, 2020
The power that this book has... the international implications that this book has...
April 14, 2019
I wonder if Barbara Walters and longtime sidekick Bill Geddie sought out the opinion of a personality psychologist prior to presenting the world with Barbara's dream baby, The View.
Setoodeh's hot new tell-all is [no big surprises] a salacious piece of schmagg that appeals to the catty inclinations most of us deny having. Pure Schadenfreud-y fun. Just the kind of petty nastiness that whets our appetites and allows us to wickedly pick at the cadre of icons and lesser-known beautiful rich people that buy their kids' way into colleges, escape legal justice, or host a powerful daytime TV series.
https://youtu.be/YHimia_Fxzs
Pre-release marketing front-end loaded the heck out of this, ensuring the book would be snapped up by dangling juicy morsels before the public, like the sound bites of Elizabeth Hasselbeck's blitzkrieg of F-bombs, ranted while the co-host walked off the set after being chastised on-air by Queen Babs. "She has me swearing and I don't even swear!!" Huffs the unsuspecting Hasselbeck, still wired for sound and shredding her cue cards. Of course afterward, the beneficent Barbara hugs her tightly, smiling even tighter. A fine act of compassion and concern worthy of an Oscar after the frequent explosive commercial breaks that provided gloves-off combat on the set for those few minutes. I keep thinking of betta fish.
And there is plenty more *dish* that shows just what goes on behind the scenes where numbers are everything and many inflated egos have to be balanced. It was a brutal gig. Considering the unflattering stripdown suffered by each host that has occupied one of those very hot seats, Jim Morrison may have coined the best theme song, "no one here gets out alive" (or at least unscathed). "Five to one"...
The author/journalist deserves credit. Setoodeh dishes with attention to objectivity, sharing details and observations free of judgments. He is direct; he doesn't analyze nor does he shy away from the insider stories he shares. Star Jones' wedding fiasco - where greed went rampant, the EGOT Goldberg - who showed a not so humorous side when she came to the defense of Bill Cosby to the very end, Rosie O'Donnell's struggles with depression and later with Trump, and Barbara and Bill as co-creators and executive producers, or Judge and Executioner. Barbara Streisand demands to be filmed from a certain side; Faye Dunaway wants naps and exercise equipment; Star demanded no eye contact from employees. Just the facts as told by 5 "very different ladies with very different views."
As one would expect, as any therapist would have warned, there were casualties: feelings are hurt, offended, ignored, rebuffed, cut-off, snarled and growled at both on air and behind the scenes. After the string of ever-changing co-hosts came and went it was undeniable that there was an undercurrent of a dream turned nightmare. The View seemed less than fun day as heads rolled. Still today, the atmosphere seems tense, the show balancing precariously, trying to find the right combination of personalities capable of CIVIL discourse and holding onto the ratings.
Eventually, the King kills the kingdom or the kingdom kills the King, they say. Maybe Walters should have heeded her own warning, or maybe watched a tank full of Betta fish.
"It’s especially important to set up a tank where the betta has companionship with fish that it gets along with, and also has the option of avoiding them. 'You want to look at species compatibility and you also want to make sure that it has the option for hiding.”
"I've always wanted to do a show with women of different generations, backgrounds, and views; and in a perfect world, I'd get to join the group whenever I wanted"I'm convinced that on some level, the many implications associated with her dream show and the unintended consequences were not only predictable, but exactly the kind of very close to the edge entertainment Walters wholeheartedly wished for when she wrapped up her opening remarks with the ominous caveat, "be careful what you wish for." A little piece of inner-voice verbal monologue? or a curse cackled by the aging mother hen? Either side you align with, some strong arguments for both strategies follow in Ladies Who Punch.
Setoodeh's hot new tell-all is [no big surprises] a salacious piece of schmagg that appeals to the catty inclinations most of us deny having. Pure Schadenfreud-y fun. Just the kind of petty nastiness that whets our appetites and allows us to wickedly pick at the cadre of icons and lesser-known beautiful rich people that buy their kids' way into colleges, escape legal justice, or host a powerful daytime TV series.
https://youtu.be/YHimia_Fxzs
Pre-release marketing front-end loaded the heck out of this, ensuring the book would be snapped up by dangling juicy morsels before the public, like the sound bites of Elizabeth Hasselbeck's blitzkrieg of F-bombs, ranted while the co-host walked off the set after being chastised on-air by Queen Babs. "She has me swearing and I don't even swear!!" Huffs the unsuspecting Hasselbeck, still wired for sound and shredding her cue cards. Of course afterward, the beneficent Barbara hugs her tightly, smiling even tighter. A fine act of compassion and concern worthy of an Oscar after the frequent explosive commercial breaks that provided gloves-off combat on the set for those few minutes. I keep thinking of betta fish.
And there is plenty more *dish* that shows just what goes on behind the scenes where numbers are everything and many inflated egos have to be balanced. It was a brutal gig. Considering the unflattering stripdown suffered by each host that has occupied one of those very hot seats, Jim Morrison may have coined the best theme song, "no one here gets out alive" (or at least unscathed). "Five to one"...
The author/journalist deserves credit. Setoodeh dishes with attention to objectivity, sharing details and observations free of judgments. He is direct; he doesn't analyze nor does he shy away from the insider stories he shares. Star Jones' wedding fiasco - where greed went rampant, the EGOT Goldberg - who showed a not so humorous side when she came to the defense of Bill Cosby to the very end, Rosie O'Donnell's struggles with depression and later with Trump, and Barbara and Bill as co-creators and executive producers, or Judge and Executioner. Barbara Streisand demands to be filmed from a certain side; Faye Dunaway wants naps and exercise equipment; Star demanded no eye contact from employees. Just the facts as told by 5 "very different ladies with very different views."
As one would expect, as any therapist would have warned, there were casualties: feelings are hurt, offended, ignored, rebuffed, cut-off, snarled and growled at both on air and behind the scenes. After the string of ever-changing co-hosts came and went it was undeniable that there was an undercurrent of a dream turned nightmare. The View seemed less than fun day as heads rolled. Still today, the atmosphere seems tense, the show balancing precariously, trying to find the right combination of personalities capable of CIVIL discourse and holding onto the ratings.
Eventually, the King kills the kingdom or the kingdom kills the King, they say. Maybe Walters should have heeded her own warning, or maybe watched a tank full of Betta fish.
"It’s especially important to set up a tank where the betta has companionship with fish that it gets along with, and also has the option of avoiding them. 'You want to look at species compatibility and you also want to make sure that it has the option for hiding.”
September 29, 2020
"The View" is boring now but it used to mean something.
Its peak was when Rosie O' Donnell was at the helm. I see Rosie as a mad genius: a genius for Television, that fading art form, a manic depressive rebel who wears her heart on her sleeve and speaks her truth which can get you fired in show biz. I salute her for her bravery and I do believe she is the only one who could have saved The View from certain death.
Its peak was when Rosie O' Donnell was at the helm. I see Rosie as a mad genius: a genius for Television, that fading art form, a manic depressive rebel who wears her heart on her sleeve and speaks her truth which can get you fired in show biz. I salute her for her bravery and I do believe she is the only one who could have saved The View from certain death.
April 18, 2019
Meh.
Rich women taking themselves and their lives far far too seriously as they contribute to the decline of American discourse.
Rich women taking themselves and their lives far far too seriously as they contribute to the decline of American discourse.
July 3, 2019
I must confess that I have a guilty pleasure—and that is psyching people out before boasting that I’m too old to feel shame for liking the things I do. Also, I’m a huge fan of The View. In Ladies Who Punch, Ramin Setoodeh tries his darndest to sum up the twenty-year legacy of one of America’s most iconic (and a times iconoclastic) daytime talk shows. For me it falls flat.
Splitting the book into three equally partitioned arcs, “Barbara’s View,” “Rosie’s View,” and “Whoopi’s View” was an odd choice for one. While Rosie made for memorable moments (fights), she was only really there for 1.5 seasons, not even. True to the book’s title, this beach read focuses more on melodrama and meltdowns rather than detailing how the show was actually impactful over the changing decades. Was some of this entertaining? Yes. But was any of this truly memorable? Not really, no.
It should be stated that Ramin is 100% a fan of the show and his passion is very present as he delves into its history and lore. Also impressive are the number of interviews he conducted to write this book. Sadly, for me at least, this admiration guides Ramin’s spotlight to follow his own interests to the detriment of a better story. This is compounded by the fact that the book is only 300 pages long, which is too short to waste pages on uninteresting nonsense.
For instance, he writes a good chunk about Jenny McCarthy’s (one season) tenure on the show, but barely spares a word for Sunny Hostin. In addition to being on The View for three seasons, Sunny is ABC’s legal expert and has some truly noteworthy insights on the latest headlines…as well as an intense love for her pet chickens. Now THAT is the combo of expertise and weird schlock that makes me a fan of this ridiculous, beautiful show.
Overall, if you are a MAJOR View fan, sure, give the book a go—it is a super quick read. That said, it’s nothing to write home about, and it’s certainly not a Hot Topic.
Splitting the book into three equally partitioned arcs, “Barbara’s View,” “Rosie’s View,” and “Whoopi’s View” was an odd choice for one. While Rosie made for memorable moments (fights), she was only really there for 1.5 seasons, not even. True to the book’s title, this beach read focuses more on melodrama and meltdowns rather than detailing how the show was actually impactful over the changing decades. Was some of this entertaining? Yes. But was any of this truly memorable? Not really, no.
It should be stated that Ramin is 100% a fan of the show and his passion is very present as he delves into its history and lore. Also impressive are the number of interviews he conducted to write this book. Sadly, for me at least, this admiration guides Ramin’s spotlight to follow his own interests to the detriment of a better story. This is compounded by the fact that the book is only 300 pages long, which is too short to waste pages on uninteresting nonsense.
For instance, he writes a good chunk about Jenny McCarthy’s (one season) tenure on the show, but barely spares a word for Sunny Hostin. In addition to being on The View for three seasons, Sunny is ABC’s legal expert and has some truly noteworthy insights on the latest headlines…as well as an intense love for her pet chickens. Now THAT is the combo of expertise and weird schlock that makes me a fan of this ridiculous, beautiful show.
Overall, if you are a MAJOR View fan, sure, give the book a go—it is a super quick read. That said, it’s nothing to write home about, and it’s certainly not a Hot Topic.
May 12, 2019
Holy cow!!! So much to wrap my head around! This book is exactly why I don't watch The View anymore!😂 So much juice and I loved learning about what really happens behind the scenes but wow......total toxicity!!
May 6, 2019
Everything and more I could want in a book! I’ve always felt very proud that I could I say I watched the Rosie/Elisabeth fight live on television. I knew it was history making. I think this guy needs to write a tell on Rosie O’Donnell’s whole life next. I could read about her all day. I think she’s a genius but with genius often comes crazy. It’s amazing how he got so many of them to be so open and candid with him, he has a gift. I hope he does a follow up book in a few years. Someone needs to hire him to do an exposé (after the Rosie book) about the Today Show. I know he can get the good dirt.
April 5, 2019
"Ladies Who Punch" boasts an impressive amount of research and original interview content as it documents one of the most iconic talk shows of all time.
Unfortunately, the author comes off a bit like Bravo's insufferable Andy Cohen in certain sections. I have no interest in hearing a man describe commentary by the smart and successful women of The View as "bitchy." Being gay doesn't excuse misogyny. This shoudn't need to be explained in 2019.
That said, the good outweighs the bad here as Ramin Setoodeh provides the most compelling and comprehensive account of the show's history to date.
Unfortunately, the author comes off a bit like Bravo's insufferable Andy Cohen in certain sections. I have no interest in hearing a man describe commentary by the smart and successful women of The View as "bitchy." Being gay doesn't excuse misogyny. This shoudn't need to be explained in 2019.
That said, the good outweighs the bad here as Ramin Setoodeh provides the most compelling and comprehensive account of the show's history to date.
April 17, 2019
I loved this dishy look at The View...which is funny because I've probably watched the show like 3 times, and all way back when my teens were newborns. There were people mentioned in this I had no idea were hosts! Regardless, I spend a lot of time in the car and listening to this on audiobook made the time pass quickly. The author interviewed most of the players, so it leant a great deal of credibility to the story. Super fun, even for people like me who aren't fans.
March 30, 2020
4.5 stars
April 11, 2019
*chef's kiss* I could have read a book twice as long about all the backstage drama. I love this show, love all these ladies, love this mess.
April 13, 2019
I’ve never been a regular watcher of The View but loved every word of Ladies Who Punch!!
This book is an incredibly entertaining, well researched, thorough, and juicy one.
This book is an incredibly entertaining, well researched, thorough, and juicy one.
May 7, 2019
A delicious and savory read! It’s everything I thought backstage at The View to be...and more! The backbiting, the betrayals, the b**** slapping; well, no confirmation of the latter but the book certainly lives up to its title. Consider this tea spilt!
February 16, 2020
The title met all expectations: trashy, gossipy, bitchy, shady, petty, and very entertaining.
May 15, 2019
Ladies who Punch is the behind the scenes story of The View. It is caddy, scathing, petty and humiliating...and I loved every word!
Unless you are a fan of The View, which I have been from its conception almost 20 years ago, you won't really enjoy this book. BUT for those who lunch with the ladies as I have over the years, this will be your bible on how the show works, or doesn't, how the ladies get along, or don't, and how the staff and talent try to sabotage each other, and they do. Here are just a few of the highlights:
Rosie O'Donnell was hated by just about everyone on the staff and crew both times she was on the show. Some producers and even a director refused to be in the same room with her.
Elisabeth Hasslebeck struggled to find her place at the table and was humiliated live on air by Barbara Walters and during the commercial break actually got up and left the stage and quit.
Star Jones was so stunned when her contract was not renewed she went out and hired the REAL woman who was portrayed on the television series Scandal and they devised a plan where Star actually announces her departure without telling anyone she is doing it while at the same time People magazine comes on the stand with a story about her departure.
Barbara Walters while an icon, always seemed to start the chaos but always made sure someone else took the blame for it. As she neared her retirement from the show she began to get a bit confused and after one particular segment about Jenny McCarthy who was sitting next to her asked McCarthy who Jenny McCarthy was.
Filled will stories and dirt some which had been rumored over the years and some which had been deeply buried Setoodeh had access to most of the hosts throughout the years as well as the producers and staff. This tell-all is a real tell all!
Unless you are a fan of The View, which I have been from its conception almost 20 years ago, you won't really enjoy this book. BUT for those who lunch with the ladies as I have over the years, this will be your bible on how the show works, or doesn't, how the ladies get along, or don't, and how the staff and talent try to sabotage each other, and they do. Here are just a few of the highlights:
Rosie O'Donnell was hated by just about everyone on the staff and crew both times she was on the show. Some producers and even a director refused to be in the same room with her.
Elisabeth Hasslebeck struggled to find her place at the table and was humiliated live on air by Barbara Walters and during the commercial break actually got up and left the stage and quit.
Star Jones was so stunned when her contract was not renewed she went out and hired the REAL woman who was portrayed on the television series Scandal and they devised a plan where Star actually announces her departure without telling anyone she is doing it while at the same time People magazine comes on the stand with a story about her departure.
Barbara Walters while an icon, always seemed to start the chaos but always made sure someone else took the blame for it. As she neared her retirement from the show she began to get a bit confused and after one particular segment about Jenny McCarthy who was sitting next to her asked McCarthy who Jenny McCarthy was.
Filled will stories and dirt some which had been rumored over the years and some which had been deeply buried Setoodeh had access to most of the hosts throughout the years as well as the producers and staff. This tell-all is a real tell all!
May 16, 2019
This was chocolate cake for a diabetic. I shouldn't, but I did. I thought all the previous co-hosts quit to accept other gigs. Not so. The bulk of this book takes place up to, and including Rosie O'Donnell's second time at the table. The next couple of years get skimmed over.
Still a delicious read.
Still a delicious read.
June 24, 2019
Gave this non-fiction book 3.5 stars.
The View has been on TV 20+ years. The co-hosts tend
to talk over each other & some arguments get ugly.
"Hot topics" mostly on pop culture and politics, opens
each show. They have guests & guest co-hosts. Whoopi
Goldberg is the current moderator.
Journalist Barbara Walters (BW) created this show in 1997.
There was/ is a moderator & 3-4 co-hosts. According to the
author, BW at times, on or off the air, verbally abused a co-
worker or producer. At times she avoided blame for an un-
wise choice or decision. Sadly BW developed memory and
health issues and retired in 2014.
The author depicted Star Jones and Rosie O'Donnell as
having poor personal boundaries & being condescending.
Star could have planned a smoother exit from the show,
w/o blind-siding BW and the producers the way she did.
Rosie wanted to be the moderator or producer, even when
this was not her assigned role. Rosie acted intolerant
towards those with an opposing viewpoint. Rosie berated
co-hosts or guests if he/she declined to answer Rosie's too
personal questions IE did you ever have an abortion? Jenny
McCarthy, actress/author, then co-host, came across as
not the 'sharpest knife in the drawer.' Some co-host argu-
ments seemed petty.
The author noted that HRC was the 1st serious female POTUS
candidate in the US. Actually, the late US Congresswoman,
articulate policy wonk Shirley Chisholm, ran in the 1970s for
POTUS. Probably before the author was born? No doubt
Shirley would've been closer to her POTUS goal, if she had a
larger 'war chest' & better national organization. And some
would have been more supportive of Shirley if she were white?
The View has been on TV 20+ years. The co-hosts tend
to talk over each other & some arguments get ugly.
"Hot topics" mostly on pop culture and politics, opens
each show. They have guests & guest co-hosts. Whoopi
Goldberg is the current moderator.
Journalist Barbara Walters (BW) created this show in 1997.
There was/ is a moderator & 3-4 co-hosts. According to the
author, BW at times, on or off the air, verbally abused a co-
worker or producer. At times she avoided blame for an un-
wise choice or decision. Sadly BW developed memory and
health issues and retired in 2014.
The author depicted Star Jones and Rosie O'Donnell as
having poor personal boundaries & being condescending.
Star could have planned a smoother exit from the show,
w/o blind-siding BW and the producers the way she did.
Rosie wanted to be the moderator or producer, even when
this was not her assigned role. Rosie acted intolerant
towards those with an opposing viewpoint. Rosie berated
co-hosts or guests if he/she declined to answer Rosie's too
personal questions IE did you ever have an abortion? Jenny
McCarthy, actress/author, then co-host, came across as
not the 'sharpest knife in the drawer.' Some co-host argu-
ments seemed petty.
The author noted that HRC was the 1st serious female POTUS
candidate in the US. Actually, the late US Congresswoman,
articulate policy wonk Shirley Chisholm, ran in the 1970s for
POTUS. Probably before the author was born? No doubt
Shirley would've been closer to her POTUS goal, if she had a
larger 'war chest' & better national organization. And some
would have been more supportive of Shirley if she were white?
April 3, 2019
Nothing like watching a debate about everything between woman who know enough to make it interesting. When I heard about this book I knew I had to read it. Pre-ordered it and 3 minutes after it arrived in my kindle app I was wrapped up in it. I watched the show sparatically as I had a job but I retired the year Rosie joined the cast first time around. She made the show livelyier than ever. When she left sadly to say so did I as a viewer. Watched major parts like Hillery Clinton,. Michelle Obama, President Obama. And the tear provoking 5 minutes as Joe Biden held Ms McCains hand and told her things would be ok. Thanks for bring back some great TV memories
.......
Always enjoyed Barbara Walters as she was the best when in her prime. Remember watching her on the news and especially loved her specials after the
Oscars.
.......
Always enjoyed Barbara Walters as she was the best when in her prime. Remember watching her on the news and especially loved her specials after the
Oscars.
April 30, 2020
I never watched the View (mostly because I don't watch any TV), but the show was a game-changer and a genre creator so I was interested in this "inside story," but it's just catty and sexist and trite. I mean, it's interesting to hear about all the fights between Rosie and Barbara and Star Jones, but dig in to any show and there are going to be fights between the co-hosts, but this author casts the hosts as "crazy", unhinged, and attention-grabbing. Sure--they are TV stars. Now go do literally any ESPN show, ok?
April 5, 2019
I've never watched a full episode of The View, but I know about it for the same reasons as any other casual TV viewer: Because I know of Barbara Walters--much like non-wrestling fans recognize the names Hulk Hogan and Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson--and because The View made headlines. It has been at the center of too many pop-culture zeitgeists to count, although author Ramin Setoodeh makes a great effort in his first book, LADIES WHO PUNCH.
PUNCH is a narrative-style account of the history of The View and its most popular cohosts and moments. The idea was that Barbara Walters was looking for a part-time project when she had downtime from her "real" journalism gigs like 20/20 and anchoring on news programs. Today, Walters is more well-known as the co-creator of The View as for anything else. And with good reason.
Never paying much attention to talk shows, teenage me dismissed The View as a table of women yakking about current affairs and gabbing with celebrities. In the years since it premiered in 1997, I've learned that The View was and is so much more. Setoodeh shows the many ways in which The View has become a cultural touchstone and the impacts it's had: on women in journalism and political discussions; on shaping talk shows and TV broadcasting alongside other icons such as Oprah Winfrey and Rosie O'Donnell; and so much more.
Of course, The View has made headlines for as many wrong reasons as for the right ones. What started as something for Walters to do in her spare time became a prized jewel in television. Naturally, that led to egos and explosive battles both on-air and backstage. A large part of View's appeal has been the gossip around the relationships between cohosts like O'Donnell and Elisabeth Hasselbeck, Walters and Whoopi Goldberg, and Star Jones and pretty much everybody she worked with during the 12+ months the show revolved around her upcoming wedding. After most chapters, I'd switch from my Kindle app to YouTube to watch some of the famous battles and interviews the author recounted in detail.
PUNCH is as engaging in a "I shouldn't be watching this but I can't look away" as it is edifying. Despite all the fluff surrounding The View, it and its cast and crew were pioneers. My only complaint was that Setoodeh did a much better job documenting the first 10-12 years than he did the show's more recent incarnations. He captures the turbulence the show experienced--and continues to suffer from, I believe--since Walters retired in 2014, but doesn't paint as vivid a picture of more recent cohosts such as Raven Symone as he did Walters, Meredith Vieira, Hasselbeck, O'Donnell, Joy Behar, Sherri Shepherd, and Goldberg.
To be fair, those are the cohosts who most fans know because they stuck around long enough, and/or were sensational enough, to become part of the show's backbone, so I can't fault the author for digging deeper into the show's early and middle years. Those are the years I wanted to know about, too, and PUNCH more than delivered. It's a must-read for anyone interested in the moving and shaking that goes on behind the scenes of pretty much every TV production ever, I would wager, as well as anyone curious to know more about why and how The View left its mark on our culture.
PUNCH is a narrative-style account of the history of The View and its most popular cohosts and moments. The idea was that Barbara Walters was looking for a part-time project when she had downtime from her "real" journalism gigs like 20/20 and anchoring on news programs. Today, Walters is more well-known as the co-creator of The View as for anything else. And with good reason.
Never paying much attention to talk shows, teenage me dismissed The View as a table of women yakking about current affairs and gabbing with celebrities. In the years since it premiered in 1997, I've learned that The View was and is so much more. Setoodeh shows the many ways in which The View has become a cultural touchstone and the impacts it's had: on women in journalism and political discussions; on shaping talk shows and TV broadcasting alongside other icons such as Oprah Winfrey and Rosie O'Donnell; and so much more.
Of course, The View has made headlines for as many wrong reasons as for the right ones. What started as something for Walters to do in her spare time became a prized jewel in television. Naturally, that led to egos and explosive battles both on-air and backstage. A large part of View's appeal has been the gossip around the relationships between cohosts like O'Donnell and Elisabeth Hasselbeck, Walters and Whoopi Goldberg, and Star Jones and pretty much everybody she worked with during the 12+ months the show revolved around her upcoming wedding. After most chapters, I'd switch from my Kindle app to YouTube to watch some of the famous battles and interviews the author recounted in detail.
PUNCH is as engaging in a "I shouldn't be watching this but I can't look away" as it is edifying. Despite all the fluff surrounding The View, it and its cast and crew were pioneers. My only complaint was that Setoodeh did a much better job documenting the first 10-12 years than he did the show's more recent incarnations. He captures the turbulence the show experienced--and continues to suffer from, I believe--since Walters retired in 2014, but doesn't paint as vivid a picture of more recent cohosts such as Raven Symone as he did Walters, Meredith Vieira, Hasselbeck, O'Donnell, Joy Behar, Sherri Shepherd, and Goldberg.
To be fair, those are the cohosts who most fans know because they stuck around long enough, and/or were sensational enough, to become part of the show's backbone, so I can't fault the author for digging deeper into the show's early and middle years. Those are the years I wanted to know about, too, and PUNCH more than delivered. It's a must-read for anyone interested in the moving and shaking that goes on behind the scenes of pretty much every TV production ever, I would wager, as well as anyone curious to know more about why and how The View left its mark on our culture.
July 29, 2019
Despite never actually seeing a full episode of The View, I thoroughly enjoyed this fun, well-researched look into one of the most iconic US talk shows.
The View was a bountiful source of workplace drama in the mid-2000s, splashed across gossip blogs in the form of Rosie vs Elisabeth screencaps and grainy YouTube videos of Hot Topic discussions. Details of Star Jones' lavish wedding, Sherri Shepherd thinking the Earth was flat (oh boy), and the revolving door of cohosts was like catnip for those who found themselves trawling through pages of Perez Hilton, Just Jared and Pink Is The New Blog. To hear the backstory on some of these moments was fascinating.
I would have liked some more details on the controversies Meghan McCain has been involved in since becoming a co-host two years ago (did you know her father was John McCain?), but the author's close relationship with her most likely prevented that. Also, it is unfortunate that Elisabeth Hasselbeck declined to participate to give her side on the Rosie controversy.
Aside from the drama, I also found the mechanics of getting a show syndicated really interesting and the work that Barbara Walters put in in the early days to ensure the show was a success.
The best way to read this book is to pause between each chapter for a YouTube break to watch the scenes which were just mentioned (Star Jones' departure and Barbara's subsequent damage control was a favourite).
For gossip fans and those interested in TV production, take a little time to enjoy the view and read this book.
The View was a bountiful source of workplace drama in the mid-2000s, splashed across gossip blogs in the form of Rosie vs Elisabeth screencaps and grainy YouTube videos of Hot Topic discussions. Details of Star Jones' lavish wedding, Sherri Shepherd thinking the Earth was flat (oh boy), and the revolving door of cohosts was like catnip for those who found themselves trawling through pages of Perez Hilton, Just Jared and Pink Is The New Blog. To hear the backstory on some of these moments was fascinating.
I would have liked some more details on the controversies Meghan McCain has been involved in since becoming a co-host two years ago (did you know her father was John McCain?), but the author's close relationship with her most likely prevented that. Also, it is unfortunate that Elisabeth Hasselbeck declined to participate to give her side on the Rosie controversy.
Aside from the drama, I also found the mechanics of getting a show syndicated really interesting and the work that Barbara Walters put in in the early days to ensure the show was a success.
The best way to read this book is to pause between each chapter for a YouTube break to watch the scenes which were just mentioned (Star Jones' departure and Barbara's subsequent damage control was a favourite).
For gossip fans and those interested in TV production, take a little time to enjoy the view and read this book.
March 30, 2020
Whew- I devoured this one. Like most young men, I grew up obsessed with Daytime Talk shows, Barbara Walters, and Rosie O'Donnell, so naturally I was obsessed with the View, So much so, that I almost paid full price for this book, but luckily I found it last weekend at the thrift store.
Now of course this book has all the juicy backstage gossip that you've already heard about- Star hijacking the show for her wedding freebies, Rosie and Elizabeth's on air blow out, and the on-going feud between Rosie and Whoopi. But even better are some unmined gems such as Fayne Dunaway screaming up and down the backstage halls for her poorly named assistant- Christina, or Barbara Walters chastising co-host Jenny McCarthy for a tampon floating in the toilet, forcing Jenny to defend her self by yelling she doesn't need tampons anymore.
What makes this so much more than just a hard bound collection of National Enquirer articles is the author's detail to history and culture as he walks you through the show's conception and development. He pays special attention to, and gives credit to what Barbara and her show did to fight misogyny and the changing role of women.
Now of course this book has all the juicy backstage gossip that you've already heard about- Star hijacking the show for her wedding freebies, Rosie and Elizabeth's on air blow out, and the on-going feud between Rosie and Whoopi. But even better are some unmined gems such as Fayne Dunaway screaming up and down the backstage halls for her poorly named assistant- Christina, or Barbara Walters chastising co-host Jenny McCarthy for a tampon floating in the toilet, forcing Jenny to defend her self by yelling she doesn't need tampons anymore.
What makes this so much more than just a hard bound collection of National Enquirer articles is the author's detail to history and culture as he walks you through the show's conception and development. He pays special attention to, and gives credit to what Barbara and her show did to fight misogyny and the changing role of women.
March 17, 2023
I was a long time viewer of The View, watching consistently from the season it debut in 1997, through 2020 (a total of 23 years). As soon as this book hit my radar, I knew I needed to read it.
My biggest take away is that this does not sound like a fun show to work on - at all, and not during any of the rotating casts. The infighting was profound, Rosie was much more disturbed than was publicly known, and Barbara not quite as nice as she appeared (going behind backs and bad mouthing them). She was also a lot more fragile than was known.
I think this was an interesting look at the making and running of an iconic show, that paved the way for many others of this style. My criticisms are the length of this book (it felt pretty long) and that it focused much more on the early days, and less than i would have liked on the later casts.
All in all though, I enjoyed it and if you are someone who grew up watching The View, or have followed the careers of some of the players, you will probably enjoy it too.
My biggest take away is that this does not sound like a fun show to work on - at all, and not during any of the rotating casts. The infighting was profound, Rosie was much more disturbed than was publicly known, and Barbara not quite as nice as she appeared (going behind backs and bad mouthing them). She was also a lot more fragile than was known.
I think this was an interesting look at the making and running of an iconic show, that paved the way for many others of this style. My criticisms are the length of this book (it felt pretty long) and that it focused much more on the early days, and less than i would have liked on the later casts.
All in all though, I enjoyed it and if you are someone who grew up watching The View, or have followed the careers of some of the players, you will probably enjoy it too.
October 30, 2019
This book definitely has a strong beginning, a middle that compels you to keep going, and then an ending that just kind of exists. So the five stars are really because I had a five-star reading experience, the content itself is really a three.
I don't think that anything here is all that explosive, and I think that the author tried to sell this as more comprehensive a story than it was. It's really in-depth sort of on the behind the scenes action of the first ten years of the show, but the middle again was really anchored by Rosie's drama on both of her tenures on the show and really few of the cohosts starting with the Rosie Perez/Nicolle Wallace era might as well have been an afterthoughts. Hosts like Meghan McCain and Abbie Huntsman are little more than afterthoughts.
Again, it was cute, it was compelling to read, but I don't know how much I would recommend other readers pick this one up if it's something that's out of the typical genre of things they reach for.
I don't think that anything here is all that explosive, and I think that the author tried to sell this as more comprehensive a story than it was. It's really in-depth sort of on the behind the scenes action of the first ten years of the show, but the middle again was really anchored by Rosie's drama on both of her tenures on the show and really few of the cohosts starting with the Rosie Perez/Nicolle Wallace era might as well have been an afterthoughts. Hosts like Meghan McCain and Abbie Huntsman are little more than afterthoughts.
Again, it was cute, it was compelling to read, but I don't know how much I would recommend other readers pick this one up if it's something that's out of the typical genre of things they reach for.
June 15, 2019
I debated giving this book one or two stars. The author did not write a poor book, but I just feel icky after having read it. I thought I may get some insights part gossip and part understanding into this iconic TV show. I felt like the book was written just like the show - caddy, opinionated, not seeking deeper understanding. I think this shows women at their worst, not at our best. I am sad for the show and it’s hosts and producers - what a horrible working experience. I think there may have been more room to show moments of grace and understanding in the book; I think the book played to the worse ideas of female friendships. I hope people connected to this show have gotten past anger and resentment and have moved towards forgiveness for their own sake, even if the book hasn’t shown us that they got there.
April 3, 2019
I loaded this to my kindle as soon as it was out and couldn't put it down. I've watched The View off and on since the very first episode. This book was so dishy, I loved it. Also well written and researched. Just a wonderful read.
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