Hasselbeck Hopes for a Rosie Future

Tue., May. 29, 2007 4:49 PM PDT by Natalie Finn

It appears as if that extra day of R&R did everyone good this weekend.

While Rosie O'Donnell, now a former cohost of The View, said in a video posting on her blog that she didn't envision speaking with Elisabeth Hasselbeck any time soon in light of last week's politically charged dustup, Hasselbeck was back on the air Tuesday suggesting that a reconciliation was still in the cards.

Hasselbeck said that she and O'Donnell were "in communication a lot," although she didn't specify just how she and her left-leaning ex-colleague were keeping the lines open.

"This weekend gave us the opportunity to tackle our most important hot topic yet, and that was the power of forgiveness," Hasselbeck told the audience today. "And so now that enables us to move on in a very positive way...I'm very happy about that."

(Translation: Rosie is out, so let's get on with the show.)

Meanwhile, O'Donnell said on her Website Saturday that she wrote Hasselbeck an email, who in turn wrote back—and that was it.

"I haven't spoken to her, and I probably won't," O'Donnell said, "and I think it's just as well."

The View's elder stateswoman, Barbara Walters, who wasn't there for the on-air shenanigans that Joy Behar so desperately tried to moderate, then reassured the audience that she had emailed O'Donnell over the weekend and that they remain "close friends."

O'Donnell, whose persistent outspokenness and opinionated banter had been very good for the ratings this past year (especially after she and Donald Trump got into it), will always be welcome as a panelist on the show any time, Walters added.

The chattiest of the four chat mavens had been set to leave The View when her year-long contract ran out at the end of June, but instead expedited her departure after her latest war of words with her conservative counterpart, in which each accused the other of acting cowardly when it came to their political allegiances.

First, O'Donnell got on Hasselbeck's case last Wednesday for not defending her earlier in the week when some conservative critics accused her of comparing U.S. troops in Iraq to terrorists, calling her cohost "cowardly" for saying nothing in her defense.

Hasselbeck then fired back by saying that she was not on the show to fight O'Donnell's battles for her and that she did what she felt was right by asking O'Donnell to take the time to further explain her remarks.

"I'll tell you what's cowardly," Hasselbeck said. "Asking a rhetorical question—that's cowardly."

The total exchange lasted about 10 minutes before producers finally cut to commercial.

O'Donnell then had a scheduled day off on Thursday; however, she ended up calling it quits for good and never came back.

But although her schedule opened up a little sooner than she had planned, O'Donnell has already signed up for a trip back to her roots.

The former stand-up comic has added another three dates as a special guest on the upcoming True Colors Tour which kicks off June 8, in honor of Gay & Lesbian Pride Month, at Las Vegas' MGM Grand Garden Arena.

Benefiting the Human Rights Campaign, the tour will feature the musical talents of Cyndi Lauper, Erasure, Debbie Harry, the Dresden Dolls, the Gossip and the Misshapes. Margaret Cho will emcee the festivities.

"It's a dream come true to be on the road with Cyndi Lauper," O'Donnell said. "I'm almost a rock star!"

Lauper, the tour's founder, seconded the sentiment. "I am thrilled that Rosie is able to do more shows on the tour," the "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" singer said. "We have always wanted to tour together. It's going to be a blast."

O'Donnell will be along for the ride in Las Vegas, Chicago, New York, Dallas, Houston and Washington, D.C.

Other acts set to play select dates include Rufus Wainwright, Indigo Girls, the Cliks, Cazwell, Amanda Lepore and Jeffree Star.