Today the panel welcomed back Cristela Alonzo as a co-host!

Web Redemption: Whoopi told the audience that the courts have decided that the Internet is going to be a utility and the same for everybody, according to a proposed FCC rule that will be decided February 26th. Rosie P recommended that the public help make this happen.  The rule would prevent corporations from having a “fast lane” on the Internet.  Whoopi said, “Now, everybody’s going to be fast.”  Nicolle responded that 800 million dollars has been spent on lobbying on this issue and it was the cable companies versus the Internet companies, with no one really fighting for the little guy.  She also said that Yahoo and Google will run at the same speed as (say) Etsy. Rosie O explained that if this ruling passes everybody will be able to use Internet to the same degree and that the same speed will be available to all people, not just rich people, which is the way the Internet has been since the beginning.  Whoopi believes this is good news for everyone.  Nicolle isn’t so sure yet.

Anchor Weighs In: Brian Williams is backtracking on a story he has been telling since 2003, that helicopter in which the NBC crew was traveling was shot down by ground fire in Iraq.  Some of the soldiers on that aircraft reported that Brian Williams was not actually on that helicopter but on the aircraft that was following behind.  They showed a clip of his apology in which he admitted that he wasn’t on the aircraft (as he had previously reported) but it was a bungled attempt for him to honor the soldiers who saved the crew.  Rosie O recalled a documentary entitled, The Woman Who Wasn’t There, about a woman who pretended to be in the twin towers on 9/11.  (For a complete list of Rosie’s favorite docs, click HERE!)  She followed up by saying that she thinks a person would remember if he were in a helicopter that was actually hit by a missile so she doesn’t think Brian didn’t remember it, she thinks he fabricated the story and that his apology seemed circuitous. Nicolle read from social media accounts by the soldiers who were there. “Getting shot by RPG fire is not something you get confused over or conflate even though it was 12 years ago. Dude.” Rosie O called it a blatant lie.  Whoopi thinks sometimes people forget themselves and wind up getting all wrapped up in their story, which, Rosie O reminded her, is called lying. Whoopi confessed that she has embellished things in the past and doesn’t always remember everything. Rosie P pointed out that this is different because he is one of the most trusted news anchors. Cristela said, “It’s not like he lied about going to the grocery store.” Nicolle said Brian Williams has made a career out of celebrating the American military.  Rosie O reiterated that he said he was IN the helicopter when it was hit by an RPG, which was a huge lie.  Whoopi said nobody is perfect.  Rosie O asked if it was okay that he lied and Whoopi responded that he stepped in some doo-doo, but everyone lies occasionally and it didn’t start out as a big lie, it grew over time.

The First Black Bachelor:  In the first television show featuring a black Bachelor he brought his mother along to do some of the picking!  Whoopi clarified that this isn’t THE Bachelor that airs on ABC, it is a show entitled Match Made in Heaven.  Rosie asked if there has ever been a black Bachelor or Bachelorette on the ABC version and the answer was no! And no Asians or Latinos either, just one Italian that Whoopi believes had a bogus accent.  Whoopi said the reason ABC won’t have a black Bachelor is because the families would be too volatile.  Rosie P told her she can’t make that generalization.  And she wondered why everyone always winds up naked on these shows. Cristela joked and said she thinks everyone on the show should simply appear in pajama pants, so they can be seen as they would be at the point in a relationship when you “stop trying.”

Curve Appeal:  Another first: There will be a plus-sized model in this years Sports Illustrated swim suit issue! But model, Ashley Graham, will only be in an advertisement, not in a spread in the magazine. Rosie P doesn’t think she looks plus-sized, she just thinks she looks good.  Cristela said she would have to lose 30 pounds to be plus-sized like her.  (Ashley is a size fourteen.)  Rosie P said this is part of the appeal of the HBO show Girls, which shows regular women “getting it in.”  Cristela said she thinks it is unfair that they show only thin women on TV shows and never show them going to the gym in order to get the body they have.  She said it leaves viewers thinking that it just naturally occurs.  She hears from viewers who like that she looks just like them in her show Cristela. “Isn’t that weird that I get accolades from viewers for not being thin?” she asked.

VIEWCATION Winners: Geena and Dave (a firefighter from New Jersey) won a 7-night Viewcation cruise to the Caribbean!  They will be giving away more trips this month, so don’t forget to enter!  

Guests:

Geena Davis (Rosie’s co-star in A League of Their Own) is now starring in Grey’s Anatomy.  She is also responsible for the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media.  Geena is a member of Mensa International and one of the smartest people Rosie O knows.  She discussed her new role on Grey’s, her previous role playing the President of the United States on Commander and Chief and her time working with Rosie O on A League of Their Own.

Here’s a clip of Rosie and Geena from A League of Their Own:

Eve Ensler: Eve Ensler, creator of The Vagina Monologues and activist fighting violence against women, was interviewed by Rosie O and Rosie P to discuss One Billion Rising.  One third of women, over a billion in fact, will be raped or a victim of violence in their lifetimes.  Eve has started a movement for women in a program entitled One Billion Rising Revolution headed by global activists from more than 200 countries.  She said they invite all women, and the men who love them, to rise up against violence and rape.  Find out more about how you can get involved at OneBillionRising.org.

La Mitchell:  La Mitchell a fitness expert, joined Nicolle and Mario Cantone to discuss how to get healthy and to shine a light on the month of February as it is “Heart Healthy Month.”  La showed them some moves that will help keep you fit but don’t require fancy equipment.  She recommended exercising and eating healthy.  She also recommended finding a friend to hold you accountable!  La says to try to avoid empty calories, eat foods high in fiber and take a probiotic that helps with digestion.

Audience Gift:  Everyone in the studio audience received a $100 gift card to CVS!

Take a little time to enjoy The View.

written by Kelly Weist
KidRo Productions