Whoopi Goldberg Shares Her View on Her Daytime Gig

• Sep 3, 2007 04:00 AM ET
• by Ileane Rudolph

On Tuesday at 11 am/ET, Whoopi Goldberg begins her reign as moderator of ABC's The View, a job once held so smoothly by Meredith Vieira and so fractiously by Rosie O'Donnell. The 52-year-old actress has already won an Oscar, a Tony, a Grammy, several Golden Globes and even a Daytime Emmy. So will the Goldberg variation have what it takes to win the daytime chat show its own long-denied Emmy? We spoke with her on the View set.

TV Guide: You do movies, you have a daily radio show, you had your own talk show… so why The View?
Goldberg: I always liked the show. I always felt if there were a place for me, I'd love to be a part of it, but they always had their hosts. Then I started hearing little rumblings. It turns out that the timing couldn't be better, and it all worked out.

TV Guide: Why is it a good fit?
Goldberg: I love to talk, and I love these women. Because they have such diverse ideas about things, it's fun. Also, it'll help me understand a lot more about what's going on in the world of pop culture. I don't know anything about American Idol or who's married to who or getting divorced from who.

TV Guide: Is there any subject you can't wait to sink your teeth into?
Goldberg: Everything! We have an election year coming up, so to sit with all the candidates and hear what their thoughts are will be wonderful. There are a lot of great shows on television and some new ones coming up. There are so many exciting things happening out there.

TV Guide: Did Rosie's nemesis Donald Trump call to congratulate you?
Goldberg: No, but Donald's nice.

TV Guide: You dress very casual. Will you change your style for the show?
Goldberg: Cleaner sneakers, neater shirts. That's me.

TV Guide: What's your catchphrase as moderator?
Goldberg: I am what I am. Me and Popeye.

The Sept. 3 issue of TV Guide features loads of NFL previews, as well as sneak peeks at many of your favorite returning shows. Try four risk-free issues now!

Send your comments on this Q&A to letters@tvguide.com.