NEW YORK - The man who writes the songs won’t be singing any of them on “The View” ‚Äö√Ñ√Æ not as long as Elisabeth Hasselbeck is there. Barry Manilow has backed out of his scheduled appearance on the morning talk show after the show refused to pull Hasselbeck from the interview, “Access Hollywood” has learned…. However, sources close to “The View” claim Manilow is lying. Sources told “Access” the show is the one who canceled the booking because they would not allow the “Copacabana” singer to dictate who would interview him.
(In the interest of full disclosure, I feel the need to reveal my own dirty little secret when it comes to Barry Manilow. I’ve always admired his talent, if not his status as a gay icon. When I was younger, though, I was a BIG fan. In 1975, I had a tape that had a Barry Manilow album on one side and a Kiss album on the other. No, there really ISN’T a rational explanation for that one….)
Yes, I know that there are two sides to every story. No matter who you believe on this one, you can bet that there’s a lot more going on than we’re being told. Nonetheless, I’m going to have to side with Barry Manilow on this one, if only because Elisabeth Hasselbeck is an ignorant, reactionary, Right-wing troll of the first order. I also believe that her views are dangerous, and I would never dream of sharing a stage with her (like I’d ever be asked….) and thus lending something resembling credibility to her. Yes, I understand and accept the idea that a diversity of viewpoints can be a good thing, but Hasselback’s mind has long since slammed shut, any semblance of intellectual curiousity and agility rusted over from prolonged lack of use.
In another time and place, Elisabeth Hasselbeck would have been a “good German”, someone who accepted what the government told her, did what she was instructed to do, and quietly went about her business with blinders on- all while the government was executing six million Jews. When presented with incontrovertible evidence of what she was complicit in through her willing lack of awareness, she would have pleaded ignorance, saying that she has NO idea. As someone who has unquestioningly and failing supported Our Glorious and Benevolent Leader © and his Excellent Adventure in Iraq, Hasselbeck has certainly and admirably played the role of a modern-day “good German”.
Barry Manilow is free to appear on whatever shows he chooses. If he has a problem with Elisabeth Hasselbeck’s views, he is certainly free to boycott “The View”. He’s also free to broadcast his reasons for doing so, despite the feelings of those who seem to believe that being a celebrity means having no right to express a political viewpoint.
In the end of course, this will be much ado about nothing, so much sturm and drang that will attraction a lot of attention in the short term, but ultimately will change nothing. Barry Manilow will sell a bunch of records, and Elisabeth Hasselbeck will continue to act the persecuted minority…and exactly nothing will change.
Yawn….
