Ladies Who Punch: The Explosive Inside Story of "The View"

Ramin Setoodeh

Apr 2019 · Sold by Macmillan

About this ebook

THE INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES AND WALL STREET JOURNAL BESTSELLER

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 unprecedented access, including stunning interviews with nearly every host, 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.

Ratings and reviews

A breezy read filled with bitchy dish that is both engrossing in a gossipy way, yet informative and intelligent. Do I believe it all? No, but that's not the important part. It's no secret that the entertainment business is a wasp nest filled with fractured allegiances, backstabbing and cutthroat tactics. Legends like Barbara would never have survived if they didn't have some of that in them. There is some obvious favoritism on display, especially concerning Meghan, a friend of the author. She is far more polorzing and visibly unprofessional than any of the myriad hosts, but she is treated with kid gloves in this book. Her only true credential is her last name, but she is a necessary edition to the panel, even for those who seem to just despise her. More behind the scenes info about her temper tantrums and entitled nature would have balanced the book more, rather than just having the cover subjects alternate as villains. Somewhere in the middle lay the real truths.

Very quick read. Great stories from Behind the Scenes on The View. I am not a regular watcher of the show, just usually watching clips on YouTube, but I found the book very interesting and gravitating!

I believe about 80% of this book is true and that's impressive! By turns, hilarious and deeply engrossing. The book translates as objective while being tastefully catty and salacious (yes...that's possible!). A good read...

About the author

RAMIN 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.