Rosie O'Donnell to return to daytime TV

Rosie O'Donnell has been the "Queen of Nice," a co-founder of a gay cruise line and this fall she will be the first lesbian to grace the set of ABC's "The View."
O'Donnell, who stayed closeted until she left her six-time Daytime Emmy-award winning show "The Rosie O'Donnell Show," will replace Meredith Vieira, who's set to take Katie Couric's place as co-host of NBC's "Today," according to The New York Times.
"Rosie's unique blend of wit, wisdom and passionate family advocacy will be a perfect addition to 'The View,'" said GLAAD President Neil G. Giuliano. "We're thrilled to have Rosie back on daytime television and excited that she'll be able to bring stories about her life and family to millions across America."
After O'Donnell's show ended, she came out as a lesbian mother and became an activist in the LGBT community, advocating for marriage equality and adoption. She and her partner, Kelli Carpenter O'Donnell, have four children and run a cruise line for LGBT families, according to the Associated Press.
Gossip TV show "Extra" first reported the addition of O'Donnell, 44, to the live syndicated talk show before she made the announcement onstage at the Daytime Emmy Awards with "The View's" co-creator Barbara Walters.
Whether O'Donnell's strong political or social views, which she displays on her Web log at www.rosie.com, will conflict with the other "View" hosts is yet to be seen. Already, tension has spewed between O'Donnell and current co-host Star Jones Reynolds.
During an interview promoting the HBO documentary "All Aboard! Rosie's Family Cruise," Diane Sawyer asked O'Donnell about Reynolds. O'Donnell answered, "An interesting woman on many levels." She then turned to the camera and smirked, according to The New York Times.
"I don't wish her any ill will," O'Donnell said. "I just think it's very hard for everyone to participate in, you know, the illusion that she presents as her truth."
O'Donnell, whose repertoire includes TV, stage and film work, including "Flintstones" and the campy "Exit to Eden," joins gabby girls Walters, Reynolds, Joy Behar and Elisabeth Hasselbeck.
In addition to joining the cast of "The View," O'Donnell made news in April after announcing she would executive-produce "The Big Gay Show," a sketch comedy series to premiere in 2007 on Logo.
Although O'Donnell has fallen under the radar in recent years, she's filmed stints on "Will & Grace" and "Queer as Folk" and a lead role in the made-for-television movie "Riding the Bus With My Sister."