It may be time to hire a few sexy firemen because Rosie just lit OWN on fire! Typically when a new show starts it becomes so hyped that once it begins it is difficult for the show to live up to the expectation. However, Rosie managed to over-deliver. Let me start by letting you know that the show was LIVE. Absolutely crazy…especially since Russell Brand was her guest. I am certain there were a few people with access to a time delay button. Apparently the first Rosie heard it was going to be live was last Thursday. I can only imagine that the room was pulsating with energy.
Prime time is exactly where Rosie belongs! She started the show off by taking us all to a comedy club with Rosie as our Stand Up. It was great to see her with the mic in hand. I wanted to grab a round little table and order a few overpriced drinks. The jokes were personal and relevant….exactly what I have come to expect from her. I loved how she worked in the “find your OWN channel” issue that OWN has been battling with a great Penny Marshall piece. She is hilarious. Then in typical Rosie fashion, she spent a little time taking questions and interacting with the audience. With Suze Orman planted in the audience she triggered Rosie into a mini-musical about how Oprah had asked her to do a show. Now, I had been expecting Rosie to incorporate a little song and dance and it was just the right amount. Plus it didn’t hurt that the Broadway boys showed a little skin.
About 20 minutes in Russell Brand joined Rosie on stage. The two were great together and a bit more structured. A little talk about shagging, his past VMA hosting gig, his prior addiction and rehabs. A clip was shown of him highlighting Friendly House, a treatment center for women recovering from substance and alcohol abuse, and their Executive Director, Peggy Albrecht. The segment with Russell was long enough but he didn’t overstay his welcome. It was the perfect first guest and a wonderful look at an actor that I didn’t know enough about. I see now why Rosie considers him her new “Tommy”.
Of course there was no way Rosie was doing a show without a little fun and games and more importantly her chance to live out the fantasy of being a game show host. Her game – The Ro Game. She started the show with laughs and ended with a light hearted game….well almost! Rosie had one more guest for us all – OPRAH brought the confetti!!!! A perfect ending to an awesome live show.
The show was unpredictable and kept us on the edge of our seat…”what will she do now?” Both spontaneous and refreshing and I hope she doesn’t change a thing. Everyone knows that Oprah has great instincts and that Rosie knows how to host a show – way to go Rosie and OWN! I can’t wait to do it all over again tomorrow night.
Check out THE RO GAME – Oprah’s surprise appearance around the 5:27 mark