A Rosie is a Rosie is a Rosie.
Roseanne Barr has emerged as the top contender to replace Rosie O’Donnell next year on “The View,” sources say.
A rep for Barr says she has not been approached.
“It’s almost like that rumor that spread last month about how she was going to be on ‘Desperate Housewives,’ ” said Barr’s spokesperson.
“She’s a piece of work, she’s a character, she says what’s on her mind and she’s funny,” said a source with knowledge of ABC’s sudden and desperate search to find a new co-host to replace O’Donnell who quit the show last week.
“They’re missing strong personalities on that show, and that’s what they’re going to need if they want to keep it going,” an ABC staffer close to the situation told the Post.
During an appearance on “Larry King” last week, Roseanne danced around the question of joining the “The View.”
“I’m not looking for the job,” she said at one point – and joking at another, “Well, I want $10 million, like Rosie.”
But she never said she wouldn’t take it if offered.
Since last week’s announcement when Rosie said she planned to leave the show in June, several names have surfaced as possible replacements.
Among them are Joan Rivers, Whoopi Goldberg, Kathie Lee Gifford and Connie Chung. Out of all of them, Roseanne seems to be the best fit.
“It’s going to be hard for them to follow Rosie,” says an industry insider. “Roseanne could be the only one capable of pulling it off.”
Industry insiders have also suggested Bette Midler and D-lister, Kathy Griffin.
The job is particularly hard to fill for more reasons than just the difficulty of finding a new, strong personality.
The open chair is the No. 1 seat on the show, requiring a star who can, in effect, be the show’s quarterback – moving the discussion along, introducing guests and other duties that a TV neophyte might not be able to pull off believably.
O’Donnell said Wednesday that she’s leaving “The View” after one year because she and ABC could not agree on a new deal.
Insiders have said she wanted more control over the show and decided to quit when that was denied. O’Donnell had replaced former “View” co-host Meredith Vieira. Starr Jones, who also left the show last year, has yet to be replaced.