Whoopi really pushes 'HoH' on The View

[David10086]

On the Monday (7/30) live show of  'The View', Whoopi Goldberg diverted a few minutes of 'Hot Topics' to really push the new musical 'Head Over Heels', which she saw over the weekend. 

She did it by first imploring the audience a few times to 'NOT read the critiques or reviews' of the show - just buy tickets and go see this 'wonderful' show. She also added that the tickets are still 'very affordable' right now - so go and see the show and make it 'unaffordable'. (Co-host Suny Hostin said she hadn't seen the show yet, but she plans on it - heard it was fabulous. The other three were a little quiet - maybe they already saw the show?   )

Whoopi also admitted in a gentle way that she wasn't a big fan of the Go Gos when they were having hits on the radio in the 80s, but remembered their music. After seeing this show, she now realizes what their music was all about - the lyrics have a whole new meaning to her. 

In closing, Whoopi told the audience and the cohosts 'remember I told you all to go see 'Spongebob Squarepants' and what a fun show that was? Go see this one.'

(Aside from 'SpongeBob' the only other musical show I recall Whoopi raving about this season is "Summer" - which she told everyone to go see as she loved it.)

[johnmichael]

Coincidence that they were two of (many, sadly) shows this season with disastrous ticket sales and therefore in desparate need of celebrity endorsement? 

[TheSassySam]

I wish I was at a point in my life financially that I could afford to buy full price tickets to this show. I want to see it, but I'm afraid it might not even last until the end of August.

[wicked4l]

Whoopi also has a deep passion for musical theatre and Broadway. Not surprised of her public support for any and all theatre.

[haterobics]

TheSassySam said: "I wish I was at a point in my life financially that I could afford to buy full price tickets to this show. I want to see it, but I'm afraid it might not even last until the end of August."

Why would you need to, given the abundant discounts?

[bdn223]

The biggest show Whoopi has ever gone out on a limb for was the 2009 revival of Ragtime. If I remember the story correctly the production was bleeding money, and despite being a bare-bones production. Any production Ragtime though, will  be on the more expensive side of running costs. It didn’t help the show opened just as the recession hit. Whoopi fell such in love with the production she invited them on the View, but the producers couldn’t afford to pay the cast and crew for a publicity appearance. Due this Whoopi made some sort of deal with the unions to have Christiane Noll and a few chorus members on without costumes and paid them out of her own pocket. 


They appeared on The View on December 22nd. The production was in such bad finanical shape though, less then a week later on December 29th,  producers announced the show would be closing at the end of the week on January 3rd. I remember being at the matinee  December 30th performance when during the intermission I got an alert from Playbill that the show had extended by a week. No one from production had told the cast, by the time the performance was over though. It was so bad that everyone at the stage door had to convince the cast we were telling them the truth when we asked them about if they were happy they extended for another week.

In truth if Whoopi sees a show  she loves and thinks its not getting a fair shake, either by the press or its producers, she will try and save it through publicity on the View. I am honestly amazed she hasn't attempted to spearhead more productions as between 2008-2011 she seemed to be juggling a few different productions including White Noise, a revival of For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide / When the Rainbow Is Enuf which was scheduled to open at The Circle in the Square in 2008 before funding fell through, and later morphed into the ill fated film adaption. 

[SomethingPeculiar]

I never knew the Ragtime situation was THAT bad, wow. And it's not like their producer Kevin McCollum had never done a show before (Rent, Drowsy, Ave Q, etc)

[RevolutionaryCostume]

I remember her speaking out for The Scottsboro Boys on The View, as well.

[ACL2006]

That RAGTIME revival remains one of my all time favorites. Bad timing. 

 

I've mentioned this before, but Whoopi has given praise to other flops before. Most recently MARGARITAVILLE, SPONGEBOB & HONEYMOON IN VEGAS.

[Robbie2]

Well, Whoopi thank you but your VIEW watchers are not the audience for this show and you could not save SB and HOH is heading in the same direction and will close soon and Summer is losing week after week.

[David10086]

I remember when the cast of MARGARITAVILLE were on back in the Spring, but I don't think Whoopi was the one who was praising it. If I remember correctly,Suny and Sarah were the two who went to see the show and praised the bartender who was giving out free margaritas that night -  said they got drunk on margaritas in the lobby before the show started (no wonder they liked it?). They had more good things to say about the drinks than the show itself (probably couldn't remember it).

As much as Whoopi praised "Head Over Heels", the one mistake she did make was telling the audience repeatedly 'don't read the reviews' - because that's when everyone will take out their phones and Google the reviews. 

I remember when Whoopi was praising 'Summer' the day after it opened one of the hosts mentioned the actresses were going to be on their show in the coming week - but they never did. (That happens from time to time - they announce a guest in advance, but then they don't show up and nothing is said).

 

Before Whoopi, there was Rosie O'Donnell who was the B'way cheerleader on 'The View'. She really knew how to push the shows. 

[TheSassySam]

If the show had a bigger advance, I'd love to see Peppermint as a guest cohost of The View. I think it could be a good opportunity for viewers to get to know the show. 

[Robbie2]

TheSassySam said: "If the show had a bigger advance, I'd love to see Peppermint as a guest cohost of The View. I think it could be a good opportunity for viewers to get to know the show."

 

If she LOVES she show so much...when then are they performing to promote it?

[David10086]

Robbie2 said: "
If she LOVES she show so much...when then are they performing to promote it?"

If not next week, then maybe never. 

After next week's shows (or this week's shows, actually), 'The View' goes on summer vacation for the month of August and returns after Labor Day to kick off their  22nd season. IF - and it's a big IF - "HoH" is still around after Labor Day, I doubt that it will make it's way to the show - it will be 'old news' by then. 

[EllieRose2]

Her telling the audience to not read the reviews is just ridiculous.  A lot of people read reviews before they purchase tickets. I understand her advocating for the show, but I don't know many people who just blindly take a celebrity's word for it and just buy a ticket to a show.  

[JSquared2]

EllieRose2 said:  "I don't know many people who just blindly take a celebrity's word for it and just buy a ticket to a show."

Unless you count every single Trump supporter!

 

[ArtMan]

I'm the opposite.  I don't allow a critic, celebrity or other to encourage/discourage my interest in seeing something.  Why would I care what some random stranger thought.  I have an interest in seeing Head Over Heels during my upcoming trip.  Mainly, because it is a new show, but also I like the music of the Go Go's.  If I like the show,then great.   If I hate it then it was my choice to purchase the ticket and mine alone.

[EllieRose2]

Unless you count every single Trump supporter!

Nope.  Not ever. 

[David10086]

ArtMan said: "I'm the opposite. I don't allow a critic, celebrity or other to encourage/discourage my interest in seeing something. If I like the show,then great.If I Hate it then it was my choice to purchase the ticket and mine alone."

 

I feel the same way - which is why I bought my ticket to "Summer", being a Donna Summer fan. Do I regret it? Not at all. Did I love it? Not at all. 

 

[ArtMan]

David, I'm also seeing Summer on my upcoming trip.

[yankeefan7]

"Before Whoopi, there was Rosie O'Donnell who was the B'way cheerleader on 'The View'. She really knew how to push the shows. "

Yep, Rosie was a big Broadway cheerleader back then and her show was actually fun.

 

[PatrickDC]

This may be a very ignorant or naive question, but does Whoopie receive any compensation — financial or other perks — from the shows she promotes? Celebs can get cash for endorsements on Twitter. Does it work the same way when she publicizes a show on The View? Or does she just love the shows and want to help them out?

[bdn223]

She might get free tickets, but I also assume she is a Tony voter due to being a prior winner, so she already gets free tickets. Other than that, she probably doesn't get compensated.

[CT2NYC]

They gave out 2 tickets to everyone in the audience today, 1 week after opening. Not surprising, but ouch.

[everythingtaboo]

Don't forget she loved Xanadu so much she joined the cast.