Rosie O’Donnell Warns of Talk Show Cancellations Amid Political Pressure

Rosie O’Donnell recently sparked alarm with a warning that The View faces cancellation due to political pressure from the Trump administration. The former co-host claimed ABC’s review of liberal bias was a pretext for axing the show, which features outspoken women like Joy Behar and Whoopi Goldberg challenging Trump’s policies.

O’Donnell called this move obedience to Trumpism, suggesting it was an effort to silence dissenting voices. She referenced the recent cancellation of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert as evidence of a talk show bloodbath. The White House dismissed her as an irrelevant loser, escalating tensions.

O’Donnell’s fears highlight concerns about free speech and media control, urging resistance against silencing truth. Her comments suggest more shows critical of Trump, like Jimmy Kimmel Live, could be next.

O’Donnell’s TikTok Post Worried That The View Could Be Canceled Due to Political Pressure

In a fiery TikTok post on August 6, 2025, O’Donnell warned that the iconic daytime talk show The View is facing cancellation due to political pressure. The actress was a co-host of The View from 2006 to 2007, then again from 2014 to 2015, so this is personal for her.

“They say they’re not canceling it– they’re just “reviewing the bias,”” O’Donnell’s post went on to say. It also went on to accuse the current administration of running “the country into the ground.” O’Donnell has been at odds with President Trump since his first term.

The actress and talk show host shared her concerns that ABC was trying to silence dissenting voices in order to bend the knee to the Trump administration. She shared concerns about what it could mean for the broader entertainment industry.

Late-Night Shows Aren’t The Only Talk Shows In Trouble

The late-night television landscape has faced significant upheaval, with several high-profile shows canceled recently. CBS’s The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, the top-rated late-night program averaging 2.4 million viewers, was axed in July 2025.

CBS cited financial losses of $40 million annually, amid declining ad revenue and high production costs. The cancellation, following Paramount’s $16 million settlement with Trump and a pending Skydance merger, sparked speculation of political motives, though CBS denied this.

After Midnight, hosted by Taylor Tomlinson also ended in 2025 after two seasons. Ad revenue for late-night shows dropped from $439 million in 2018 to $220 million by 2024, as viewers shift to streaming and social media.

With Jimmy Kimmel Live! and The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon facing uncertain futures, late-night TV is grappling with a shrinking audience and evolving media consumption habits.

The talk show bloodbath isn’t limited to late night. The daytime talk show landscape is shrinking, with cancellations and rumors signaling a turbulent period. The Real, another panel show hosted by women, ended in 2022 after eight seasons due to low ratings and high costs.

The Talk, CBS’s long-running ensemble show, was canceled in 2024 after 15 seasons, citing a shift toward streaming and changing viewer habits. Rumors swirl around The Kelly Clarkson Show, with reports suggesting Clarkson may exit when her NBC contract ends in 2026, driven by a grueling schedule and her focus on music and family.

Other shows like The Jennifer Hudson Show face uncertainty amid declining ad revenue and audience fragmentation. As viewers gravitate toward streaming platforms, the era of traditional daytime talk shows appears to be waning.

A Few Factors Are Contributing To The Decline Of Talk Shows

The decline of traditional talk shows stems from multiple converging factors reshaping the media landscape. First, economic pressures are significant. Ad revenue for late-night shows has sharply declined over the years, and daytime shows face similar challenges.

The 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes further strained budgets by halting production, pushing networks to reassess expensive formats. In addition to shrinking revenues, audience behavior is shifting. The rise of streaming platforms has fragmented viewership, drawing audiences away from traditional daytime and late-night network slots.

Younger viewers, in particular, prefer on-demand content to scheduled broadcasts. Podcasts have also surged in popularity, offering intimate, low-cost alternatives to talk shows. Hosts like the ever-controversial Joe Rogan deliver celebrity interviews and discussions, accessible anytime, unlike rigid TV schedules.

Cultural and political pressures play a role. Shows like The View face scrutiny for perceived biases, with rumors of cancellations tied to political climates, as noted by O’Donnell’s TikTok warnings.

This adds uncertainty to an already vulnerable format. Additionally, the star-driven model is faltering; hosts like Kelly Clarkson may exit due to demanding schedules, while others struggle to replace iconic figures like Ellen DeGeneres.

Another major issue is that changing content preferences favor short-form, viral clips on platforms like TikTok over hour-long shows. Networks are pivoting to cheaper, streaming-friendly formats, leaving traditional talk shows struggling to adapt in a rapidly evolving media ecosystem.

It may be too late to save the traditional talk show format, and there may be many more beloved shows being canceled in the next few years. Despite O’Donnell’s warning about The View, the problem is far bigger than political pressure from President Trump.

The View is currently on its annual summer hiatus and is scheduled to return with new episodes for Season 29 in September 2025.

Source: Rosie O’Donnell/TikTok

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