Rosie O'Donnell: "It Was the Split-Screen"

MAY 29, 2007: Rosie O'Donnell explained in a video entry on her blog this weekend the reason she decided to cut her stay on ABC's "The View" three weeks short was "the split-screen." That and last Wednesday's winner of the "Bill O'Reilly Award" for the most irritating TV personality, co-host Elisabeth Hasselbeck.

Speaking of Billo, the spirit of his silly news channel was alive and kicking when the producers of "The View" stooped to "split-screen" tactics, a decision that apparently sent the controversial host packing.

In one of his rare moments of lucidity, The Donald actually sided with O'Donnell (before unleashing a farewell swing at her later on MSNBC) calling Hasselbeck one of "the dumbest people on television" and branding anyone who supports continuing American presence in Iraq "an imbecile."

Year-to-year ratings for the ABC talker, which is expected to address O'Donell's departure on tomorrow morning's show, are 18% up among women 18-49, capping off a successful season of bitchslapping, catfighting, obnoxiousness and combovers.

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