"The View" For Dummies

Wash Post brilliant Tee Vee critic Tom Shales's concise assessment of annoying, tedious, narcissistic, one-dimensional Kathie Lee's debut on "Today's" fourth hour yesterday.

Shales: "...three things you didn't know about" the two co-hosts (the number of things you don't care about them is infinite, of course); milestones in Gifford's career, Gifford's dog, Gifford's this, Gifford's that; and of course, weight loss, the least escapable subject on talk television. A woman who'd lost 190 pounds was trotted out and cheered. In imitation of the daily show that Philbin now shares with Kelly Ripa and from which Gifford graduated, the first segment was a 15-minute "host chat" with Gifford and Kotb. They didn't so much chat as vie for control of the program, however, with Kotb caught paying no attention whatsoever to Gifford during some unfortunate shots. Gifford gabbed gamely on.

The thought of dropping in on this pair again to see what they're up to -- either today, tomorrow or as long as the Earth continues to twirl -- is not a pleasant one. We can hope, though, that it lasts through the end of the year so that NBC can do us at least one favor -- a "Today" show Kathie Lee Gifford Christmas special.

David Hinckley NYDN: Gifford and co-host Hoda Kotb chatted like two people who had just met, which is pretty much what they are. Gifford said they had bonded because they cried together in the ladies' room during their get-acquainted luncheon, which begged the possibly more interesting question of why.

Left out of Kathie Lee's on-air resume: Her clothing line produced in a sweatshop. Hubby Frank's f**k forays with other females. Alessandra Stanley NYT

"Love her or hate her, Kathie Lee Gifford was born to do television. And yesterday, she reclaimed her birthright." Adam Buckman NYP

Matt Lauer's expression in the photo above says it all.. "Oh, Reeeeege!" Watch Kathie Lee's salient segments in which she makes an abject ass of herself, NBC, and us. Must See TV...