Whoopi Goldberg

Ever since Jon and Kate Gosselin split up, a slew of scandalous accusations have surfaced, no small amount of which portray Jonny Boy as a bit of a womanizer.

Most recently, a celebrity gossip tabloid reported he had an affair with ex-nanny Stephanie Santoro, tapping that nine times in his home while his kids dozed.

Co-hosting The View last week, Kate Gosselin said she was "not surprised" by the reports. But it was another issue that sparked criticism from her View cohorts.

Whoopi Goldberg slammed Kate, bringing up the recent custody spat in which cops came to the Gosselins' home after Kate burst in on Jon's court-allotted time.

Kate is said to have by during Jon's time with the kids after she learned about Stephanie Santoro. She did not approve of him hiring her. He called the cops.

Whoopi chastised Kate pretty hard over this.

"When you go in to a custody thing, you have your specific time, [they have] specific time and you're not supposed to walk on [that]," Goldberg said.

"And I'm sorry, that's the law."

Over interjections from co-host Sherri Shepherd and Kate Gosselin herself, Goldberg continued slamming Kate, shouting, "And you could have gone to jail!"

Whoopi Goldberg slammed Kate Gosselin repeatedly on The View.

As the others eventually grew quiet, Goldberg repeated herself, looking straight at Gosselin and saying "You could have gone to jail, you realize that?"

Kate, who filmed a new TV pilot last week, eventually responded:

"I've learned my lesson and I have learned it was not a good thing. I realized that I was wrong and it was his custody and will I do it again? No, but it doesn't answer to me, like, a babysitter I've never met or approved of. That bothers me."

Despite her counterattack, Gosselin was unable to diffuse the tension set-up by Whoopi, who continued to play devil's advocate for Kate's estranged husband.

"You don't know what [Jon Gosselin] likes and what he doesn't. His attitude could be the same on something you feel is perfectly normal," Goldberg said.

Eventually, it was up to co-host Joy Behar to break up the cat-fight.

"The beauty of this story is that he was winning the PR wars when you were on the air, they were taking about how you picked on him and you were shrewish," Behar interjected, adding in Kate's direction, "You don't look shrewish."

Maybe not as much with the new hair. But still, what a banshee.

Who sucks more?

It's a slow news week. Exhibit A? During yesterday's "Hot Topics" segment of The View, the panel got into a huge fight over none other than Cookie Monster.

Things got a bit testy as Whoopi Goldberg and Sherri Shepherd discussed an upcoming healthy eating PSA on Sesame Street, in which Cookie Monster, the show's lovable, ravenous blue dessert fiend, is taught about the benefits of smart food choices.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and a polite, well-educated stalk of broccoli try to teach the Monster a lesson in dieting. But is this really necessary?

Sherri Shepherd thinks so, apparently blaming Cookie Monster for the poor dietary habits of our nation's youth. Whoopi's answer? "Bull! It's a puppet!"

Check out the all-important spat below ...

The View Takes on Cookie Monster

Call us crazy, but is Cookie Monster even fat? It looks to us like he balances out his love of tasty snacks with an exercise regimen. He can be a tad rude, yes, but who among us hasn't devoured a dessert and left a shower of crumbs in its wake?

It's all about moderation, kids. Why can't you have a cookie but not 73 in one sitting? Besides, all this will do is anger Cookie Monster. Before, he focused on the Cookie aspect; do you really want to be around when the Monster comes out?

And where does it stop? Will Oscar be put on Prozac? Will Elmo next be barred from speaking in the third person, to cure the country's self-centeredness?

Whose side are you on?

PETA might hate The View more than Donald Trump does.

First, the organization that loves animals more than people got mad at Elisabeth Hasselbeck. Then again, most Democrats do this on a daily basis.

Now, however, it's rightfully taking exception to comments Whoopi Goldberg made during her very first day as co-host of the show.

For some reason, the comedian chose to defend that puppy-murderer, Michael Vick, stating that dog fighting is almost a cultural norm in the south and that the ex-quarterback didn't understand how serious an offense he had committed.

At that, PETA President Michelle Cho fired off an email to Whoopi that said:

"I think a lot of people who live and work in the South - as PETA does - will not appreciate the "view" that cruelty to dogs is an accepted Southern pastime. Those who fight dogs do so in New York, Chicago, and even the Republic of Ireland, and what unites them is lawlessness and callousness, not whether they eat grits or Belgian waffles for breakfast."

Cho went on to say that "animals are as vulnerable to abuse as children are, and they need your voice more than Vick does right now."

That's actually well said by PETA. It's the most sensible they've been since they used Holly Madison nude photos as part of a campaign against fur.

Might viewers start clamoring for a Rosie O'Donnell return soon?

We're 24 hours away from the premiere of Whoopi Goldberg on The View.

We haven't been this excited about a daytime talk show host since we realized how similar looking Ellen DeGeneres and Zac Efron were.

Anyway, before she goes on the air with Barbara Walter, Elisabeth Hasselbeck and Joy Behar, Goldberg spoke with TV Guide.

TV Guide: You do movies, you have a daily radio show, you had your own talk show… so why The View?
Goldberg: I always liked the show. I always felt if there were a place for me, I'd love to be a part of it, but they always had their hosts. Then I started hearing little rumblings. It turns out that the timing couldn't be better, and it all worked out.

TV Guide: Why is it a good fit?
Goldberg: I love to talk, and I love these women. Because they have such diverse ideas about things, it's fun. Also, it'll help me understand a lot more about what's going on in the world of pop culture. I don't know anything about American Idol or who's married to who or getting divorced from who.

* The Hollywood Gossip note: Write these down, Whoopi:

• Jordin Sparks won and Blake Lewis finished second;

• Bill Rancic and Giuliana DePandi; Usher and Tameka Foster got married;

• Heath Ledger and Michelle Williams called it quits.

TV Guide: Is there any subject you can't wait to sink your teeth into?
Goldberg: Everything! We have an election year coming up, so to sit with all the candidates and hear what their thoughts are will be wonderful. There are a lot of great shows on television and some new ones coming up. There are so many exciting things happening out there.

TV Guide: Did Rosie's nemesis Donald Trump call to congratulate you?
Goldberg: No, but Donald's nice.

TV Guide: What's your catchphrase as moderator?
Goldberg: I am what I am. Me and Popeye.

While some things remain the same - i.e. Britney Spears mistreating little Sean Preston and Jayden James - others are undergoing significant changes.

Take the cast of The View.

By now, of course, all celebrity gossip followers know the story: Star Jones was kicked to the self-serving curb; Rosie O'Donnell alienated some viewers, attracted others and then left in a huff. Perez Hilton somehow guest hosted a show.

On September 4, however, a new era begins. This promotional photo says as much:

The new View: A pregnant Elisabeth Hasselbeck is joined by new co-host Whoopi Goldberg. Barbara Walters and Joy Behar also return.

Whoopi Goldberg may have some controversial shoes to fill, but the new cohost of ABC's The View says she has a more relaxed approach to hosting than her predecessors.

Rosie O'Donnell, we think she's talking to you.

"I disagree with a lot of stuff a lot of people say, but there is a dialogue to have with people that I was taught by my mom â€" how to be respectful and listen," Goldberg said during an interview on Ryan Seacrest's KIIS-FM radio show on Monday that People reported.

"You can get loud and move on after you are finished with it, that is how I work," she added. "I have a different approach. I stir the pot just by my presence."

And Elisabeth Hasselbeck stirs the pot any time she opens her mouth.

Goldberg says she maintains a good attitude because she's generally a happy person. Seems simple enough.

"It's not so much that I am nice. but I have a great life and I have no reason to be angry at anybody."

As for why she was chosen over all the other candidates to fill one of the vacant seats, Goldberg said: "I don't have a clue, Ryan. I don't know child, why? I'm black, I don't know. I've done the show a lot of times and I probably looked like I could use the gig."

The same goes for Sherri Shepherd. Our celebrity gossip blog will let you know if she fills the other spot on the show.

Sorry, Rumer Willis, looks like you haven't been chosen as one of the new hosts on The View.

Two months after Rosie O'Donnell walked away from the show, speculation is rife that Whoopi Goldberg and Sherri Shepherd are about to be sitting in the hot seats permanently.

The Los Angeles Times and People magazine report that a formal announcement is expected next week regarding these two comedians joining the ABC daytime gabfest.

The real question on everyone's mind is how they'll get along with Elisabeth Hasselbeck. Her and O'Donnell did not exactly see eye to eye... or toe to toe... or belly to belly...

Welcome, Sherri Shepherd and Whoopi Goldberg to The View. Let's see how well they dish on various celebrity gossip topics.

Last year, Star Jones looked as ugly and acted as obnoxiously as ever; she also left the program amid backstage rancor and a public clash with Barbara Walters. Since then, she's said The View needs more diversity on its panel.

In a much smoother departure, former panelist Meredith Vieira also left the show last year, to join NBC's morning show Today.

Recently, Goldberg Shepherd and Kathy Griffin have been mentioned as the main possibilities to join Joy Behar, Hasselbeck and Walters at the table. We're not sure why Dina Lohan wasn't considered for the job.

Oh, right. It's because she sucks.

Whoopi Goldberg on The View? It looks like a done deal.

So Elisabeth Hasselbeck haters can finally relax. This is another liberal comedian that rarely hold anything back.

"As far as everyone at ABC is concerned, she has the job," a network insider said. "They have been meeting with Kathy Griffin, Rosanne Barr, Ricki Lake and Gayle King. While Kathy was a strong contender, Whoopi has won everyone over."

Another source says that Goldberg might as well have the gig already. And this seems like a solid enough choice to us, more logical than any weird Megan Fox tattoo at least.

"Whoopi has a radio show, she lives in NYC and she is an institution. She also is liberal and outspoken but not crazy like [Rosie O'Donnell] was. She will be a perfect fit as far as the ladies on The View are concerned," an insider noted.

ABC executives are so excited about signing Whoopi that they even offered her what they refused to give Rosie â€" a year-to-year deal. "When Rosie finds out, she'll be furious!" claims another source.

Goldberg, of course, is more than qualified. She's hosted the Academy Awards four times and holds a Grammy, Emmy, Oscar and Tony Award. It's quite the haul. The woman collects awards like Shar Jackson collects babies.