0:00

Hello and welcome to Gay's Reading. I am your host, Jason Blitman, and you clicked on the episode, so you know this is the Rosie O'Donnell episode. Y'all. I'm freaking out. I was freaking out. Anyone who's listened to this show before knows that I have talked about Rosie O'Donnell over and over and over again. And if you are listening to this simply because you're a Rosie fan and you've never listened to gay's reading before, welcome, and I hope you enjoy this conversation with her. But, uh, I'm, this is. This is a big day. It's a big day for gay's reading. Thank you everyone for your support and cheering on along the way. I, have mentioned her name on so many episodes, in particular with Lindsay Rush, the poet. we had a moment on the show where we talked about our, our dreams and fantasies in one of hers was that Michelle Pfeiffer. Got a hold of her book. And so Lindsay and I were in touch this morning'cause I was so excited to tell her that I finally had Rosie on the show. And I'm, I've decided this is now the time that, that Michelle Pfeiffer is gonna, he is gonna finally read her book. and so Lindsay coined the term manifesting. We are manifesting because it is may. Uh, and so I hope all of you get whatever it is that you are manifesting this month. As always, if you like what you're hearing, share us with your friends. Follow us on social media at gays Reading. I, I, I have very few words., when I saw that Rosie O'Donnell was producing a documentary for Hulu, I thought, what a great opportunity to check in with her and learn about that. I had the pleasure of watching Unleashing Hope, the Power of Service Dogs for Children with Autism, which is streaming on Hulu now. Um. Uh, So here you go.

Jason Blitman: 1:58

​all I want is to get Rosie O'Donnell on this podcast. I would rush home to watch Rosie O'Donnell I saw the video clips on Instagram of my girl Rosie O'Donnell, you feel like you're allowed to love Tom Cruise because of the co sign from Oprah. And I was allowed to love him because of the co sign from Rosie O'Donnell.

Jedediah Jenkins: 2:15

Is there like a league of their own category of gays that I don't know about?

Jason Blitman: 2:18

You know, I don't know. Maybe it's just Rosie O'Donnell.

Lyndsay Rush: 2:21

We need to find your drunk

Jason Blitman: 2:22

I would call myself dollar store Rosie O'Donnell.

2:26

I, and now I am just ecstatic to say, please enjoy my conversation with Rosie O'Donnell.

Jason Blitman: 2:34

okay. I. I'm gonna put my podcaster hat on in a second, but first I have to put my, my 8-year-old gay kid hat on.

Rosie O'Donnell: 2:45

Okay.

Jason Blitman: 2:47

Um, so this is Gay's reading. Welcome to Gay's Reading. On every third episode of the show, your name comes up.

Rosie O'Donnell: 2:57

Right. No kidding.

Jason Blitman: 3:00

If you listen to the first six seconds of the first episode, your name comes up.

Rosie O'Donnell: 3:05

Really, honey. That's so sweet.

Jason Blitman: 3:08

I talk about how I want one of those little buttons to

Rosie O'Donnell: 3:11

Dig, dig.

Jason Blitman: 3:12

I, I said, every time I say GA's reading, I want to hear bum bubu bum. The intro of the Gypsy Overture.

Rosie O'Donnell: 3:19

Oh yeah,

Jason Blitman: 3:20

had every time she said Tom Cruise's name.

Rosie O'Donnell: 3:23

right. Tommy, can you hear me

Jason Blitman: 3:24

Exactly. I, before we dive in, I just have to say you are my, my Barbara, my Tom, and my Merv rolled into one.

Rosie O'Donnell: 3:37

honey?

Jason Blitman: 3:37

And you were my babysitter when I was a kid and you were my introduction to Broadway shows. I've worked in theater my whole life and, uh, I've been estranged from my dad for five years. He

Rosie O'Donnell: 3:52

Sorry,

Jason Blitman: 3:52

in, he was born in 1959 and grew up in Comac, New York.

Rosie O'Donnell: 3:56

what's his name?

Jason Blitman: 4:00

His name is Mike Mann. I'm sure you don't know him.

Rosie O'Donnell: 4:02

Did he go to my high school? Because I'm born in 1962.

Jason Blitman: 4:06

I know. This is why I told you. Um, no, but he, he, they moved to Florida in when he was like 14 or 15, so

Rosie O'Donnell: 4:13

Okay.

Jason Blitman: 4:13

make it to high school, but he lived at 11 Dorian Lane. I learned

Rosie O'Donnell: 4:17

11. Doreen Lane.

Jason Blitman: 4:19

Dore? Dorian?

Rosie O'Donnell: 4:21

Oh, Dorian, because I lived in the name Streets. I lived on Rhonda Lane and there was Donna Lane and Rita Crescent. I thought there was a Doreen in there that would've been funny.

Jason Blitman: 4:31

Do think it was like a around the corner, but not

Rosie O'Donnell: 4:36

Wow, that is so wild. You know, I wanna tell you the truth. When, when gay men and women come over to me and tell me this, I can't explain what it feels like, because you know when you are doing that show at a time when speaking about being gay was really unheard of. There was, nobody was out at the time, right? Ellen was not out. I remember while I was doing my show. She said she was gonna come out. I was like, oh my God, what is she doing? You know? Yes. Elton John can be out. Or Katie Lang, they're rock and roll singers, but could a, a talk show host and a, it didn't seem possible.

Jason Blitman: 5:13

You're in someone's living room every day.

Rosie O'Donnell: 5:15

Yes. And I remember seeing, uh, they told me there was gonna be a new show on with a gay man and his best friend. Who was a straight woman and it was gonna be called Will and Grace. And I thought that'll never last because you don't remember. But there was a show, love Sidney with Tony Randall, and it was only on for a few episodes because there was a photograph of a man above the fireplace that obviously had died. Who they were inferring was his partner and all he did was look up at him one episode and. You know, and the church went crazy and I went to mass that day and there was all kinds of protests and they took it off the air. So I didn't grow up dreaming that it would be possible to have a show that would reach out and touch so many gay kids' lives. And it really makes me feel as though my life has been of value. So I wanna thank you for saying that to me.

Jason Blitman: 6:14

Thank you. I mean, truly you. You changed my life. You saved my life. You and and I. When I Google, I like Googled the Rosie O'Donnell show today just to see what. What Google said about you, and apparently the Wikipedia summation is, it says in a nutshell, fascinating, fun, and joyous. And I was like, I didn't even realize. But that is the core of what I do here. That's my goal, that's what I do. I want to have fun and have really interesting and thoughtful conversation. So anyway, I just needed to say all of that.

Rosie O'Donnell: 6:45

Well thank, thank you so much.

Jason Blitman: 6:48

Um,

Rosie O'Donnell: 6:49

Now lemme ask you one thing. Why are you not talking to your dad? Is it a gay? Guess? You're gay.

Jason Blitman: 6:53

It is not a gay thing.

Rosie O'Donnell: 6:55

Oh, okay. You don't have,

Jason Blitman: 6:57

It is a, it is a, it is a last election thing.

Rosie O'Donnell: 7:01

oh honey, that's almost just as hard.

Jason Blitman: 7:04

I got like the gay thing was never a problem.

Rosie O'Donnell: 7:07

Oh good. I'm glad.

Jason Blitman: 7:10

Astonishing.

Rosie O'Donnell: 7:11

there's a wonderful documentary. Fox News Brainwashed my father. Have you ever seen it?

Jason Blitman: 7:18

Did I write that documentary? No, I,

Rosie O'Donnell: 7:20

But it's out there and you can Google it and look it up and watch it and you'll feel comforted that the, by the fact that you're not alone, that this propaganda network that has convinced our elderly. Parents that we love and enjoy that their version of lies are true and it's very tragic. And when you think that 30% of the population voted for him, now I always say half, and it's not half as my shrink reminds me, 30% did not vote. 30% voted against him and 30% voted for him. That's not a a, a mandate, Donald, that's not a landslide. And if we don't stop him now, there's no stopping him. And that's the end of democracy.

Jason Blitman: 8:08

and so here we are

Rosie O'Donnell: 8:09

Yes.

Jason Blitman: 8:10

change. Um, speaking of documentaries, I, I was not a reader until about six or seven years ago, and so.

Rosie O'Donnell: 8:19

No kidding.

Jason Blitman: 8:20

sentence I never thought I would say is I have Rosie O'Donnell on my book podcast talking to me about a documentary she produced

Rosie O'Donnell: 8:28

Right, right.

Jason Blitman: 8:29

about service dogs. This is, and, and as Caroline can tell you, I sent her an angry email in quotation marks that I didn't know it was gonna make me cry so much.

Rosie O'Donnell: 8:39

it's very, very moving and it's very uplifting and I think, you know, kids with autism are being maligned by Robert Kennedy Jr. Please put the junior in there, everyone,'cause he doesn't deserve to have that name. I. Without Junior attached reminding us that he's nothing like his father. And, um, you know, what he's saying is ridiculous. It's, it's conspiracy theories. It's there's no scientific fact. He has no medical degree. He has no right to be saying the lies, but it's perfect that he's in the Trump administration, which only and always lies only and always. And, um, you know, I wanted to put out a documentary that would show autism. In the light that it is in my world, and to show the truth and the hard and the difficult parts as well, and to show a therapy that actually works for children, that actually helps serve inmates and prisoners as they train these dogs for up to two years and give them away to families like mine. Who need the service, and it was life-changing for our family, and I really wanted to help people know that this was a possibility and that it's free. It's free.

Jason Blitman: 9:53

it is crazy. I mean, and who would've thought the, the empathy we would've had at the end of the duck for the inmates who were

Rosie O'Donnell: 10:01

Yes.

Jason Blitman: 10:01

sentences,

Rosie O'Donnell: 10:02

Yes, they're human beings, you know? And um, you know, one should not be defined by the worst moment of their life and not be able to escape it. And one thing that really got to me when I was in the prison and I met the dogs and I met the prisoners and I said to this guy, how many dogs have you trained? And he said, 12. And I said, oh, knowing that that takes two years, that's 24 years. He probably did manslaughter. He is getting out soon. So I said, you must be going home soon. And he said, no, ma'am, I'm here life without.

Jason Blitman: 10:31

Yeah.

Rosie O'Donnell: 10:31

It about broke my heart because isn't that the most appropriate name? Not life without the possibility of life, without pretty much everything, without hope, without dignity, without decency, without compassion, without forgiveness from the world and from everyone. And there was no way to redeem yourself if you had life without if the rest of your life you were destined to stay there.

Jason Blitman: 10:57

Yeah. Well, and it's amazing though that, that you learned about this program from your correspondence with Lyle Menendez. And, and that it's been going on as long as it has been, as you just said, 20. This one person has been working with dogs for 24 years. What, what was, what was even just learning about that, like for you?

Rosie O'Donnell: 11:17

It was mind blowing because I had a child diagnosed with autism at two, who was at the time nine and at nine years old, you know, they went through, uh, menstruation and they started with a lot of hormones withdrawing. Withdrawing into themselves and not wanting to go out and not wanting to talk to anyone but me, and yet not wanting to really talk to me, just wanting me to be there. So I spent every weekend alone trying to get them out of their room to come down and hang with me. And you know, they were really focused on their one need. You know, like how a Rain Man, judge Wapner. Judge Waner. Right. Uh. That's what they were doing with object shows, right? Battle for Dream Island and Insan Inanimate Insanity. They would memorize every episode of these object shows that are, it's a digital program. I. A digital series on YouTube that had been created in 2010 and they just found a few years ago and try to get some t-shirts and stuff from a show that's been on for that long. It wasn't so easy. But I ended up meeting the creators and they're wonderful guys. They've come to our house, they've invited us to perform on the program, and Clay and I each voiced a character.

Jason Blitman: 12:40

God. How cool.

Rosie O'Donnell: 12:41

Yeah. Really?

Jason Blitman: 12:41

must have freaked out.

Rosie O'Donnell: 12:43

Oh my God. It was like. I, I've never seen them so happy as, as that, uh, moment when I, they called and said, listen, would you guys like to do it? Because they're taking voiceover lessons. She wants to be a voiceover artist and has always wanted to be, but does not wanna be an actress in any way.

Jason Blitman: 13:03

Uhhuh.

Rosie O'Donnell: 13:04

They also have a thing called Echo. Are you familiar with that? It's where you have almost a tape recorder in your head. If you hear anything audio wise, you are able to recall it, memorize it, and play it back in the voice that it was projected. So this is a quick story, but this is true. There was a boy who was calling her names at school, calling her Psycho, and I went up to the mother at a party and said, your boy is calling my kid Psycho. Why is that? And she said, because your kid. Tells very scary stories. And I'm like, oh, really? Like what? She says, where's Waldo? I'm like, where's Waldo? Is scaring your kid? And she said, yes. I said, okay, let me get to the bottom of this. So I go home, I say, um, honey, do you know a story? Where's Waldo? Yeah. They say, I go, uh, would you tell me it? She goes, yeah, it was a dark and. She sounds like Vincent Price and she's reciting this thing that she memorized and it was terrifying, you know? And that ele, that is ele. She has, she can do, they can do any accent, they can do any dialect and they can remember any dialogue.

Jason Blitman: 14:18

And they were not talking about the search and find books of the The man with the striped shirt.

Rosie O'Donnell: 14:23

Well, actually it was about him, but it was like a horror version of that. Like, you know, who's behind you, where Waldo,

Jason Blitman: 14:31

Oh,

Rosie O'Donnell: 14:31

who's behind you, you know, it was a little scary. But actually their response, their, their response was, half the kids like it, half the kids don't. I'll take those odds, you know?

Jason Blitman: 14:46

Um, you say in the documentary that it's been, uh, being among the autism community has just been an amazing experience and it made, it made me think about the LGBT community just in terms of, you know, feeling othered and needing to find your people. And what has that experience been like for you?

Rosie O'Donnell: 15:07

Yes. Well, it was very overwhelming because unlike, you know, the gay community where if you are an adult, you can go advocate for yourself. If you are a child with autism, you need adults to advocate for you, right? And, um, I am the adult that advocates for them. I am almost the interpreter for how the world with nuances and subtlety kind of functions in a way that their. Very bright, very different brain is able to process and to know other families. Were going through what I was going through, provided so much hope for me, and, uh, compassion and desire to never give up and to keep doing what I was doing in order to shepherd them, you know, through their life and, and help them have a productive, uh, valuable. Relationships and, and valuable life experiences that everyone who's a human being deserves. And, uh, you know, I, I think my experience with the gay community really helped me in terms of how I could help the autism community. You know, when, when I realized what an amazing. Gift this dog was to our family. I went back and said, I need to help people know about this and who are the other celebrities who have gotten these dogs? And they said, you are the first. And I was like, I'm the first. They said, yeah, and this has been, you know, guide Dogs of America, has been along around for many, many years. I thought I would. And I said, okay, then I'm gonna make a documentary. And they're like, well, we don't know how to do that. I go, well, I know how to do that. I don't know how to train autism dogs. You know how to do that, but why don't you let me do what I know how to do and we'll see what we can together, uh, what we can accomplish.

Jason Blitman: 17:00

Well, and also, you know, you're not just producing it. I,

Rosie O'Donnell: 17:05

Yeah.

Jason Blitman: 17:06

think was my first thought. You are front and center, making sure that. That voices are getting heard, and

Rosie O'Donnell: 17:13

Yes. Well, it was really important that we find another family besides my own. I didn't wanna make it just about one kid, because what I know we just talk about Caleb, how amazing that child is. What about his brother saying that he worried about him? I was like, I was sobbing my eyes out when I first saw the rough cut of that. And, uh,

Jason Blitman: 17:36

you I was mad. I didn't know I was gonna cry as much as I did.

Rosie O'Donnell: 17:38

I know it's a very emotional documentary and we pack a lot into 42 minutes. You know, we really do. Z the director did a great job and I'm very pleased with it. I'm very happy that people are responding the way they have, and I'm mostly happy that their calls have increased a thousand percent for families with autism from all over the country. People say, well, I don't live in California. I'm like, you don't have to live in California. They will fly to you. They will fly you and your, your family here. They will pay for your whole cost of staying here. It won't cost you a penny to have this service. And, uh, we're saving a lot of kids with, with this stock.

Jason Blitman: 18:18

Yeah, unleashing hope,

Rosie O'Donnell: 18:20

Yes,

Jason Blitman: 18:21

talk about a title,

Rosie O'Donnell: 18:22

that's a good title.

Jason Blitman: 18:23

uh, Caleb, I can't stop thinking about Um, this is not a gotcha question because I am the exact same person as you, but you, once upon a time, you said you're not a dog lover. You're a dog liker.

Rosie O'Donnell: 18:34

Yes,

Jason Blitman: 18:35

that was me too. Has that changed at all for you?

Rosie O'Donnell: 18:37

a hundred percent. Because I was one of those people who, even though I had dogs, like I wouldn't like my friends, I remember like this one friend of mine, Michelle, I would say to her, you wanna go to the movies? And she'd go, I can't go to dinner. And the movie, um, I. Because I have to get home to my dog. I'm like, what a loser of life. How could you, you know? Like I was, listen, I liked them. I liked them. I was not, I did not like them. I had them, but I wasn't madly in love with a dog until we got Kuma. And it changed my whole perception. It used to be I wouldn't even see dogs Like I was walking down the street with my friend Lori. Who is a dog freak and there would be a woman pushing a carriage with a dog. And Lori would go, oh my God. And I would go, oh my God. And she'd be looking at the dog and I'd be looking at the baby, right?'cause it put a baby in front of me. I am powerless. Right. It's like kryptonite in the best way for me. I'm weak and I'll do anything you know.

Jason Blitman: 19:39

So funny. And meanwhile here I am thinking, why is the dog in the stroller

Rosie O'Donnell: 19:43

Yeah, no, no, it was, uh, a baby in the stroller and I'm like, oh, dear God, if I could just hold that baby. And she's thinking, I wanna touch that dog, you know? And, um, and so now it's completely changed. I understand it, and I look at that dog and I'm, I have gratitude every single day that we have this dog that we got, that specific dog that he seems to know. Not only for clay, but for everyone who comes in the house who's in need of some attention and love. Really. They train, train them to pick up emotionally on people's feelings in a, in a way that's almost magical.

Jason Blitman: 20:22

I'm obsessed.

Rosie O'Donnell: 20:24

Hmm.

Jason Blitman: 20:24

Um, I, I have to transition to talking to you about some books

Rosie O'Donnell: 20:27

Okay. Go.

Jason Blitman: 20:29

I, so obviously we're very much talking about your documentary here, and I, and I'm, I, I'd love that I could segue into talking to a little bit about your career, because so many things you've done are based on books like Harriet, the Spy.

Rosie O'Donnell: 20:44

my favorite books as a kid and then to get to play Golly was unbelievable to me and I loved doing it. And it was a, a wonderful book that gave me solace and hope as a kid, and I loved getting to bring that character to life.

Jason Blitman: 20:59

Did you see the queer Coness when you were a kid,

Rosie O'Donnell: 21:03

I don't think so

Jason Blitman: 21:03

realize

Rosie O'Donnell: 21:05

in in Harry At the Spy. Well, I would see it, like, I would see it in noticing like Kristi McNichol was like me on family. I would notice like, oh, you know whoever, like Tatum O'Neill, oh, she's beautiful. I bet you that, you know, she's like, me too. But I didn't know what way they were like me, but I knew Harriet was like me.

Jason Blitman: 21:27

Interesting.

Rosie O'Donnell: 21:28

Right, in some ways and the way she dressed and her curiosity and wanting to figure things out, you know, so I definitely, I don't know if I, I associated it with gay. I just associated it with kind of like a tomboy vibe, which is what I always had.

Jason Blitman: 21:46

Well, I had never read it and I have had multiple guests on the show who have brought it up as a, as like a queer coded thing that they recognized as a young person. Um, one of those people being Gregory McGuire, who wrote Wicked

Rosie O'Donnell: 21:58

Wow.

Jason Blitman: 21:59

I. Of course talking about Harriet, the By led me to talking about you I mentioned you being a dream guest of mine and he was like, if you ever have her on the show, tell her I say hello.

Rosie O'Donnell: 22:10

Well,

Jason Blitman: 22:11

and then he started, he started talking about the time when the two of you went to go see Wicked together and then spent Act two with the bar across the street.

Rosie O'Donnell: 22:18

yes, exactly. Well, I times.

Jason Blitman: 22:21

Right. Well, he, he said, we both had seen it so many times, so we,

Rosie O'Donnell: 22:24

And I just wanted to talk to him. I wanted to go. How did you imagine this, how did you imagine all of these wonderful themes like the, the animals being silenced and tyranny and, and freedom and, you know, I don't know. I, I thought it was an epically genius metaphor and God, I loved the show and I love the movie, and I think it was beautifully done and I was so. Blown away by it. Absolutely blown away. I brought Clay, and Clay said it's way too long. That was their only comment.

Jason Blitman: 23:02

fair. It's a long first movie.

Rosie O'Donnell: 23:04

First movie

Jason Blitman: 23:05

Um, if I didn't have to pay for rights, and if it wasn't nine o'clock in the morning in California, I would say let's do a little duet. Um.

Rosie O'Donnell: 23:11

I.

Jason Blitman: 23:16

Oh, I know. I don't need to test you. Don't you worry. Um, hilariously, my first introduction to you was actually the 1994 grease cast recording.

Rosie O'Donnell: 23:25

Of course. Look at me. Sandra d

Jason Blitman: 23:27

if I had that, what

Rosie O'Donnell: 23:29

Digi card. Digi card.

Jason Blitman: 23:30

the digit card for you, it would be you saying, what the hell is that?

Rosie O'Donnell: 23:35

Yeah. What the hell is that? Exactly?

Jason Blitman: 23:37

is of course the beginning of the Grease lightning reprise.

Rosie O'Donnell: 23:40

Yes. You know that, um, my son Blake, when he was about 18, he's 25 now. He said, you know, I was over at Joe's and, uh, he put on this movie and you were like a teenager and you talked like Sylvester Stallone and, uh, what the hell was that movie? I go, Blake, that's my most famous movie. You don't, you've never seen it. He's like, no, I couldn't believe it. What, what were you 18 when you did that? I'm like, I was 30, I was 30.

Jason Blitman: 24:06

Oh my God, that's so funny.

Rosie O'Donnell: 24:08

Yeah. They, they don't, they didn't really, uh, watch my movies or, or, or, or even, you know, still to this day I'll be doing something and I'll go, did you watch? They're like, no, we fell asleep. You know, they don't really care. My kids, and I think

Jason Blitman: 24:22

real. Keeping it

Rosie O'Donnell: 24:23

real. Exactly,

Jason Blitman: 24:24

Um, and of course, something you've done based on lots of books.

Rosie O'Donnell: 24:29

yes.

Jason Blitman: 24:29

Seussical the Musical,

Rosie O'Donnell: 24:31

Yes. Come on. The cat. Oh, the thinks. You can think. Oh, the thinks. You can think.

Jason Blitman: 24:37

been long enough that I could tell you I've seen that bootleg of you doing it many times.

Rosie O'Donnell: 24:41

Well,

Jason Blitman: 24:42

it on VHS

Rosie O'Donnell: 24:43

love the bootlegs. I know that everyone says you shouldn't. As soon as I see one or I have my friend Bobby Pierce, Tony nominated costume designer.

Jason Blitman: 24:52

who, listen, this is, this is a little bit of a touchy subject, but did community theater in childhood with Cindy Pierce.

Rosie O'Donnell: 25:00

Oh wow. I know her. That's so wild. Well, she knows how, he knows how to get the bootlegs. He'll call me and he'll go, I got Nicole Schlesinger in Sunset. You want it?

Jason Blitman: 25:51

like, yes, I live far away now. I need to see it.

Rosie O'Donnell: 25:53

Exactly. Most people like wanna do, you know, nefarious things like, you know, on the sly I wanna get copies of Broadway shows I haven't seen, I'm dying to see Death Becomes Her The worst thing or the only bad thing I can think about having moved to Ireland. The only negative part is that I miss Broadway. You know, of course I miss my big kids and, and my friends, but I really miss Broadway and like the Tony nominations were announced and I was like, God, I haven't seen so many, you know, normally.

Jason Blitman: 26:22

the kids and the friends you could talk to on the phone.

Rosie O'Donnell: 26:24

Yes

Jason Blitman: 26:24

shows, you can't.

Rosie O'Donnell: 26:25

you can.

Jason Blitman: 26:26

my husband and I moved from New York during Covid

Rosie O'Donnell: 26:29

Yeah.

Jason Blitman: 26:29

that's, I feel, I feel you. My fantasy episode of Gay's Reading. Was the two of us talking for an hour about

Rosie O'Donnell: 26:37

Oh my God. Come on.

Jason Blitman: 26:39

Streisand book?

Rosie O'Donnell: 26:40

Please tell me you listened on audio. Yeah. Okay. Everyone who says I only read it, I'm like, listen to me. Do you know what you're missing? Do you understand? To hear her own voice for all those hours. It was like so many hours that I didn't want it to end. I knew many of the stories beforehand'cause I'm, you know, a crazy fan. Five seconds away from calling the police. Thank God she was nice to me because, you know, I never overuse the, the closeness and the contact that I had with her. And people say, do you talk to her? I'm like, no. I'm, what are you making a call? Hi, Barbara. Every year I sent her flowers on April 24th with a beautiful note about how much she means to me, and she sends me something back and it's beautiful, but like, you know, I, I couldn't have become her friend because it's still. Very overwhelming to me that I actually know her.

Jason Blitman: 27:32

Yeah. I love that. That's so special.

Rosie O'Donnell: 27:34

Yeah.

Jason Blitman: 27:35

I mean, I sort of feel that way right now. I'm

Rosie O'Donnell: 27:37

No. Come on.

Jason Blitman: 27:39

The way you were talking about, I've watched your episode with her so many times about having diarrhea for days leading

Rosie O'Donnell: 27:44

Yes, yes.

Jason Blitman: 27:45

God I only booked this a week ago,

Rosie O'Donnell: 27:47

Oh, had I known I would've come on years ago. How long have you been doing this?

Jason Blitman: 27:52

two years.

Rosie O'Donnell: 27:53

Two years. You love it?

Jason Blitman: 27:55

Yes, it's very special. I've gotten to talk to so many fabulous people. I mean, I've had Margaret Cho, I just had Debbie Millman. I've had Roxanne Gay, I've had Gregory McGuire, you know, all so many fabulous people.

Rosie O'Donnell: 28:05

What book was it six years ago that turned you into reading? What? What book?

Jason Blitman: 28:10

The real thing was called me by your name.

Rosie O'Donnell: 28:12

Oh, okay.

Jason Blitman: 28:13

had seen the movie

Rosie O'Donnell: 28:14

Yes, which was.

Jason Blitman: 28:15

working for a company where I got the sequel in advance of the book, and I'd never read the first one. So I was like, you know what, let me, me read the first one. And it just drew me in in a way that really surprised me. And I was so glad to have the new one ahead of time

Rosie O'Donnell: 28:31

Yes.

Jason Blitman: 28:31

always felt like I couldn't keep up with books.

Rosie O'Donnell: 28:33

Got it. Now, what about tales of the city? Did you miss all the tales of the city?

Jason Blitman: 28:38

So. Yes and no. I've, I've since watched the whole series. I've read some of the books. I've had armad on the show.

Rosie O'Donnell: 28:47

Oh, who's great?

Jason Blitman: 28:48

very special. Um, so no, I've, I've since become a voracious reader. I mean, you've written books. Are you a big reader these days?

Rosie O'Donnell: 28:56

love reading.

Jason Blitman: 28:57

What are you reading?

Rosie O'Donnell: 28:58

Um, did you hear My mommy died? It's by an Irish writer about, who was one of 12 or 14 kids, and his mother died when he was little. And two different people gave me the book. And when two people give me the same book, I think it's a sign from God. Normally when, when I have a new book, I put it on the pile of things I have to read. So this one was already in my pile and someone else gave it to me and I'm like, take that. Yes, I'm halfway through it. It's very touching, it's very poignant. It's very emotional for me, you know? Um, but what a great movie or play. This would be. What a great show. I have many ideas and, and one of the friends of mine who gave it to me is, is knows him. And I said, when I finish the book, could you take us? I'll pay, we'll go to dinner so I can talk to him about my idea of how to make this into a show, you know?

Jason Blitman: 29:51

That's been something very special doing this, reading things and then being able to talk to the folks and just say like, Hey, this is, there's a, there, there, there's something

Rosie O'Donnell: 29:58

There's something there. Yes.

Jason Blitman: 30:00

Um, highly recommend a book called The Many Lives of Mama Love.

Rosie O'Donnell: 30:04

Okay.

Jason Blitman: 30:05

I will, I'll DM it to you.

Rosie O'Donnell: 30:06

Okay.

Jason Blitman: 30:07

Um, it was also an Oprah book club pick, so it's Jason recommended, and Oprah recommended.

Rosie O'Donnell: 30:12

The many lives of Mama Love and what, what's the premise Just in two.

Jason Blitman: 30:17

pre premise is, uh, uh, suburban soccer. Mom turned drug addict, and, uh, thief, local thief, put in prison for a year. Comes out, uh, sober. Uh, a ghost writer, literary agent changes her life and now

Rosie O'Donnell: 30:39

Memoir. I read a lot of memoirs, so I would love to read that. I'm gonna go get that.

Jason Blitman: 30:43

like that one's up your alley.

Rosie O'Donnell: 30:45

Yeah, I usually get the Oprah Book Club ones.

Jason Blitman: 30:48

Yeah,

Rosie O'Donnell: 30:48

Yeah,

Jason Blitman: 30:49

I slipped her name in there.

Rosie O'Donnell: 30:50

yeah, of course. You gotta, you know, she's like the book queen, right?

Jason Blitman: 30:55

Yeah. Seriously, I know.

Rosie O'Donnell: 30:56

She's, anything she touched went right to the top, you know?

Jason Blitman: 30:59

Fiddler on the Roof was based on a book. Everything you've done

Rosie O'Donnell: 31:04

I know this much is true. Wally Lamb, one of my favorite authors ever. He, you ever read any Wally Lamb?

Jason Blitman: 31:10

he just came out with a new book yesterday. I read that a few months ago. It's, it's a hard read'cause it involves a kid dying. FYI,

Rosie O'Donnell: 31:18

Right.

Jason Blitman: 31:19

beautiful. All

Rosie O'Donnell: 31:20

Have you ever read? She's come undone.

Jason Blitman: 31:22

No,

Rosie O'Donnell: 31:23

Read that one Wally Lamb book about a very obese girl and he's so good and I got to meet him and hang out with him when we did the miniseries with Mark Ruffalo. And, uh, that was a thrilling part. Well, I love when I meet the authors that I can't get enough of, like I used to stand in line to get Anne Rice to sign my first edition copies and then when I had my show to get to book her and have her on. Or Fannie Flagg, who I love the way she writes. I love all of her books to get, to have them and, and sit and pick their brain, you know? Um, I, I love authors, I love great authors, and, and I'm very moved by the written word.

Jason Blitman: 32:04

Yeah.

Rosie O'Donnell: 32:05

Yeah.

Jason Blitman: 32:06

are you gonna write another book anytime soon? You have a lot of, a lot of new stories since the last

Rosie O'Donnell: 32:10

Yeah, we're in the middle of one now that's about, uh, autism and clay and, and sort of my move to Ireland. And, uh, Lauren Slater, who, I don't know if you've ever read any of her books. I. But, uh, welcome to my country opening, uh, Skinner's Box Lying. She's written so many and she's one of my favorite authors. And you know, I, I don't wanna say the name'cause she'll be very angry at me, but I can tell when she's ghost written something because I always give her credit because I feel as though it's like having Leonard Leonardo da Vinci do your art homework. You know what I mean? So I'm like, I, I'm not putting this out without putting your name and telling everyone how. Sometimes I'll be reading a memoir, supposedly written by the celebrity, and I'll call her up and go, listen, bitch, I know that you wrote this book. And she'll, she'll start to cry and say to me, you can't tell anyone I, I will break the DNA, do not, you know, whatever, do not disclose whatever it's called. And uh, I'm like, I will not tell anyone, but I will meet this guy at another celebrity thing and I will know. He took credit for your words because her writing is so distinct and so brilliant. And to tell you the truth, this book, she, it flew out of her, you know, we talk and then she writes, and then I'm supposed to edit and, and change and, well, it flew out of her in a, in a way and at a time when I was moving here and very busy. And so it really should be and told, as told to.

Jason Blitman: 33:41

Sure.

Rosie O'Donnell: 33:42

Because it's so brilliant. The prose is so unbelievable that I think anyone who knows me in my writing would know that this was not done by me. So if we do put it out, we're gonna put it, I think, as told to.

Jason Blitman: 33:57

Fantastic.

Rosie O'Donnell: 33:58

Yeah.

Jason Blitman: 33:59

if it comes out, you'll come back. She'll come with you.

Rosie O'Donnell: 34:02

Yeah.

Jason Blitman: 34:03

chat about that process because I think

Rosie O'Donnell: 34:04

Totally.

Jason Blitman: 34:05

People would love to know.

Rosie O'Donnell: 34:07

Yes. I love.

Jason Blitman: 34:09

I'm, I've, I've taken up so much of your time.

Rosie O'Donnell: 34:13

It's all

Jason Blitman: 34:13

you so much for being here.

Rosie O'Donnell: 34:15

thank you and thank you for being so lovely. I really appreciate it and it's been wonderful to talk to you and I'll come back anytime. If I read a great book, can I send you an email and say, Hey, can I come on and talk about this book?

Jason Blitman: 34:27

Jason n gays reading.com whenever you want. That's the goal. All right. This is getting edited. It's getting put out tomorrow. I want the world to know about unleashing hope on Hulu.

Rosie O'Donnell: 34:41

Don't put the whole thing out. Who care?

Jason Blitman: 34:43

the, put the whole thing out. I'm so

Rosie O'Donnell: 34:45

Start to finish. Oh

Jason Blitman: 34:46

I, I love that you have taken a journey,

Rosie O'Donnell: 34:49

yes.

Jason Blitman: 34:50

standup to this. You're doing such important work and you're inspiring, and I think it's just, it's terrific and I'm so grateful to you.

Rosie O'Donnell: 34:57

Thank you honey. Thank you very, very much and I hope your parents can heal, but I know this abyss. Between the, uh, Trump people and the not Trump people could be the end of democracy. So know that we have to hold true to our beliefs of equality and diversity and compassion, and that's what this country's about.

Jason Blitman: 35:18

Yeah. Thank you.

35:20

Rosie, thank you so much for being here. Everyone. Make sure to check out Unleashing Hope, the Power of Service Dogs for Autism with Children streaming now on Hulu. It is such a beautiful watch. It's only 42 minutes and it will make you think, it'll make you feel, and I highly recommend it and uh, I will see you next week for an all new episode of Gay's Reading. I will see you then. Thanks everyone. Bye.