A 'Rosie' Start

I haven't watched an episode in its entirety yet -- does anyone watch complete episodes of anything these days? -- but so far I'm enjoying Rosie O'Donnell's return to daytime television, "The Rosie Show." The standup opening -- which is how I first "met" (a super skinny) Ro on the TV comedy specials circuit in the '80s and later as a VJ on the early days of VH1 -- is kind of refreshing, if hit or miss. (All standup is.) I saw her take questions from the audience -- a la Carol Burnett -- on one episode (think this is a recurring bit -- I'd demand the Tarzan yell!), which was cute. What I've enjoyed the most, though, is how she connects with -- and worships -- some of her guests, a characteristic so many other hosts seem to lack. Larry King, Jay Leno and David Letterman usually seem put out by having to chat with guests -- an odd trait for talk-show hosts -- yet Rosie brings her fan hat to the set, always asking the question I'm (and other super-fans are) thinking. I'm not sure if this is the show to turn Oprah Winfrey's OWN around -- Michael, my mom and my sister had never even come across OWN when I asked them about it -- but I'll definitely be checking back in on Rosie. Penny Marshall did good.