Editing Rosie O'Donnell (section)

===1996–2002: ''The Rosie O'Donnell Show''===
In 1996, she began hosting a [[Daytime television|daytime]] talk show, ''[[The Rosie O'Donnell Show]]'', for her production company KidRo Productions.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Bing|first=Jonathan|date=November 17, 2000|title=McCall's relaunch is Rosie|url=https://variety.com/2000/tv/news/mccall-s-relaunch-is-rosie-1117789301/|access-date=October 19, 2020|website=Variety|language=en-us|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201021154249/https://variety.com/2000/tv/news/mccall-s-relaunch-is-rosie-1117789301/|archive-date=October 21, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="TimbergErler2002">{{cite book|last1=Timberg|first1=Bernard M.|last2=Erler|first2=Bob|title=Television Talk: A History of the TV Talk Show|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9f4wu3uygR4C&pg=PA183|access-date=February 18, 2014|date=May 15, 2002|publisher=[[University of Texas Press]]|isbn=978-0-292-78176-4|page=183}}</ref> The show proved very successful, winning multiple [[Emmy Awards]],<ref>{{cite news|last=O'Neil|first=Tom|title=Can Rosie O'Donnell grab her old Emmy crown from Ellen DeGeneres?|url=http://goldderby.latimes.com/awards_goldderby/2010/03/can-rosie-odonnell-grab-her-old-emmy-crown-back-from-ellen.html|access-date=February 18, 2014|newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=March 23, 2010|archive-date=March 4, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140304061010/http://goldderby.latimes.com/awards_goldderby/2010/03/can-rosie-odonnell-grab-her-old-emmy-crown-back-from-ellen.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> and earning O'Donnell the title of "The Queen of Nice" for her style of light-hearted banter with her guests and interactions with the audience.<ref name="TimbergErler2002" /> As part of her playful banter with her studio audience, O'Donnell often launched [[koosh ball]]s at the crowd and camera.<ref>{{cite book|last=Chetwynd|first=Josh|title=The Secret History of Balls: The Stories Behind the Things We Love to Catch, Whack, Throw, Kick, Bounce and Bat|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4YXTQxelfmYC&pg=PT65|access-date=February 18, 2014|date=May 3, 2011|publisher=[[Penguin Group]]|isbn=978-1-101-51487-0|page=65|quote=Comedian Rosie O'Donnell made flinging Koosh Balls into her audience a staple on her talk show, which aired from 1996 to 2002.}}</ref> She also professed an infatuation with [[Tom Cruise]].<ref name=PeopleBio/>

With New York City as the show's home base, O'Donnell displayed her love of [[Broadway theatre|Broadway musicals]] and plays by having cast members as guests, encouraging the audience to see shows, premiering production numbers as well as promoting shows with ticket giveaways.

After the [[Columbine High School massacre|Columbine shootings]], O'Donnell became an outspoken supporter of [[gun control]] and a major figure in the [[Million Mom March]].<ref name="Amy Paulson">{{cite news|last=Paulson |first=Amy |title='Million Mom March' organizers hope to spur congressional action on gun legislation |work=[[CNN]] |date=May 8, 2000 |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2000/ALLPOLITICS/stories/05/08/million.mom/index.html |access-date=February 18, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110124102228/http://edition.cnn.com/2000/ALLPOLITICS/stories/05/08/million.mom/index.html |archive-date=January 24, 2011 }}</ref> During the April 19, 1999, broadcast of her talk show, she stated, "You are not allowed to own a gun, and if you do own a gun, I think you should go to prison."<ref>{{cite web|last1=Gallant |first1=Paul |last2=Eisen |first2=Joanne |last3=Kopel |first3=Dave |title=Her Own Bodyguard |work=[[National Review]] |date=January 24, 2002 |url=http://old.nationalreview.com/kopel/kopelprint012402.html |access-date=February 18, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110810205722/http://old.nationalreview.com/kopel/kopelprint012402.html |archive-date=August 10, 2011 }}</ref> O'Donnell previously had remarked, "I don't personally own a gun, but if you are qualified, licensed and registered, I have no problem."<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Silverman|first=Stephen|title=A Bodyguard for Rosie's Kid|magazine=People|date=September 11, 1998|url=http://people.com/celebrity/a-bodyguard-for-rosies-kid/|access-date=July 20, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170826031954/http://people.com/celebrity/a-bodyguard-for-rosies-kid/|archive-date=August 26, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> In May 1999, a month after the Columbine shootings, O'Donnell interviewed [[Tom Selleck]], who was promoting ''[[The Love Letter (1999 film)|The Love Letter]]''. O'Donnell [[Interrogation|interrogated]] him about his recent unpaid commercial for the [[National Rifle Association of America]] (NRA) and questioned him about the NRA's position on the use of "[[assault weapons]]". She said at the end of the segment the conversation had "not gone the way I had hoped" and added "if you feel insulted by my questions, I apologize because it was not a personal attack. It was meant to bring up the subject as it is in the consciousness of so many today."<ref name="NRA Winning Team">{{cite web|title=TRANSCRIPT: Tom Selleck Visits "The Rosie O'Donnell Show"|publisher=NRA Winning Team|url=http://www.nrawinningteam.com/norosie.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19991004011259/http://nrawinningteam.com/norosie.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 4, 1999|access-date=July 11, 2007}}</ref><ref name="Otherone">{{cite web|author =Otherone|title=Transcript of Tom Selleck & Rosie O'Donnell's NRA Discussion|publisher=JLRweb|url =http://www.geocities.com/rofaq/nradebate.html|access-date=July 11, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080302075026/http://www.geocities.com/rofaq/nradebate.html |archive-date=March 2, 2008}}</ref> Ironically, O'Donnell at that time was a multi-million dollar paid spokesperson for 5 years for [[Kmart (United States)|Kmart]], which was the largest volume firearms retailer in the United States.<ref>{{cite web |title=ROSIE O'DONNELL CALLS IT QUITS WITH KMART |date=November 25, 1999 |url=https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-1999-11-25-9911250029-story.html |publisher=South Florida Sentinel |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210701160304/https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-1999-11-25-9911250029-story.html |archive-date=July 1, 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=O'Donnell, NRA conflict over Kmart ads |date=August 20, 1999 |url=https://variety.com/1999/voices/columns/o-donnell-nra-conflict-over-kmart-ads-1117750581/ |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210205000537/https://variety.com/1999/voices/columns/o-donnell-nra-conflict-over-kmart-ads-1117750581/ |archive-date=February 5, 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref> Around the same time, the cast from ''[[Annie Get Your Gun (musical)|Annie Get Your Gun]]'' was to appear on the show but refused O'Donnell's request to remove the line "I can shoot a partridge with a single cartridge" from the song "[[Anything You Can Do (song)|Anything You Can Do]]" and agreed to perform "My Defenses Are Down" instead.<ref name="Report: Lyrics Riled Rosie">{{cite news|title=Report: Lyrics Riled Rosie|work=People|date=March 1, 1999|url=http://people.com/celebrity/report-lyrics-riled-rosie/feed/|access-date=February 4, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170826030737/http://people.com/celebrity/report-lyrics-riled-rosie/feed/|archive-date=August 26, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Later in 1999, O'Donnell discontinued her contract with Kmart as their spokeswoman, as gun enthusiasts complained that she should not be the spokesperson for the largest gun retailer. O'Donnell countered that Kmart sells hunting rifles, not handguns or assault weapons and does so legally, which she supports. Both Kmart and O'Donnell denied publicly that Kmart had terminated the contract.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Fink|first1=Mitchell|last2=Rubin|first2=Lauren|title=Rosie Sticks to Her Guns by Unloading Kmart Gig|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/gossip/rosie-sticks-guns-unloading-kmart-gig-article-1.857102|access-date=February 15, 2014|newspaper=[[Daily News (New York)|Daily News]]|date=November 19, 1999|location=New York|archive-date=February 25, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140225133738/http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/gossip/rosie-sticks-guns-unloading-kmart-gig-article-1.857102|url-status=dead}}</ref> In May 2000, O'Donnell's bodyguard applied for a [[Carrying concealed weapon|concealed firearm permit]]. O'Donnell stated that the security firm contracted by [[Warner Bros.]] requested the gun. O'Donnell stated that because of threats, she and her family need protection.<ref name="J.A. Johnson Jr.">{{cite web|first=J. A. Jr.|last=Johnson|title=Request for gun by O'Donnell bodyguard raises concern|publisher=Southern Connecticut Newspaper|website=The Advocate Online|date=May 25, 2000|url=http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/Advocate/release/05-25-2000/article1.html|access-date=June 16, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000620145923/http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/Advocate/release/05-25-2000/article1.html |archive-date=June 20, 2000}}</ref>

After the [[September 11, 2001 attacks]], Broadway and tourism in New York City was down and many shows were in danger of closing. O'Donnell was among many in the entertainment field who encouraged viewers to visit and support the performing arts. She announced that she would donate 1 million dollars for aid in the rescue efforts and encouraged other celebrities and citizens alike to "give till it hurts".<ref>{{cite news|title=O'donnell donates $1 million in aid|url=http://amarillo.com/stories/2001/09/20/usn_millionin.shtml|access-date=February 18, 2014|newspaper=[[Amarillo Globe-News]]|date=September 20, 2001|agency=Associated Press|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140227155752/http://amarillo.com/stories/2001/09/20/usn_millionin.shtml|archive-date=February 27, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In 2002, she left her talk show.<ref>{{cite news|last=Williams|first=Jeannie|title=Rosie, coy on TV, 'comes out' on stage|url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/television/2002/2002-02-27-rosie.htm|access-date=February 18, 2014|newspaper=[[USA Today]]|date=February 27, 2002}}</ref> The show was replaced by ''[[The Caroline Rhea Show]]'', with comedian [[Caroline Rhea]], which ran for one additional season.

O'Donnell was a guest star on an episode of [[HBO]] show ''[[Curb Your Enthusiasm]]'' entitled "[[The Bowtie]]".<ref name="Staff">{{Cite web |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->  |date=March 23, 2020 |title=Every Episode of 'Curb Your Enthusiasm,' Ranked |url=https://www.theringer.com/tv/2020/3/23/21188827/curb-your-enthusiasm-episode-rankings-updated |access-date=April 26, 2022 |website=The Ringer |language=en}}</ref>