Rosie O’Donnell’s ‘The Rosie Show’ To End; Final Episode To Air March 30

Rosie O’Donnell’s talk show is ending.

On Friday evening, the Oprah Winfrey Network announced that “The Rosie Show” will tape its final episode on Tuesday, March 20. The final episode will air, Friday, March 30.

“I loved working with Oprah in the amazing city of Chicago,” Rosie said in a statement. “I was welcomed with open arms and will never forget the kindness of all I encountered. It was a great year for me – I wish the show was able to attract more viewers – but it did not. So I am headed back to my home in New York – with gratitude. On we go!”

Oprah also issued a statement, thanking Rosie for being a part of OWN.

“I thank Rosie from the bottom of my heart for joining me on this journey. She has been an incredible partner, working to deliver the best possible show every single day,” Oprah’s statement read. “As I have learned in the last 15 months, a new network launch is always a challenge and ratings grow over time as you continue to gather an audience. I’m grateful to Rosie and the dedicated Rosie Show team for giving it their all.”

While she had been courted by other networks for her talk show return, Rosie chose to go with the young OWN, because she wanted to work alongside Oprah, something the OWN Chief Executive Officer spoke about in July 2011.

“Last June I went to see Rosie and we talked about the idea of her coming to OWN,” Oprah told reporters at the Television Critics Association Summer Session in Beverly Hills. “She could have gone to any other big broadcasters but she chose to align herself, her talent, her big vision with OWN… and I could not be prouder to have you with this family.”

At the time, Rosie said the honor of working with Oprah was a thrill.

“It’s a huge stamp of approval that’s beyond anyone’s dream,” Rosie said of working with Oprah. “It’s almost like being knighted in some way.”

In early February, following low ratings, around 30 employees were laid off from “The Rosie Show,” according to The Huffington Post.

In January Variety reported that, after its premiere brought in 321,000 viewers, ratings slipped to around 204,000 an episode.

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