Q&A with Elisabeth Hasselbeck

Elisabeth Hasselbeck makes headlines with her opinions and isn't afraid to stand her ground. The Boston College alumna and former Survivor: The Outback castaway is by nature, an artist, as well as mom of two-year-old Grace and wife of NFL quarterback, Tim. She sits down in her View dressing room to dish about her new co-hosts and her love for '80s "one hit wonders."

How do you and Tim spend your evenings and weekends?
We usually just hang out with Grace—go to a diner, then walk around the block or go to the playground and try to be disciplined and not stop for ice cream. But between the three of us, one is always caving in.

Our evenings are pretty calm. We just went out for dinner the other night and hadn't been out for an official date in a long time. A big night for us. We really hadn't been outside the apartment after 8:45 in a long time. We kept saying, "Wow, this place [New York City] is alive!" It is easy to forget that when you are a parent! When [Grace] goes down for bed, I do research [for The View] and [Tim's] studying film. We're kind of boring.

You're very interested in politics. Do you and Tim ever talk about politics at home?
Sometimes we do, it depends. The other night, I was up all night asking questions—I think he ended up falling asleep. We definitely have good conversations about politics. It's important to us, I think more as parents than ever before. I was definitely not a politically charged college student.

I am still skeptical, a lot of the time, of the process and the people in it. There are those who are public servants that [do it] for the good of the country. Then there are those whose motives you have to question. I think [it's better to be in tune] now that Grace and the new baby-to-be are in the picture. The policies that will affect them—at least the next few years—are going to be put in place.

Has your Survivor experience ever helped you in your career as a View co-host?
You know, I just saw the incredible movie, Into the Wild, and it made me go back in time. There was a quote in there that basically said you can never be tested until you remove yourself from all of your comforts. I think that time in Australia taught me... what you rely upon to get you through and what will never fail you. I think I learned more about myself in that time than I probably had prior to it. The more I digest it and am away from it, the more I'm able to look back and pull from that experience.

How have your new co-hosts, Whoopi Goldberg and Sherri Shepherd, changed the dynamic at The View?
You know, I'm sure it's been said a lot that it's all about the chemistry. It's kind of like a big recipe—like baking a cake. And depending on the ingredients you add, you come out with a totally different product. I think we've probably had more group huddles right after the show than ever before. Sherri brings a real lightheartedness and Whoopi's calm is really enjoyable. You know, she's kind of like a good, deep breath and it's nice to have that. I say to her all the time, "Whoopi, I'd ride in your car any day." I think she's sturdy and steady and she takes in what you have to say. I feel like she comes from a place with enough experience where it's [about] good conversation—not just flashy controversy.

Since Sherri is new to talk show hosting, have you given her any advice or tips?
Oh, she doesn't need any advice—she's so good. One of her best qualities is the ability to go back in her history and bring up a hysterical experience that relates to what we're talking about. She's so good at that. We could be talking about anything and she'll say, "One time..." She's got such a good spirit and soul that makes you feel happy. I can listen to her stories all day. "Wait, what? You were in prison? Wait, you were white once?"

Is it a challenge being the conservative voice on the panel?
I don't find it to be a personal challenge as much as a social challenge. For me, it's not hard to be myself. It's just what I believe and I would hope people would respect that as much as I respect the other side. I wish there was more tolerance in differences of opinion. I feel as though right now, especially in this world, you almost have to be a closeted conservative. I wish that weren't the case. I love a good dialogue. I don't expect my friends and family to agree with me. The only thing we should expect from one another is good conversation and respect across the table—be it at home or at work.

I get pinpointed sometimes as this big blanket statement person—only seeing things in black and white. That keeps getting thrown at me. [To me,] some situations are pretty clear, but I think some situations need to be investigated. I would hope people understand that I am a very sympathetic person to each circumstance. Unfortunately, that doesn't come across all the time.

Do you and your girlfriends have your own hot topics sessions?
[My girlfriends] have all started families, so our hot topics are more family centered right now. A lot of times, I will call my sister-in-law—she's a mom of three—and we'll talk politics, fashion, as well as parenting stuff. It feels so good, as a mom who may have not left the house all day and is up to her ears in baby formula and binkies, to have your opinion validated by another woman.

Who's on your iPod?
A lot of DoodleBops lately! Honestly, it's like walking on ice with my daughter—how long can we go in the morning before she requests that? My brother, Ken, produces his own music. I get the first round of all of his new stuff, which is great, before it hits his MySpace page.

I love Paul Simon. I could have [the Graceland CD] on repeat for the rest of my life and be so fine with that. I listen to Third Day... Eddie Vedder... The Four Tops... The Jackson Five. I just like the music that reminds me of when I was little. All '80s pop—love it. All the cheesy "one hit wonders"—love them. I'd rather have a "one hit wonder" than a "ten hit blunder."

What would fans be surprised to know about you?
That I'm super messy! I'm clean, but super messy. I wish I were [organized] and I try to be. I bet people think I'm, like, super anal and organized—type A. I'm not. At heart, I'm just an artist and definitely have an artist's brain when sorting things. I wish I had a more logistical approach to filing.

[Tim] says, "Why would you leave [your stuff] on the floor in a big pile?" We're so different. This is why I don't advocate living together before marriage because if he had lived with me, he would have never married me. Never! He would have run far, far away!

What's your typical fan encounter like? Any funny stories?
It depends on what city I am in. [Laughing] When I'm in middle America, I feel as though they are like, "Hey! How are you?" If I'm in New York, I get in this kung fu position—ready to say "Sorry, I voted for Bush." But then I'll get the quiet "Hey, I'm on your side"—like they are afraid for anyone else to hear them. Or they say, "What the hell are you thinking? How could you have said that?"

People are vocal and I think that's fine. We're vocal on the show. I think there's a comfort level people have with us where they're not afraid to tell us what they think. I watched the show before I was on. I would yell back at the ladies—imagine that—and talk to the TV. So I felt the comfort, even walking in here the very first day, that I could start a conversation with them. It's just that kind of a show.

I get funny comments like, "You shouldn't cross your legs. You can get varicose veins." There are random things that people will say. I get some good comments from [men] about the show. I walk by the fire department a lot with Grace because I take her there to see the trucks and they're always watching The View. They definitely pay attention to what we say.

What TV shows are you addicted to?
The Bachelor, Hannity & Colmes, Dora The Explorer, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Go, Diego, Go!. My daughter knows what a pygmy marmoset is. She'll say, "Baby chinchillas need fruit." I didn't know what a chinchilla was until I saw someone wearing one. I had no idea!

I still love Grey's Anatomy. I love American Idol. I love Jeopardy!—I could watch that all day.

What's your favorite soap and what/who do you love about it?
Once when I was little, we had one babysitter who would bribe me to watch General Hospital. She'd give me gum—a pack of Doublemint gum, the old-school green kind. I would ask for two packs and I'd think, "Bonus! I get to watch Luke and Laura and I get the gum." I think she was fired after that.

As a fashion designer, who is your style icon?
I think Coco Chanel, Audrey Hepburn and Jacqueline Kennedy in terms of formal attire. That look will never leave our society. They embraced femininity, but also with a little twist. I think they really knew their bodies. Right now, we're kind of in this phase where you have to wear this mid-calf skirt or you must wear high-rise pants. We're losing a sense of ourselves, in terms of what the fashion world is dictating. People aren't recognizing their bodies individually. You have to really forfeit on a trend to embrace style and I hope that women will continue to do that. For example, ankle boots or those little Oxford calf shoes right now—I can't wear them! I wish that I could jump right in on that trend but it just doesn't work for me. You're never going to look good or feel good if it doesn't match what your body calls for.

What's your favorite item in your closet?
I love my mom's honeymoon coat. It's from when they used to wear a separate outfit to go away on the honeymoon. It's this camel-colored swing coat with this brown faux-fur shawl collar that carries right on down the front and hits at mid-thigh. I love it because it reminds me of her. I also have a great riding cap that I'm in love with right now. It has a little horse bit detail right over the brow. And my wedding gown—I designed it and I love it. I think those are my three favorites.

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