Rosie O'Donnell appeared on the Joy Behar show on Thursday night touting how the first documentary that Rosie will be promoting on the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN) is "Becoming Chaz," a documentary about Chastity Bono's trans-gender journey into "Chaz." Rosie also promoted it on Access Hollywood. Naturally, Rosie said 'he's a very brave guy" and Joy thought it was very nice:
BEHAR: Now, you know, Rose, you are hosting a documentary series for Oprah`s channel?
O'DONNELL: Yes.
BEHAR: And your first guest is Chaz Bono.
O'DONNELL: Yes.
BEHAR: Okay. Let`s hear about Chaz. What do you think about that?
O'DONNELL: I think he's a very brave guy to do what he's done.
BEHAR: Yes.
O'DONNELL: And so publicly and to share it with this amazing documentary. It's made by the -- the great documentary filmmaker Fenton Bailey (Ph). And they did the eyes of Laura -- "The Eyes of Tammy Faye,' they did Monica in "Black and White." They're very renowned filmmakers.
And so they did this documentary about Chaz`s transition from Chastity to Chaz. And the OWN Network purchased it. It will be on OWN starting in May and then, following the documentary I will have a program with the audience full of people interested in the subject. With the subject of the documentary and the filmmakers and we`ll discuss that for a post-show.
BEHAR: That`s nice. Yes.
The Hollywood Reporter also loved it when it premiered at the Sundance film festival:
You can't help but like this guy. Chaz Bono was a male trapped in a female body since birth and endured years of anguish and gender confusion. As if that wasn't debilitating enough, Chaz was the offspring and of Sonny and Cher and paraded around their national primetime hit as their adorable blond-haired daughter.
Buoyed by a resoundingly positive reaction in its world premiere here in Sundance's new Documentary Features section, the film was introduced by Rosie O'Donnell.
"Becoming Chaz" has been selected by Oprah Winfrey to kick-off a documentary component of her new network. It is a brilliant selection and will hit nerves and touch hearts with Oprah's audience. Above all, "Becoming Chaz" is a story of personal heroism, the valiant struggle of a sensitive individual to become who he really is.
