'Cute Beatle' Paul McCartney thrills the ladies on 'The View' (with video links)

January 14, 7:29 PMBeatles ExaminerSteve Marinucci

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  From left, Whoopi Goldberg, Barbara Walters, Paul McCartney.
  Joy Behar, Sherri Shepherd, Elisabeth Hasselbeck. (All photos
  ABC/Heidi Gutman.)

(Note: Like "The Howard Stern Show" summary, this was taken from notes -- this time ours. If you were there, we'd love to have your account.)

There was no doubt who the main guest was on "The View" on Wednesday. The show opened with clips of Paul McCartney and the Beatles singing "I Want To Hold Your Hand."

The ladies on "The View" were clearly ready for Paul McCartney's visit. Whoopi Goldberg donned a Sgt. Pepper t-shirt. Even Barbara Walters, normally unruffled to keep her journalistic impartiality intact, gave hints that she, too, was excited about the Beatle guest.

And the show had a link to the past. The show's stage manager of "The View," Rob Bruce-Baron, was the son of the stage manager for "The Ed Sullivan Show."

When Paul came out, the audience and the hosts cheered loudly. Paul looked humbled and in awe of the reaction of the crowd.

Paul McCartney

The questions were pretty easy, for the most part, asking about "Electric Arguments" and life as a Beatle. There were no questions about his girlfriend, Nancy Shevell, who is also Barbara Walters' cousin.

Can we call you Sir Paul? "You can call me anything but early," he said.

Asked about "American Idol," which returned to the air Tuesday night, he said, "I don't watch a lot of TV. I do see it. Simon Cowell owns the world. I just don't watch a lot of it." 

He was asked about why use the name the Fireman and he repeated the story about how the Beatles stood behind Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band when they made that album. He also said with the third Fireman album, they faced the question of whether to stay the Fireman or use Paul McCartney's name. They decided to go with the Fireman.

  Paul McCartney with Joy Behar and Sherri Shepherd

At one point, Elisabeth Hasselback  introduced an excerpt of the "Sing the Changes" as "Sing the Change."

Paul told the audience he carries a tiny harmonica in his pocket. He once used it to silence a crying baby at an airport. He said the baby reacted in shock.

Do you get stage fright? "Yeah, a little. I'm so lucky. My audience is so great. It's like performing for your family."

Barbara Walters asked him how he stayed sane. "I think the real answer is I separate the real me from the famous me" and says when he goes home, he's just a regular guy who watches TV.

 He told the story about how the Las Vegas "Love" show came to be through the idea by George Harrison and said it's now the #1 show in Las Vegas. He also talked about his trip to Israel and said even though he was told not to go, he wanted to see it for himself. He said he found most of the people there were very much for peace. He said he was glad he went.

He told the story about meeting Bertrand Russell and telling the Beatles about the Vietnam War, but was very cautious not to say he was the political Beatle, and in fact, specifically said it was John who was the real activist. As an example of music changing the world, he cited the protesters singing "Give Peace a Chance" at the Nixon White House.

He said he would love to perform with Ringo Starr if it could be worked out. "We don't rule it out." He briefly commented on Ringo's "no autograph by mail" video and called him "ballsy" for his stand.

On writing songs these days, he says the process is the same as it was with John Lennon, but just that John Lennon isn't here. "I'm very proud to have been John's collaborator."

(At this point, Sherri Shepherd joked with him by holding his hand and not letting go. The audience also attempted a sing-along with "Silly Love Songs" that Paul didn't join in with.)

Asked what was next, he said, "What else is there? I love what I do. I'll keep doing what I'm doing and enjoying it."

He talked briefly about his family, which he says he doesn't like to talk about. He called Stella "the best fashion designer in the world" and says people say he's Stella's dad instead of the other way around. He said Mary is an accomplished photographer, Heather does pottery and James is a musician. (He said the two of them will be doing an album.)

He said he's a very hands-on dad with young Beatrice. He said the name came "from her mom's mom. It means 'bringer of
joy.' "

(Every member of the audience received a copy of "Electric Arguments." No word if they were signed.)