The 2009 TIME 100

Artists & Entertainers

Illustration for TIME by Francisco Caceres

The View

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The View has become tv's most talked-about talk show for one very simple reason: View-ers love those five ladies.

We all have our favorites (I'll never tell), but we really do think of them as a family. An opinionated family, perhaps. An opinionated family that keeps interrupting one another, true. But a family that, every day for one hour, invites us over for a cup of coffee and some candid conversation.

By pulling no punches, they pull answers — and emotions — out of guests that are more genuine than you often see on TV. In an age of reality shows that are not actually real, this one is. If you're their guest, they make you feel like the most interesting person they've ever spent time with. (Even though you're not.) And you feel very lucky to have been included.

That's probably how millions of loyal viewers feel every morning too: happy to sit down with Barbara and Whoopi and Joy and Elisabeth and Sherri. That quick-witted quintet. That feisty full house. Sisters. Neighbors. Friends. Comfortable knowing that they can say anything and still be back together again tomorrow.

Bloomberg is the 108th mayor of New York City

Fast Fact: All five hosts are mothers; they have six children among them

View the full list for "The 2009 TIME 100"

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The People Behind the People

A peek at the circles of influence for this year's TIME 100

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The TIME 100 Gala in 100 Seconds

TIME celebrated the world's most influential people at a star-studded party in New York, where First Lady Michelle Obama was the featured guest

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The 2009 TIME 100 Red Carpet

Our correspondents ask some of the world's most influential people some really ridiculous questions

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M.I.A. Makes the TIME 100

Producer, DJ, singer, fashion designer. Sri Lankan pop star M.I.A. has global influence across many genres. That put her on this year's TIME 100

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Heroes & Icons

TIME Editor-at-Large Belinda Luscombe and Movie Critic Richard Corliss discuss some of the heroes and icons on this year's TIME 100 list

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World Leaders

TIME International Editor Michael Elliott discusses three of the many world leaders featured on the TIME's list of the world's most influential people

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American Leaders

TIME Deputy Managing Editor Romesh Ratnesar discusses some of the magazine's choices for U.S. political leaders on this year's TIME 100

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The Artists

TIME Deputy Managing Editor Josh Tyrangiel & writer Richard Lacayo discuss some of the many influential artists on this year's TIME 100 list

TIME 100 Poll

Your Results

See who was victorious in getting your votes this year

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And No. 1 Is...

I've ranked the TIME 100 based on the importance of their contributions. Their contributions to me