Rosie O'Donnell's return to the talk show world is a bit different than her last run.

The comedienne hosted the The Rosie O'Donnell Show from 1996 through 2002 in her home state of New York while dating then-partner Kelli Carpenter.

Now, she's shooting The Rosie Show in Oprah's old Chicago studio and a new lady love, Michelle Rounds.

In an interview with Nightline, Rosie, 49, explained that her "gaydar was way off" when she first ran into Michelle. She said:

"So I walked into a Starbucks in the summer and she was holding a little puppy, and I was about to get another little puppy for [my daughter] Chels because we're here in Chicago and I have a little 4-pound Chihuahua. And there's this little 4-pound Pomeranian in her arms, and I thought she was a 28-year-old heterosexual girl, because that's what she looked like to me. And she's a 40-year-old gay woman."

Turns out, it was a good thing that Rosie's first impression was a bit off. "I think if I had known that she was gay, I wouldn't have been brave enough to talk to her," she said in the interview.

Aw!

The Rosie Show premieres Monday night on OWN.

Koenig & Strey

Rosie O'Donnell is settling into Chi-town for her new talk show gig on Oprah Winfrey's OWN network -- The Rosie Show.

Oprah's famous Harpo studios in Chicago has put O'Donnell's talk show on its sign, and now, Rosie's got another new house to live in!

She bought a 6,000-square-foot townhouse, listed at $2.5 million, on the city's north side. She'll be living, fittingly, near Boystown -- Chi-town's gay area.

The three-story home has five bedrooms, five full and two half-bathrooms, a fireplace, floor-to-ceiling windows, steam shower, home theater, a heated, three-car garage (for those nasty Chicago winters) and a 2,000-square-foot rooftop terrace.

Rosie's Twitter profile now reads, "I LOVE CHICAGO !!!!!!" Home sweet home, Rosie!

Chris Brown has found an unlikely defender for his GMA outburst in former View co-host Rosie O'Donnell.

On her Sirius radio show, Rosie revealed that she understood Brown's chair-throwing antics after GMA host Robin Roberts brought up the Rihanna incident ... because she often felt like doing the same on The View.

"Part of me wanted to take a chair and throw it through the window at The View after all that happened," Rosie said, referencing her infamous fight with co-host Elisabeth Hasselbeck which eventually led her to quit the chat show.

"I don't know why this kid seems to be held to a different standard than anybody else," O'Donnell said, forgetting that celebrities are routinely questioned about regrettable things they may have done in the past whether their publicist forbids it or not.

"I felt mildly angry at Robin Roberts," she continued. "I felt like writing her and going: 'Can you take a look at this again and see if maybe you find -- in any way -- your responsibility in this?'"

Read what else Rosie had to say about her ex-employers ... after the jump.

Rosie O'Donnell hasn't had her own talk show since 2002, and now the 49-year-old is returning to TV on The Oprah Winfrey Network. In addition to appearing on OWN, Rosie. 49, will take over Harpo Studios in Chicago.

O'Donnell's show, which she describes as "kick-a**," will begin this fall. Harpo will shoot 130 hour-long episodes.

The former View co-host released the following statement:

"Harpo is a world class studio and I can't wait to do my show from Chicago. It's a dream come true…beyond the beyond. Thank you, Oprah!"

As for Oprah, she had the following to say about Ms. O'Donnell:

"I'm delighted to welcome Rosie to the studio I've called home for so many years. Speaking from experience, she will be working with the best team in television in one of the greatest cities in the world."

Find out how many Daytime Emmys Rosie has won ... over the years.

Courtesy: Harpo

Rosie O'Donnell has found a home for her upcoming return to daytime TV ... O.W.N., The Oprah Winfrey Network.

Lady O couldn't be happier with her decision to add Rosie's new talk show into the mix. Winfrey had this to say about the big news:

“Rosie is an undeniable talent who has captivated TV audiences for nearly 20 years. She’s a true original, who brings her authentic voice, dynamic energy and pure passion to everything she does.”

To date, Rosie has earned six Daytime Emmys for The Rosie O'Donnell Show ... not to mention her unforgettable one-year at ABC's The View as moderator. Her one-hour talk show will be taped in New York and is scheduled to hit TV screens in 2011.

Rosie says, “It’s an honor and a privilege to work with Oprah Winfrey on her network. I’m excited to be back on daytime television.”

Congrats, Rosie. We'll be watching!

Rosie O'Donnell is planning a return to daytime that will coincide with the queen of talk, Oprah Winfrey's exit next year.

Showbiz 411 reports that Rosie will return to syndication with her old pals, Scott Carlin and Dick Robertson for the new gig.

Sounds like Ellen Degeneres may have some serious competition!

Mmm mmm good! Looks like Rosie O'Donnell's relationship with artist Tracy Kachtick-Anders is totally blossoming!

On Rosie's Sirius radio show she revealed that her rebound romance is "yummy. I love it all ... It's almost too good to be true!" Rosie added that Tracy is "lovely, lovely, lovely, lovely person."

While we're happy Rosie has found a new love, it looks like the outspoken TV/radio personality wasn't prepared for the media coverage the new relationship would bring! Rosie admitted that she was shocked at the amount of attention she's received after she was spotted holding hands with her new girlfriend a few days ago. Rosie joked, "I had no idea that it would be on CNN ... It's odd for me ... and quite odd for Tracy."

We first snapped the couple back on December 10 going for a stroll in Venice, California, and even though the ladies weren't showing too much affection, we knew something was up!

Think this one will last?

Okay, maybe not, but she definitely wanted a picture! Or was it the other way around?

We caught the outspoken TV host cruising around Venice yesterday with her new girlfriend, and even though she's looking a little rough these days, she seemed to be having a good time! So was this a date or what?