Mea culpa

Extended -- by Gil Cates -- and accepted -- by Whoopi.

We know all meaningful work had halted, no one could concentrate on the debates or on unraveling John McCain's "close relationship" with a blonde lobbyist, or consider the $40 million that's reportedly being dangled in front of Leno so he has a post-"Tonight Show" place to rest his chin.

You may get back to life as you knew it. Cates called Whoopi, the four-time Oscar host, and apologized for leaving her out of the 80-years-of-time-wasting-host-moments montage on Sunday night. She and her cohorts on "The View" called foul on the exclusion on Monday morning's show. (Steve Martin didn't make the reel either, but if he's sore about it, he's keeping it to himself).

Says Goldberg today to E! Online:

"Gil called yesterday and said, 'I would have called you Monday but I hadn't slept.' He said, 'Listen, I missed it. I didn't realize it wasn't in there.' "

Because Whoopi, as the first woman and first African-American to ever host the Oscars, is so easy to miss.

Think it's time to let Cates & Co. off the hook for this and other gaffes during this year's ratings-deprived telecast? It might be, but we're not there yet. Check back for more vivisection.