‘The View’: ABC, Barbara Walters confirm Jenny McCarthy joining panel
While there is no word yet as to who is going to permanently replace Elisabeth Hasselbeck as a member of “The View,” we now at least know one thing: Who is going to be coming on to follow Joy Behar’s decade-plus run on a show. On Monday, it was announced that “New Year’s Rockin’ Eve” co-host Jenny McCarthy will be extending her ABC presence by becoming a part of the show for Barbara Walters’ final season as a panelist. She will continue to host her late-night program on VH1, making her quickly one of the busiest women on TV.
In a statement released in conjunction with the big news, Walters had the following to say about welcoming Jenny to the world of the show:
“We are delighted that Jenny will be joining us as a permanent co-host on The View starting in September,” said Walters, the only panelist who’s been with the show since its 1997 debut. “Jenny brings us intelligence as well as warmth and humor. She can be serious and outrageous. She has connected with our audience and offers a fresh point of view. Jenny will be a great addition to the show as we usher in an exciting new chapter for The View.”
Meanwhile, McCarthy also expressed some of her excitement at getting this opportunity to take on a completely new challenge:
“I’m beyond thrilled to be joining Barbara and the other amazing women at the table. I’d like to thank ABC for this great opportunity. I’d also like to give a big thank you to Vh1 for their support and for allowing me to fulfill this lifelong dream. I look forward to helping make hot topics a little bit hotter, and showing my mom that my interrupting skills have finally paid off.”
As for why VH1 would allow Jenny to do this, the easy answer is simple: One show could benefit the others when it comes to ratings, and her late-night program has hardly been a warrior in viewers.
What do you think about McCarthy’s hire, and do you think that it will be right for the show? If you want to also watch Hasselbeck’s goodbye to the show, just be sure to head on over to the link here.
Photo: ABC