Whoopi Goldberg and Sherri Shepherd Reportedly Joining “The View”

Friday, July 27, 2007

Two months ago, Rosie O’Donnell left The View – a show that has become infamous for spats and clashes among its panelists. Consequently, with vacant seats to fill, buzzes have been going around about who would next be sitting on those vacant hot seats. But next week, speculations will end as ABC is set to announce the names of the two comedians who would be joining the show. Yet the names are no longer a secret as LA Times reports.  The two names are of two comedians namely Whoopi Goldberg and Sherri Shepherd.

Despite denials on the issue coming from Karl Nilsson, ABC network spokesman and Brian Fons, president of ABC Daytime, LA Times reports that the two comedians is set to join the rest of the panelists such as Joy Behar, Elisabeth Hasselbeck and Barbara Walters. 

Past May of this year, it was reported that after eight chaotic months in the show, Rosie O’ Donnell left even before her contract for one season of the talk-fest expired. Rosie’s stint ended in an on-air smackdown with Hasselbeck that was very painful to watch. Allegedly, when O’ Donnell left the show, over 400,000 viewers also left the show. However, the show remains popular.

Moreover, it was a year ago that Star Jones Reynolds left The View because of an alleged backstage animosity and public fight with co-panelist Barbara Walters, who also turned out to be the show’s executive producer.

On a lighter note, last year, Meredith Viera departed from the gabfest smoothly to join Today of NBC.

These past recent weeks, the names of Whoopi Goldberg, Kathy Griffin and Sherri Shepherd have been cited as having major chances to land and join the table with Hasselbeck, Behar and Walters.

In regards to Rosie O’ Donnell, it is reported that she is set to star in the musical No, No Nanette next spring. And as for Star Jones Reynolds, a successful lawyer and ex-prosecutors, her new svelte figure created quite a stir in the industry and in magazines.

ABC is hoping the addition of Whoopi Goldberg and Sherri Shepherd to The View co-host chairs will bring back viewers lost by the departure of Rosie O’ Donnell; either way, The View goes on.