Next season of “The View” is shaping up to look almost entirely different than the panel that long-time viewers have grown accustomed to seeing on their television screens every morning. Last we heard, Jenny McCarthy is in “serious talks” to replace Joy Behar at the end of this season, and Barbara Walters will also be departing at that time as well. Now Page Six has reported an exclusive bombshell that says Elisabeth Hasselbeck is leaving too, and her last day is … today. Damn, that was fast.
Of course, Elisabeth (who joined “The View” in 2002) has seemed to be on the verge of leaving the show for quite some time. She doesn’t handle conflict well and doesn’t exactly represent in a strong, coherent way as the sole conservative on the panel. She also tends to say some really dumb stuff like women only go lesbian when they can’t find a man. Way back in 2008, Elisabeth’s days were supposedly numbered. Most recently in March, she was allegedly kicked off the show for being “too extreme and right wing” although at the time, an ABC rep insisted Liz was “a valued member of ‘The View’ and has a long term contract.” A few days later, Barbara Walters insisted that the rumors were not true and “we have no plans for Elisabeth to leave the show.” Well, plans have changed very quickly, and Page Six says Elisabeth will be running out the door tomorrow for a new gig on “Fox & Friends”:
Elizabeth Hasselbeck is leaving “The View” and joining Fox News’ morning show “FOX and Friends” as a co-host, Page Six has exclusively confirmed.
After much speculation, conservative co-host Hasselbeck is following Barbara Walters and Joy Behar out of the ABC daytime talk show. She will join Steve Doocy and Brian Kilmeade on the Fox couch in mid-September.
FOX News Chairman & CEO Roger Ailes announced, “Elisabeth’s warm and engaging personality made her a star on ‘The View.’ She has proven to be an excellent conversationalist and I am certain she will make a great addition to our already successful morning franchise.”
Hasselbeck added, “I have been a long-time fan of ‘Fox & Friends’ and am excited to be joining their team in September.”
Current ‘FOX & Friends’ co-host Gretchen Carlson will now anchor a one-hour daytime program beginning in early fall.
Fox News last week announced that Megyn Kelly is moving to primetime after she returns from maternity leave. Kelly currently hosts “America Live” which airs from 1pm to 3pm.
The network also announced that it has signed long-term deals with Bill O’Reilly, Sean Hannity and Greta Van Susteren, who host from 8 until 11 pm, as well as with Bret Baier and Shep Smith, who host the 6pm and 7pm hours.
There has been much speculation about 36-year-old Hasselbeck’s next move after Sherri Shepherd hinted that the outspoken blonde could be leaving “The View.”
So many changes, I can’t believe it!” Sherri told Wendy Williams on June 17, “The two black women are left; usually, they kill us off in the beginning.”
Recent reports have said that Jenny McCarthy or Brooke Shields may take over Hasselbeck’s role on “The View.”
[From Page Six]
Obviously, the show now needs a replacement for Elisabeth, and since she’s leaving so soon, there will probably be a flurry of guest hosts vying for the permanent gig. Back when all the talk was going on in March, Brooke Shields looked to be the frontrunner, but who knows where ABC will go with this. What I want to know is this — why hasn’t ABC given Rachel Campos-Duffy a real shot at the panel? She’s served as a guest host several times and was actually one of the finalists during the period when Elisabeth was ultimately hired. Rachel is adorable and just happens to be conservative. From what I recall from her stint on “The Real World,” her positions tend to be slightly more socially liberal than Elisabeth’s. I think Rachel would be a perfect fit (she’s been doing more guest gigs recently, so fingers crossed), and I think Elisabeth will greatly enjoy her time working with like-minded people at “Fox News.”
Photos courtesy of Fame/Flynet and WENN
Thanks to Cele Bitchy
