‘The View’ Cohosts Through the Years and Why They Left

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'The View' Cohosts Through the Years and Why They Left

Since The View premiered in August 1997, more than 20 women have had permanent roles as cohosts on the ABC morning talk show. The series, which was created by Barbara Walters, features a multi-generational panel that conducts interviews and discusses the news of the day, ranging from politics to entertainment. The original lineup was comprised of Walters, Joy Behar, Star Jones, Meredith Vieira and Debbie Matenopoulos. In more recent years, the panel has included stars like Whoopi Goldberg, Meghan McCain and Rosie O’Donnell. [jwplayer 1mfpq58C-zhNYySv2] Viewers were reminded of the Emmy-winning program’s oft-tumultuous history in April 2019 with the publication of journalist Ramin Setoodeh’s Ladies Who Punch: The Explosive Inside Story of The View. The book, which featured interviews with nearly every woman who has taken a seat at the table over the years, delved into how the show often becomes news rather than simply discussing news. In one headline-making excerpt from the book, O’Donnell admitted that she had “a little bit of a crush” on her on-air nemesis Elisabeth Hasselbeck during their time on The View, though the comedian insisted that she never wanted to act on it. In another excerpt, Sherri Shepherd revealed that O’Donnell helped her get more money than Hasselbeck by urging her to counteroffer and request more perks with the job.

In August 2022, The View expanded its panel when frequent contributors Ana Navarro and Alyssa Farah Griffin were offered full-time hosting gigs.

“The View is an institution and incomparable platform for women of different backgrounds to share their opinions and insights. It’s been a long courtship, but we’re finally making it official,” Navarro told ABC News at the time, one month before season 26 premiered. “I love being on the show, and I love living in Miami. I’m happy I will be able to do both. Thank you to ABC News, The View family and our loyal viewers for their continued support.”

Season 26, which debuts in September 2022, will see Navarro and the CNN contributor discuss daily hot-button topics alongside fellow hosts Goldberg, Behar, Sunny Hostin and Sarah Haines.

“Humbled & honored to join @theView. This show paved the way for women of different backgrounds to speak up and speak out," Farah Griffin tweeted that August about her new job. "This show paved the way for women of different backgrounds to speak up and speak out. It’s been a tumultuous few years for me personally, but I’m grateful & thrilled to have found my voice & to represent my values at the iconic table!”

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Ana Navarro

Navarro first appeared on the famed panel in a contributing role in 2015 before being elevated to a weekly guest cohost. The Nicaragua native joined The View in a full-time capacity in August 2022.

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Alyssa Farah Griffin

Farah Griffin previously served as the White House director of strategic communication during President Donald Trump’s administration before taking a seat at the ABC table. The View also announced in August 2022 that Farah Griffin would become a cohost for season 26 after serving as a frequent guest.

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Joy Behar

The comedian is the longest-running View host, appearing at the panel from 1997 to 2013 before rejoining in 2015. In July 2022, she reflected on her brief absence from the talk show, telling Time, "I was glad to be fired. I basically was sick of the show at that point for some reason, I don't even remember why."

Now, however, Behar is happy to be back and has learned to tune out the haters. "You have a power when you have that microphone. People don't like it,” she claimed to the outlet. "They don't like it that I'm a powerful person on The View, saying things that they don't like, but I'm sorry, that is where I'm at. I'm a powerful person on The View. I was a powerful person as a comedian holding a microphone. Too bad."

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Star Jones

The attorney cohosted from 1997 to 2006 before launching her own short-lived, self-titled talk show. She later competed on The Celebrity Apprentice. Jones exited the show after a battle with the network to renew her contract. She later revealed that things got "ugly" behind the scenes, saying it ultimately "felt like" she "was fired" after nine years.

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Debbie Matenopoulos

The TV host appeared on the show from 1997 to 1999 before being replaced by Lisa Ling. Matenopoulos claimed in 1999 that she was treated poorly on the show. She has since worked for TV Guide Channel, E! and VH1.

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Meredith Vieira

The journalist moderated The View from 1997 to 2006 before leaving to take over for Katie Couric on the Today show. Her later gigs included Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, Dateline NBC and a self-titled, two-season NBC talk show.

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Barbara Walters

The veteran journalist served as the series’ executive producer after hosting from 1997 to 2014. On December 30, 2022, a rep for the Emmy winner confirmed to Variety that Walters died at age 93. ABC was first to report the news.

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Lisa Ling

The TV presenter appeared on the show from 1999 to 2002 before pursuing a career in international reporting.

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Elisabeth Hasselbeck

The Survivor alum joined The View in 2003 and continued cohosting for a decade. After she was fired in 2013 as the show tried to become less political, she moved over to Fox News before retiring in 2015.

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Rosie O’Donnell

The comedian became a moderator in 2006 but abruptly left months later after engaging in an on-air argument with Hasselbeck over the Iraq War. She returned for the 2014 to 2015 season.

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Whoopi Goldberg

The EGOT winner has been a cohost on The View since 2007.

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Sherri Shepherd

The actress served as a cohost from 2007 to 2014, but continued to make guest appearances in the years that followed. Ultimately, her reason for leaving came down to negotiations.

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Jenny McCarthy

The former Playboy model had a one-season stint from 2013 to 2014. At the time, she tweeted, “If Sherri goes… I go, too," and they exited together. Later, she admitted she was "uncomfortable" with the series' pace.

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Rosie Perez

Perez tried her hand at cohosting from 2014 to 2015 but chose to leave to fully focus on acting.

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Nicolle Wallace

Like Perez, the political commentator only appeared for one season from 2014 to 2015. Although she has since come to terms with her exit, Wallace was hurt when she was fired, telling the L.A. Times it felt like a breakup. She later claimed she was cut for not arguing enough but was never given any notes by producers.

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Raven-Symoné

The That’s So Raven alum joined the panel in 2015 for one season before returning to her Disney Channel roots for the Raven’s Home reboot. She found herself at the center of many controversies during her time on the show. At one point, over 100,000 people signed a petition calling for her firing.

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Candace Cameron Bure

The Full House alum was a cohost from 2015 to 2016. She chose to leave the show to spend more time with her family in Los Angeles.

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Michelle Collins

The comedian was fired from The View in 2016 after one season for a string of controversies, which included mocking Republican presidential candidate Carly Fiorina’s face.

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Paula Faris

The TV correspondent exited the show in 2018 after three years to join ABC News.

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Jedediah Bila

The conservative columnist cohosted The View from 2016 to 2017 and has since appeared on The Five and several SiriusXM shows. Bila reportedly knew that she was being replaced by McCain.

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Sara Haines

The journalist was a permanent cohost from 2016 to 2018. She later joined Good Morning America.

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Sunny Hostin

The lawyer joined the series in 2016.

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Meghan McCain

The former Fox News contributor and daughter of the late U.S. Senator John McCain joined the show in 2017.

In July 2021, she announced that she will be exiting at the end of the month. "This was not an easy decision. It took a lot of thought and counsel and prayer and talking to my family and my close friends," she revealed, adding that she will remain in D.C. with her husband and daughter.

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Abby Huntsman

Like McCain, Huntsman made the move from Fox News to The View in 2018.