The New Season: Will Whoopi and Sherri bring us a whole new 'View'?

After a tumultuous season that saw the abrupt exit of Rosie O’Donnell, ABC’s daytime chatfest “The View” is moving to bring on two new outspoken co-hosts: comic Whoopi Goldberg and performer Sherri Shepherd.

Final negotiations with the duo are underway, and an announcement of their hiring is expected next week, according to a person familiar with the discussions.

ABC declined to comment. “We have nothing to announce right now,” said spokesman Karl Nilsson.

Goldberg, the irreverent comedian and Oscar-winning actress, and Shepherd, a stand-up comic who has appeared in movies like “Beauty Shop,” would bring a strong dose of brash humor to the 10-year-old program, which was buoyed by O’Donnell’s presence last season.

But after O'Donnell boosted viewership with her blunt political remarks, her tenure came to an abrupt halt in May when she had a bitter on-air fight with co-host Elisabeth Hasselbeck. O'Donnell exited the program nearly a month before the end of her contract.

That left “The View” with two empty seats -- former co-host Star Jones Reynolds was never permanently replaced after her own rancorous exit in 2006 -- and threatened to stall the show’s ratings gains.

With just Hasselbeck, Joy Behar and Barbara Walters remaining on the all-female panel, executive producer Bill Geddie indicated that he was looking to add at least one African American voice.

"We have, really, two positions open, I think people forget," Geddie said in June. "We got a lot of hiring to do here. So the chances of us hiring two white women ... not very likely.”

Goldberg and Shepherd are both familiar to the “View” audience after having made numerous guest appearances on the program.

O’Donnell was rooting for Goldberg as her replacement, telling readers of her blog this spring that her fellow comic “would rock.”

Known for her acerbic sense of humor, the 51-year-old has had a long career in television, beginning with HBO’s “Comic Relief,” which helped launch a prolific career. Since then, she’s done stints on shows like “Star Trek: The Next Generation,” appeared in numerous TV movies and headlined the short-lived sitcom “Whoopi.”

After spending six years writing and producing Lifetime’s “Strong Medicine,” Goldberg has most recently been hosting a syndicated morning radio show called “Wake Up With Whoopi.”

"She is exactly what the show needs,” said Hollywood publicist Howard Bragman. “She is a beloved brand name; she is outspoken; she has done this before, she is a person of color; she is as far left as Rosie; she lives in New York; and she can kick Elizabeth Hasselbeck’s ass."

Shepherd, 40, has appeared in shows like “The Wedding Bells” and “Less Than Perfect.” Her latest movie, “Who’s Your Caddy,” opens Friday.

-- Matea Gold

Times staff writer Lynn Smith contributed to this report.

Comments

[esb]

Who cares about what any of these women have to say???

[R.M.Mazzone]

THE VIEW I started watching again when UGH< R.O'Donnell left the show just when I was starting to enjoy it, I hear that Whoppee Goldberg is replacing her identical character R.O;Donnell ........... SURELY YOU JEST !!!!
I go back to not watching it again !,,,,,,,,,Mazroro

[Alex]

I like how the ignorant back woods right comes out and shows their true colors.

"whoppi is rosie with black skin" What the hell is that supposed to mean are you saying those are the strikes against her? Yeah real mature.

And "no wonder nobody is watching the view anymore" dont be so stupid ratings dont lie.

Whooppi is her own woman and has been for some time. Most of you dont have a clue of what your spouting off about but then again, a conservative never does.

And I love how a bunch of dudes are clucking about the view as if they watch.

[yvonne p. rivera]

good for whoopi. hope she won't lose this assignment for speaking out against this present idiotic nation dividing regime. way to go!!!!!

[dee from Toronto]

I have not enjoyed the view since Elizabeth joined. She was not my choice when the co-host search was on. I can not believe that an artist can be so narrow minded.
I did not like how Starr was treated by BW. It is okay not to have a contract renewed but removing her immediately was a disappointment. Her knowledge of law was informative and raised the intelligence of The View.
I wish Joy would be an Italian and a New Yorker. I have heard enough about Nazi this Nazi that she has never talked about Mussolini's activities. I do enjoy Joy's humour and intelligence.
Rosie was just trying to get people to wake up to the crime of war by George Bush. Where are the protesters of this war? Has CNN put people in a coma?
Whoopi will be a great addition to the show.
I like Sherri however I would like a co-host from the Latin community.
I would rather see less of BW on the show as she is only there to mother Elizabeth.

A view for 9 years....

[Peez]

I'm glad I don't watch The View. I won't have to subject myself to that ugly mug every weekday.

[nomad]

I'm glad the show is getting back to what Walters intended it to be, a WIDE range of opinion. They should lose Behar immeditaely, who was only on because she is Walters' cronie. The '50s wanna-be mom (Liz) can stay, after all, Woopi's got to open a can of woop@$$ on someone from time to time!

[Ricardo Maxwell]

Unbelievable! Are they completely insane over there at ABC ... or have they been secretly purchased by George Soros and Michael Moore is now running their network? Not only have their newscasts become increasingly more biased and propaganda-laden recently, but to replace one empty-headed, ranting, over-emotional, left wing liberal America-hating Hollywood type with another of a different color is sheer folly. Do they think that Whoopie is beyond criticism (untouchable) because she is black? Who will replace Whoopi after she spews her anti-American extremist propaganda and hate? Al Franken? Cindy Sheehan??? LMAO!

[dan]

WHOOPIE , ? Couldn't she first go on Oprah and get a MAKE-OVER . .
she generally looks like something the cat drug in ..

[betsy brown]

The ideal one to replace is Joy Behar. She's obnoxious, condesending, and when you don't have anything to do someday, count how many times she rolls her eyes. She says shes a comic but I've yet to see that demonstrated. And speaking of comics....is that what it takes to be on the View? Enough already, can we just get a coherent speaker with a smig of interest in a fair and balanced conversation and a just plain good sense of humor. I assume BW retains Elizabeth to act as a punching ball for herself and her comedians (?). Why not scour midwest news women or former female athletes. You know there is some real estate between Hollywood & Broadway, Babs. All viewers aren't myopic. It seems lately, the only thing Joy & BW like to talk about is Lindsay, Paris, Hillary and Drudge report topics that are, 'scuse me...I had to yawn, b-o-r-i-n-g.

[Jeanne]

The scales have been tipped to the LEFT of LEFT..............................

[Leota]

I have been hoping for this duo to be selected. These two are very intelligent and bring both laughter and purpose to The View without being obnoxious. These two are a perfect choice for the entertainment side of the show. Plus, they bring a perfect balance and respect to another point of view.

[Bronte]

That horror truly is the ugliest woman alive; a Leftist dream, she brags about having SIX abortions. I would love to know which SIX men could stand to touch her. Or, is that a story to cover for her homosexuality? Oh, that's right, she's a "bi" (IOW, she attacks anything she can get her hands on).

[Mark Pizzolato]

WOW! Whoopi Goldberg! Sherri Shepherd! Give me a break! Get some talent on that show!

[linda]

Hopefully the view will get canceled. They are not well read on any issue they just keep nagging and harping abut anything petty.
If they do get an issue like Iraq they automatically Bush rant- all the while
being to stupid to see how ignorant they look . if they were in any muslim country they wouldnt have any rights.

[glen van luven]

Oh ya three or 4 leftists against one of the right persuasion. Sounds about right dont it? What a bunch of clowns.

[Rey]

It cracks me up to read so many nasty things people feel free to make about these women.

I Tivoed several "View"s when Rosie was on because she was just really refreshing. Now that Whoopi is on, I think I'm going to have to go for a Season Pass!

Whoopi is the Grande Dame of comedy in our country and she never fails to make me laugh. And think. Sometimes at the same time.

[Susan]

Elizabeth Hasselbeck is a shrill, contemptuous, vapid soul.

Why are they wasting Whoopi's superior talents on balancing her out? Hasselbeck is just a sad, reality-show reject who cannot even think for herself.

If you thought she looked like a deer in the headlights when Rosie was around, how will she even be able to sit up straight with Whoopi in the room.

We love Whoopi!

[MariaDozer]

Ann "Creature" has never kicked ass. She's a loud mouthed, self absorbed, "I'm right you're wrong" woman with a set a balls that are too small to make her a real man.

[Cabbie]

Who cares?