Barbara Walters made history in 1997 with the creation of The View. The ABC news anchor envisioned a show where intelligent women from different generations and backgrounds respectfully debated various topics while making great television. The show has seen a lot of hosts come and go over the last 29 seasons. Rosie O’Donnell revealed that she’s returning to the ABC talk show for its upcoming milestone season. Another former host spoke out after being snubbed for a Season 30 reunion. Keep reading for all the details.
Rosie O’Donnell Reveals The View Return
Rosie O’Donnell joined The View in 2006, a few years after ending her popular daytime talk show. She only stayed one season before leaving after an on-air blow-up with Elisabeth Hasselbeck. The comedian returned in 2014 but again left after only one season.
Maybe the third time’s the charm. The actress revealed on The Tangle with Kyle Ridley podcast that she was asked to come back to celebrate the show’s milestone season. Rosie O’Donnell claimed that the show was bringing back former hosts and she was returning as a guest host.
Well, that was news to one former host who wasn’t happy about being left out.
Former Host Speaks Out After Season 30 Reunion Snub
Several former co-hosts, including Elisabeth Hasselbeck, returned for Season 29 to fill in while Alyssa Farah Griffin was on vacation in February. Rosie O’Donnell wasn’t asked to return because she was living in Ireland at the time. But now she’s back in the U.S. and ready to return to her old stomping grounds. Comedian Michelle Collins joined The View in 2015, after Rosie O’Donnell left. She was only on the show for one season. However, she’s not happy about being snubbed for the Season 30 reunion.
She took to Instagram on Monday, August 3, to address Rosie O’Donnell’s claims about a reunion episode. “Now that was news to me, maybe because I’m traveling so much, my invite somehow got lost. But I’ve not heard from anyone from the show.” Michelle Collins said. She was especially upset because she’s never bad-mouthed the show like so many other former hosts.
“I was number 15 back in 2015, despite what they’ll have you believe; I was named a co-host,” she said. Michelle Collins added that she “never talked s**t” about the show despite being “unceremoniously let go.“ But that could change.
“But now I’m starting to think maybe that was dumb. Maybe I should have because all those other people are being asked back,” she said. The former View host added that she doesn’t know yet if she’ll be asked to return.
But it turns out that Rosie O’Donnell wasn’t asked yet either. She jumped the gun and revealed she was returning before it was confirmed with the network. As of right now, The View doesn’t have anything special planned to mark 30 seasons, but that could change. Tell us in the comments who you want to see return.
Jennifer Havener grew up in a small town in Upstate New York. She earned her B.A in Writing & Literature from Naropa University in Boulder, Colorado. She always knew watching reality TV shows and soap operas, particularly ‘Days of Our Lives’, would come in handy someday. When she’s not writing, she’s playing with her dogs, Lola and Ruger