Executive Overview
Daytime television is undergoing another notable shift as Whoopi Goldberg, the iconic moderator and anchor of ABC’s long-running daytime talk show The View, steps away from the desk temporarily. Goldberg, who has anchored the table since 2007, is temporarily leaving her post to focus on an upcoming feature film project. Executive producer Brian Teta confirmed the brief hiatus during an episode of the Behind the Table podcast, outlining a dynamic production schedule designed to keep the morning program running seamlessly while its primary moderator returns to her acting roots.
Goldberg’s absence highlights a broader, fascinating narrative surrounding The View: the intense revolving door of co-hosts that has characterized the program since its inception. As Goldberg heads to set to film the upcoming Netflix project Women Like Us—starring alongside heavyweights Jenifer Lewis, Vanessa Williams, and Vivica A. Fox—production executives have engineered a nostalgic interim lineup. For the duration of Goldberg’s Tuesday-through-Thursday absences over a two-week span, an elite rotation of former co-hosts, including Lisa Ling, Star Jones, Sherri Shepherd, and Debbie Matenopoulos, will step back into the spotlight. Joy Behar will handle moderation duties.
This temporary parting brings to the forefront a comprehensive examination of The View‘s tumultuous off-screen dynamics, explosive exits, and historical milestones. As the program celebrates nearly three decades on the air, a look back at the tenure of past co-hosts reveals a workspace defined by intense public scrutiny, ideological clashes, and occasional high-profile departures.
Detailed Chronology: Goldberg’s Hiatus and the All-Star Interim Lineup
During the September 16 episode of the Behind the Table podcast, executive producer Brian Teta revealed the logistics of Goldberg’s temporary departure.
"We’re going to lose you for a couple of days because you’re going to be doing this movie," Teta told Goldberg on air.
Goldberg, whose career spans decades of celebrated film, television, and theatrical work—including her iconic role in Sister Act—confirmed she will be shooting Women Like Us. To accommodate her shooting schedule, Goldberg will maintain a hybrid presence, appearing on Mondays before leaving for the set for the remainder of the week.
To fill the coveted seats on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, producers opted for a heavy dose of nostalgia, recruiting alumni from the late 1990s and early 2000s eras of the show. Lisa Ling, Star Jones, Sherri Shepherd, and Debbie Matenopoulos have all signed on to guest-moderate and debate alongside veteran co-host Joy Behar, who will steer the conversational ship.
This is not the first time Goldberg has temporarily stepped away from her hosting duties to pursue creative endeavors. In late 2025, the 70-year-old EGOT winner took a brief leave of absence from the ABC broadcast to film a guest appearance on the popular Italian soap opera Un Pasto Al Sole. Despite occasionally flirting with the idea of permanently retiring from the daily grind of live morning television, Goldberg remains a cornerstone of the franchise, marking an impressive tenure that crossed its historic milestones ahead of the show’s landmark 30th season premiere.
Historical Retrospective: The Revolving Door of The View
While Goldberg’s absence is temporary and amicable, the history of The View is rich with permanent departures, ideological firestorms, and intense backstage friction. Since Barbara Walters launched the daytime chatfest in 1997, the table has served as a cultural litmus test for generational, political, and personal clashes.
The Conservative Seat: Ideological Battles and Public Exits
The role of the resident conservative co-host has historically been one of the most volatile positions in television.
- Elisabeth Hasselbeck (2003–2013): Serving a decade at the table, Hasselbeck’s conservative viewpoints frequently ignited passionate debates. Her tenure made national headlines years later when unreleased audio from 2006 surfaced, revealing an explosive commercial break argument with creator Barbara Walters over the over-the-counter availability of the morning-after pill. Hasselbeck attempted to quit on the spot, shouting, "This woman is driving me nuts. I’m not going back!" Though she returned and finished out her run before moving to Fox News, the incident exposed the raw emotional toll exacted by the show’s environment.
- Meghan McCain (2017–2021): Joining the show as a permanent co-host in 2017, the daughter of the late Senator John McCain endured four years of high-profile on-air clashes. McCain later characterized the work environment in her memoir, Bad Republican, as "toxic," alleging that the production culture "breeds drama" and brings out the worst in people. McCain cited postpartum anxiety and an on-air sparring match with Joy Behar as catalysts for her departure in August 2021.
- Candace Cameron Bure (2015–2016): The Fuller House alum spent two seasons representing conservative perspectives, later admitting that the experience left her with lasting emotional stress and immense pressure. "I actually have a pit in my stomach right now… I [have] PTSD," Bure shared on Behind the Table, though she ultimately credited the grueling stint with building her resilience.
- Nicolle Wallace (2014–2015) & Jedediah Bila (2016–2017): Wallace famously discovered her contract would not be renewed through media reports, later admitting that being fired felt like "being broken up with." Conversely, Bila reported a positive backstage experience, noting that her disagreements with co-hosts remained strictly professional.
Personal Clashes and Sudden Departures
The show’s dynamic is built on strong personalities, which have occasionally boiled over into personal animosities.
- Rosie O’Donnell (2006–2007, 2015): O’Donnell holds the distinction of being the only host to leave the show twice. Her first exit followed an infamous on-air debate with Elisabeth Hasselbeck over the definition of the word "terrorist." Her second stint ended abruptly after just five months, with O’Donnell later confirming reports of severe backstage tension with Whoopi Goldberg, describing her interactions with Goldberg as the worst experience she had ever endured on live television.
- Star Jones (1997–2006): An original co-host, Jones stunned viewers and creator Barbara Walters alike by announcing her departure live on air in 2006 after her contract was not renewed. The fallout cast a temporary shadow over the show’s professional relationships, though Jones has since returned as a guest.
- Sherri Shepherd & Jenny McCarthy (2013–2014): Shepherd departed after seven seasons following failed contract negotiations, prompting McCarthy to exit in solidarity ("If Sherri goes… I go, too"). McCarthy later claimed in a tell-all book that producers actively attempted to manipulate her into manufacturing fights with Goldberg, contributing to a deeply unhappy work environment.
Supporting Context & Metrics
The enduring cultural footprint of The View is reflected in its longevity and ratings consistency. Spanning nearly three decades, the program has earned multiple Daytime Emmy Awards and cemented its status as a pivotal stop for political candidates, Hollywood A-listers, and cultural figures.
- Tenure Milestones: Whoopi Goldberg’s 2007–present run makes her one of the longest-serving moderators in the show’s history, second only to the foundational era led by Barbara Walters and Meredith Vieira.
- Guest Host Rotations: The reliance on returning alumni highlights a deliberate strategy by executive producers to leverage nostalgia and institutional memory during primary host absences, ensuring minimal disruption to the show’s core demographic appeal.
- Literary and Media Impact: The show has inspired numerous tell-all books, most notably Ramin Setoodeh’s Ladies Who Punch: The Explosive Inside Story of The View, which documented the internal pressures, contractual disputes, and ideological standoffs that have shaped the program’s legacy.
Official Statements and Industry Reaction
Network executives and returning alumni have emphasized a spirit of collaboration and professional respect surrounding the current transition.
Executive producer Brian Teta underscored the enthusiasm with which the alumni network responded to the call for guest moderation: "Joy’s up for it. She’s always excited to moderate."
Returning guest hosts have similarly reflected on their formative years at the desk. Lisa Ling, who co-hosted from 1999 to 2002 before embarking on an acclaimed career in investigative journalism, expressed deep gratitude during her recent surprise return. "I learned so much on this show from my mother figures and my co-hosts, who were more experienced than me," Ling noted.
Debbie Matenopoulos, who joined the original cast at just 22 years old, echoed similar sentiments regarding the rigorous boot-camp nature of the broadcast. "If you can do live television and hold your own with the most renowned journalists in the world, with a comedian who’s done it forever, you can do anything," she stated.
Future Outlook
As Whoopi Goldberg temporarily trades her moderator’s seat for a film set, The View continues to demonstrate operational resilience. The seamless integration of veteran guest hosts—Ling, Jones, Shepherd, and Matenopoulos—serves as a testament to the enduring structural framework established by Barbara Walters nearly thirty years ago.
Looking ahead, the program faces the dual challenge of maintaining its formidable cultural relevance in a shifting media landscape while managing the natural evolution of its high-profile panel. Goldberg’s eventual return, coupled with the ongoing slate of high-profile political and entertainment interviews, ensures that The View will remain a central fixture of American morning discourse. Whether addressing global headlines or navigating the occasional backstage turbulence, the table remains one of the most unique, high-stakes arenas in modern television history.