Barbara Walters isn’t the only person who is leaving “The View” this year. Co-hosts Jenny McCarthy and Sherri Shepherd are set to exit ABC’s daytime talker later this summer.
A shakeup of the show’s panel has been brewing for some time. Walters acknowledged as much in a interview with Variety earlier this year — even floating the idea that a man might be tapped for the panel.
Whoopi Goldberg is expected to stay put in the key slot as the show’s moderator, but it’s now clear that she will be surrounded by all new faces when the show’s 18th season begins in the fall.
McCarthy tweeted news of her departure on Thursday evening after Shepherd released a statement confirming her plan to leave after seven years. McCarthy joined the show this time last year.
If Sherri goes… I go too. #sisters
— Jenny McCarthy (@JennyMcCarthy) June 27, 2014
My View will be changing too. As will with many hard working folks. Thanks to everyone at the show for your dedication and an amazing year.
— Jenny McCarthy (@JennyMcCarthy) June 27, 2014
“It’s been seven wonderful years on ‘The View’ and after careful consideration it is time for me to move on,” Shepherd said in a statement. “I am extremely grateful to Barbara Walters and (exec producer) Bill Geddie for giving me the opportunity. I look forward to the business opportunities that lay ahead for me and I am incredibly grateful to my ‘View’ family and my fans for supporting me on this journey.”
Shepherd and McCarthy are both expected to finish out the show’s current season, which wraps the first week of August. Friday’s edition of the show is a pre-taped seg. It will be on hiatus next week, which encompasses the July 4 holiday, and return to live broadcasts on July 7.
“View” is heading into its 18th season this fall. There may well be more shakeups on both sides of the camera to come.
“ ‘The View’ will be moving in an exciting new direction next season and ABC has made decisions to evolve the show creatively,” ABC said in a statement after the news of Shepherd and McCarthy’s departures broke.
By Laura Prudom
