WhenThe Viewcelebrated the end of its landmark 25th season last year, the show also wrapped up its long-running search for a new co-host. For the first time, the show brought on two co-hosts to split duties during Season 26, tapping Ana Navarro and Alyssa Farah Griffin as the latest permanent additions to the panel.
In the past year, the new Viewstars have brought plenty of color to Hot Topic chats, with Navarro delivering memorable takedowns of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Griffin giving insight to former president (and her old boss) Donald Trump.
While The View switched up its cast in Season 26, will we see any changes when the show returns for Season 27? And while we’re at it, who did Barbara Walters recruit for the original Viewcast? How manyViewhosts have there been since the show premiered in 1997? Consider this your guide to all thingsThe View!
WHO WAS IN THE ORIGINAL THE VIEW CAST?
Originally conceived by legendary broadcast journalist Barbara Walters,The View premiered in 1997 with the goal of providing women of all generations a platform to debate politics, pop culture, and lifestyle issues. Season 1 starred Meredith Vieira as moderator, Star Jones, Debbie Matenopoulos, and Walters as the four permanent co-hosts, with Joy Behar filling in during Walters’ absences. Behar’s comedic personality quickly endeared her to fans, and before long, she joinedThe Viewfull time as the fifth co-host.
THE VIEWHOSTS THROUGH THE YEARS: 1999 TO 2013
Of the originalViewco-hosts, Matenopoulos was the first to leave in 1999, after just two seasons. She was replaced by Lisa Ling (1999 to 2002) and later, the seat was filled by Elisabeth Hasselbeck, who quickly established herself as an outspoken conservative voice.
In 2006, both Vieira and Jones leftThe Viewfor good, kicking off almost a decade of turmoil on the panel. Rosie O’Donnell joined the show in fall 2006 (Season 10), but famously left before the season concluded due to severe conflicts with her co-hosts, particularly Hasselbeck. In 2007, Whoopi Goldberg and Sherri Shepherd were brought in in an attempt to stabilize the daytime show, and it seemed to work until 2013, when Behar left to host her own series. Jenny McCarthy was hired to fill her seat, but the decision went up in flames, and she left after just one season.
WHO WERETHE VIEWHOSTS AFTER BARBARA WALTERS’ DEPARTURE?
Much has been written about Barbara Walters’ desire to remain at The View, but in 2014, she officially retired from the talk show she helped create. ABC brought in fresh blood to join Goldberg ahead of the Season 18 premiere that fall: the network brought back Rosie O’Donnell and hired political analyst Nicole Wallace, Rosie Perez, and Raven-Symoné, but of the four women, only Raven lasted more than one season (O’Donnell once again left before the end of her contract, citing “personal reasons”).
From 2015 to 2018, a revolving door of co-hosts were hired, including Michelle Collins (Season 19; 2015-2016), Candace Cameron Bure (Seasons 19 and 20; 2015-2016), Paula Faris (Seasons 19-21; 2015-2018), and Jedediah Bila (Season 20 and 21; 2016-2017).
Of course, there were a few notable hires during that time period. In 2015, Behar officially returned to the show, and the following year, Sara Haines and Sunny Hostin, an ABC legal analyst, joined the cast. Ahead of Season 21 in 2017, ABC landed Meghan McCain, who turned The Viewinto must-see TV once again with her passionate monologues and combative personality.
In fall 2018,The Viewadded former Fox & Friends star Abby Huntsman as the 22nd co-host in show history, but her tenure didn’t last long: in January 2020, she left to assist on her father’s Utah gubernatorial campaign.
With Hunstman gone,The Viewbrought on Haines as a co-host in September 2020. Haines returned to the ABC talk showafter co-hostingThe View from 2016 through 2018.
THE VIEW CAST: SEASON 27 AND BEYOND
Whoopi Goldberg, Joy Behar, Sunny Hostin and Sara Haines are all returning to The View for Season 27, and many of them have signed on to continue in the near future. Goldberg, Behar and Hostin are all locked in at the Hot Topics table through Season 28 of The View, so we can look forward to more of their banter and antics for a couple of years to come. Ana Navarro and Alyssa Farah Griffin are also expected to return for Season 27.
Where to streamThe View
- The View
