Last year, it looked like ABC’s daytime talk show The View was on its last legs. Ratings were faltering and the chemistry between hosts Whoopi Goldberg, Joy Behar, Sherri Shepherd and Jenny McCarthy never seemed to gel.
Those troubles led to a complete revamp for the 2014-2015. Behar, Shepherd and McCarthy left the program in various ways, replaced by heavy hitters Rosie O’Donnell, Rosie Perez and Nicolle Wallace.
Now, only a few months into this newest version of the show, rumors are bubbling up that the cast isn’t getting along – so much so that Perez may be off the show. To take it a step further, there are more substantial rumors that suggest ABC could be considering shutting down the show entirely.
Perez is leaving – except no, she’s not
Earlier this week, Variety reported Perez wouldn’t return to The View after her run on Fish in the Dark. Perez stars in the Broadway play and his missed some days at the roundtable while in rehearsal. Variety’s sources were unnamed.
Reasons for the Perez’s rumored departure include feuding with O’Donnell and struggles with understand the show’s format and flow.
As soon as the rumors surfaced, both ABC and O’Donnell denied the rumors. O’Donnell made the announcement on Thursday’s View telecast. “No matter what you read anywhere, Rosie Perez is also coming back after she is done rehearsing her play,” she said.
Perez and O’Donnell have also dismissed all rumors regarding in-fighting between the two hosts.
Rumors about feuds and hosts dismissals aren’t new this year. TMZ.com reported last month that ABC might replace Goldberg and O’Donnell next season because of bickering between the duo. If anything, Goldberg would return, as her contract runs through next season. O’Donnell signed a one-year, $4 million contract. ABC could, technically, not offer O’Donnell a new contract for next season.
ABC could cancel ‘The View’ – technically
Further stirring the pot are reports from The Daily Mail and Fox News that ABC executives are considering shuttering the long-standing daytime program.
Fox News’ unnamed source is quoted as saying, “You can’t keep hiring and firing, trying to save a sinking ship.”
The report suggests that ABC isn’t pleased with The View’s ratings – about where they were a year ago. Conversations about whether to give the show another revamp and one more season to grow its audience or cut the show loose are reported as ongoing.
Production of The View was recently moved from ABC’s daytime division to its news division. Rumors also persist that ABC News could extend Good Morning America by and hour to replace The View.
ABC denies the rumors and maintains that the show is doing well – even dominating the competition – and will be back next season.