Joy Behar has been a massive part of The View ever since it began. As an original cast member, Behar starred on the series from 1997 until her exit in 2013. Fast forward two years, and Behar returned in 2015. She has been a part of the show ever since. Now that it is 2020, when does Behar plan to leave The View?
Joy Behar has hinted at a surprising answer. It could be sooner than some viewers of The View may want to hear. Behar has revealed that her contract is up in 2022 as part of the paperback edition of Variety’s Ramin Setoodeh’s “Ladies Who Punch: The Explosive Inside Story of ‘The View.’” The same book that detailed Rosie O’Donnell’s heated feud with the talk show’s director.
Joy Behar has reportedly floated 2022 as the year she potentially exits. That window could mean the popular host leaving within the next two years. Behar had previously said that if The View lacked good chemistry, it would go off the air. Without Behar around, the dynamic at the table would undoubtedly change drastically.
The View is no stranger to dealing with a shake-up when it comes to its core cast. The chatfest has said goodbye to Abby Huntsman, among others, during its considerable run. Last year, Elisabeth Hasselbeck revealed that she had been fired from the show. Joy Behar’s potential exit sounds a lot more amicable.
Before you get too upset, an ABC spokesman did attempt to clarify Joy Behar’s comment. The network pointed out that Behar had said that if she is “as fabulous in 2022,” as she is now, she will stay on The View. Not to split hairs, but she actually said, “I’ll think about” it.
Time will tell what Joy Behar decides. This would not be her first exit, and if she leaves in 2022, and eventually decides to come back, it would not be her first return. As it stands, Behar’s fellow co-hosts on The View are Whoopi Goldberg, Sunny Hostin, and Meghan McCain. While drama has stirred around McCain in the past, she has stayed on board.
If Joy Behar does leave The View in the next two years, the show will have an arduous task filling the void. Fans had to go without Behar for two years after her sixteen-year stint suddenly ended. In total, Behar has been on The View for 21 years. That is a long time!
Joy Behar, fighting between co-hosts, and behind-the-scenes drama are just some of the things synonymous with The View. It would be a huge adjustment to have the chatfest without Behar. She is the only current panelist to be an original cast member. At least, The View has the potential of a two-year heads up to consider before the producers are faced with how to move forward without Behar.
A lot can change in two years, which may be true with Joy Behar and The View. In the meantime, new episodes of The View air weekdays at 11 a.m. ET on ABC. If you need some other exciting shows to watch, you can check out this spring’s premieres.
