The View has seen a merry-go-round of hosts sit down at its iconic table over its last 23 years on air. One might even argue that ever since Sherri Shepherd exited after Season 17 that the network hasn't been too successful in nailing down permanent hosts beyond Whoopi Goldberg and Joy Behar. Following Meghan McCain's announcement of her exit, many have been speculating that ABC will replace her with Debbie Matenopoulos, one of the original hosts of the show. Now, Matenopoulos has officially responded to those reports.
When Barbara Walters first created The View back in 1997, she invited Debbie Matenopoulos, 21 at the time, to audition as co-host in order to bring in a younger perspective on the daily news topics. But after two years, Matenopoulos’s contract wasn't renewed in 1999. She showed up several times as a guest in subsequent years but, now that Meghan McCain is out, she might just be willing to get back in the fray. Her spokesperson told ET Online:
Debbie will always have a fond place in her heart for The View, the show that launched her career as a 21-year-old straight out of NYU. Her rep has, in fact, been having conversations with senior executives at ABC News over the past few months about many things, including her participation in celebrating the 25th season of The View, and she appreciates all the interest in her returning.
Things aren't quite set in stone then but, clearly, Debbie Matenopoulos at least confirmed she is in talks to make a return to The View. It makes sense considering that ABC reportedly wanted Meghan McCain out because her arguments with the other co-hosts were getting too personal in recent months (no matter how hard they may have pretended otherwise). In contrast to McCain’s staunch conservative views, Matenopoulos is perhaps best known for keeping things light and fun on her other gigs over the years, like Fashion Police, VH1 specials, and Entertainment Tonight.
However, the decision for Meghan McCain's replacement on The View is still up in the air, as Debbie Matenopoulos might not be able to work out the logistics in her schedule. Her spokesperson said:
Currently, she is in development on two food shows and her own lifestyle show, but she’d never say never to returning to her first television home.
Debbie Matenopoulos would see one familiar face if she returned to The View: Joy Behar, who has been a host since its inception. She would be joined also by more recent staples like Whoopi Goldberg, Sunny Hostin and Sara Haines, if they all return as well. Matenopoulos may want to be wary, though, because the discussions amongst the women get well and truly awkward, not to mention intense, these days (as Meghan McCain well knows and the ratings have soared under).
If Debbie Matenopoulos does return to The View, it'll honestly be a photo negative version of Meghan McCain's hard-handed approach as host. But it'll be curious if Matenopoulos will live or die by the “ditzy” moniker she was once ridiculed for back in the '90s.
