It’s official: Barbara Walters confirmed on Monday’sThe View that comedic actress Jenny McCarthy will join the chatfest when its 17th season begins Sept. 9.
The announcement comes just five days after Elisabeth Hasselbeck signed off for a new gig on Fox News Channel’s Fox & Friends and continues a revolving door of talent on ABC’s live talk show. Joy Behar is exiting later this summer and Walters, who created the show with producer Bill Geddie in 1997 will leave next May.
McCarthy, a brash blonde in a different mold than Hasselbeck, a right-leaning former Survivor contestant, has appeared on several sitcoms and in film roles. She also writes an advice column for her hometown Chicago Sun-Times.
McCarthy has appeared on the show 17 times, including eight as co-host. This year, she gained more practice with VH1’s late-night The Jenny McCarthy Show, which aired from February to May but garnered low ratings. A VH1 spokesman said that show was “on hiatus,” but the network has now released her from her contract.
