Elisabeth Hasselbeck Is Leaving 'The View' For Real This Time
For months, the question has been when, and not if, Elisabeth Hasselbeck was planning a departure from the View. Now, we have the answer: on Wednesday. The mothership of hate-watching will then join Fox & Friends, where recent discussion has included a hard-hitting analysis of why a Sam Adams beer commercial omitted the phrase "endowed by their creator" from a paraphrasing of the Declaration of Independence. In any case, Hasselbeck says she's a a "long-time fan of Fox & Friends." She will, if nothing else, face less disagreement from her co-hosts once she makes the switch.
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Hasselbeck will start at Fox in September, when she'll replace Gretchen Carlson, who is getting her own daytime show. That leaves her Steve Doocy and Brian Kilmeade to talk to. View creator Barbara Walters released a statement about the departure that serves as both a mild farewell and a reminder that Hasselbeck got her start as a contestant on a reality show:
When Elisabeth survived ‘Survivor,’ we wanted to make sure she would stay afloat...we have had 10 wonderful years with her and she will now be swimming in new waters. We will miss her and wish her everything good.
Walters, meanwhile, will follow her out the door in 2014. Co-host Joy Behar is also leaving at the end of this season. The New York Post confirmed the news with Fox. Here's Roger Ailes's statement on the move:
Elisabeth’s warm and engaging personality made her a star on “The View”. She has proven to be an excellent conversationalist and I am certain she will make a great addition to our already successful morning franchise.
Today's expected shakeup follows on the heels of rumors that anti-vaccination activist and former Singled Out personality Jenny McCarthy was coming on board the View.