Barbara Walters returns to ‘The View’ with an all-star welcome

Barbara Walters has been off “The View” for six weeks, but she made her triumphant return on March 4 and was treated to an all-star welcome. Celebrities galore lined up to welcome Walters back after her extended TV absence. In addition, the host of “The View” talked extensively about her illness for the very first time on Monday.

Host Barbara Walters explained that a case of the chicken pox and a concussion caused her to miss six weeks on “The View.” She opened by stating, “After a lot of scratching and rest, I’m fine and healthy.” She explained that she visited a famous friend in Miami around the first of the year. She gave him a New Year’s kiss and hug, but he developed a bad case of shingles the very next day.

Soon after, Walters traveled to Washington to cover Barack Obama’s inauguration. “I was feeling slightly under the weather,” she said. She went on to explain that she felt woozy, fell and hit her head on a marble floor. “Bloody and unconscious, I was rushed to Georgetown University Hospital and attended to by great doctors,” she stated. The physicians sewed up her forehead and a specialist checked her out and determined that Barbara had a concussion and the chicken pox. “Who gets the chicken pox?” she joked.

An ambulance transported Babs from Washington to New York City. “The only cure for a concussion is rest and that’s what I’ve been doing,” Walters said. She added that she watched “The View” and was impressed with her guest hosts.

Upon her return on Monday, Walters said that the chicken pox cleared up weeks ago and the concussion is gone. “I had my head examined and I’m fine,” she panned. She went on to thank her caregivers and her fans for their well wishes. “You touched me greatly.”

When Barbara returned to “The View,” she received an all-star welcome. Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Regis Philbin both presented her with a bouquet of flowers. Walters became emotional and thanked her good friends. Philbin was the very first guest on “The View” nearly 17 years ago and said, “I feel like an uncle.” He then joked with Walters, “When you’re not here, it gets chaotic.”

Other famous pals had welcome back messages for Barbara Walters, including Joan and Melissa Rivers, Ali Wentworth, Susan Lucci and the cast of “All My Children,” Brooke Shields, Donald Trump and the casts of “The Bachelor,” “Suburgatory,” “The Chew,” “Good Morning America” and “20/20.”

“The View” airs every weekday on ABC. Check local listings for airtime.

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