Joy Behar, one of the last original hosts, is leaving “The View” this summer. On March 8, she spoke to “GMA” about the reasons for her departure. “I put in 16 years and felt the time was right,” she stated on Friday. “I’m graciously exiting stage left and want to explore other opportunities."
When “The View” debuted in 1998, Joy Behar sat in the co-host seat, along with Barbara Walters, Meredith Vieira, Star Jones and Debbie Meteropoulos. In 1999, Lisa Ling joined the show, to be followed by Elisabeth Hasselbeck, Rosie O’Donnell, Whoopi Goldberg and Sherri Shepherd. Throughout her years on “The View,” Behar has been at the center of several controversial moments.
In 2010, Joy called Bill Reilly a “pinhead” when he objected to a proposed Muslim Cultural Center in New York City and exclaimed, “Muslims killed us on 9/11!” The host stormed off the set, as did Whoopi Goldberg. Behar later said, "I believe that was what I had to do. It was not staged. I was enraged." Joy also raised an eyebrow or two when she interviewed President Barack Obama and asked him if he was aware of “Fifty Shades of Gray.” He stated that he wasn't, but would ask Michelle about it.
Joy Behar received the ultimate form of flattery when she became a regular skit on “Saturday Night Live.” Fred Armisen donned a wig and spoofed Behar in a variety of funny segments. Joy was a good sport about it and told Armisen on her HLN show that he played her to a tee. “You’ve got me down."
So after 16 years, Behar is saying goodbye to “The View” and she’s a little sad about it. “I have a lot of friends there and I will miss everyone I’ve worked with because we have a family there,” she told Deadline.com. “You can’t stay forever on a show.” ABC executives praised Joy and said in an official statement on March 7, "Joy Behar has been instrumental in the success of 'The View' from the very beginning. We wish her all the best in this next chapter, and are thrilled that we will have her for the remainder of the season."
After she leaves “The View” this summer, Joy Behar wants to concentrate on stand-up comedy and playwriting.
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