Top 10 The View Co-Hosts

Abby Huntsman joined the cast of “The View” in 2018, making her the show’s newest member. However, what she lacks in longevity she’s more than made up for with her ability to hang, both mentally and emotionally, with her more experienced co-hosts. Of course, Huntsman is hardly a spring chicken. A seasoned journalist who garnered considerable praise for the work she did on her father Jon Huntsman Jr.’s 2012 Presidential campaign, Abby Huntsman can give it as well as she can take it – one of the most important traits of a successful “View” co-host.

Actress Sherri Shepherd made a number of appearances as a guest contributor on “The View” before officially joining the cast in 2007. She’d go on to serve as a co-host for seven seasons and has appeared in more than 600 episodes to date. During her time on the show, Shepherd was never afraid to make her opinions known, but always tried to put a positive spin on things. She rarely got into it with her fellow co-hosts, a by-product of her winning personality, though she did suffer the occasional slip-up from time to time. That flat earth comment anyone? Shepherd received seven Daytime Emmy nominations for her work on “The View,” winning once with the rest of the cast in 2009.

One of the most recognizable and opinionated “View” co-hosts of all time, Elisabeth Hasselbeck appeared on the show for a whopping 10 seasons. Hasselbeck originally stepped in a Lisa Ling’s replacement, but quickly made a name for herself thanks to her sweet and salty personality and hardline conservative views. While her most well-known moment is arguably the time she got into a screaming match with Rosie O’Donnell over the war in Iraq, Hasselbeck never shied away from a good verbal bout with any of the ladies, including Barbara Walters. This has made her one of the show’s most controversial co-hosts and thus one of the most memorable.

Star Jones underwent a dramatic transformation over her nine seasons co-hosting “The View.” While she initially served as a foil to the more grounded views of her co-hosts, Jones managed to further alienate herself by lying about her dramatic weight loss and pushing products on viewers in the lead-up to her wedding. Of course, nothing tops her unexpected and theatrical departure from the show in 2006, when she infamously shocked her co-hosts by announcing her departure live on the air – two days earlier than had been planned. While this all might seem like reasons to put her lower on the list, we believe that drama is an important aspect of “The View’s” appeal and there was never a shortage of it when Jones was around.

Already an award-winning journalist and TV personality prior to being as cast as Debbie Matenopoulos’ replacement in 1999, Lisa Ling proved to be one of “The View’s” most intelligent and by extension unconventional hosts. Ling reportedly beat out more than 12,000 other people for a spot on the show’s panel. While she was only there for three seasons, her journalistic background allowed her to broach more serious topics that the show would have otherwise ignored. Sadly, Ling left the show in 2002 to once again focus on her journalism career and the void she created has never really been filled since. Luckily for fans, she has made a number of guest appearances since her departure.

Despite only serving as a co-host for two seasons (10 and 18 respectively), Rosie O’Donnell managed to leave behind one hell of a legacy. Having already established herself on the TV landscape thanks to the success of “The Rosie O'Donnell Show,” she joined “The View” in 2006 and immediately set to work re-affirming in her hardline liberal views. Her arrival coincided with a 27% ratings jump for the show, the result of O’Donnell’s popularity and penchant for stirring up controversy. From going toe-to-toe with Elisabeth Hasselbeck over the Iraq War and feuding with both Donald Trump and former host Star Jones, O’Donnell never failed to entertain. Unfortunately for fans, O’Donnell’s second stint wasn’t nearly as compelling.

OG host Meredith Vieira was a calming presence on a show noted for its fiery personalities and no holds barred conversations. As a moderator, it was Vieira’s job to keep each episode from falling off the rails and she did her duty better than almost anyone in the show’s history. In 2000, Vieira discussed why she left traditional reporting for “The View,” stating “Once I realized I was a reporter who didn't want to report because it required a tremendous amount of travel, nobody was too interested in having me work for them. I had to reinvent myself.” And reinvent herself she did! Vieira is beloved for her many daytime TV roles and is consistently regarded as one of the best personalities “The View” ever had.

In 2007, Academy Award winning actress Whoopi Goldberg took over as moderator on “The View” following Rosie O’Donnell’s departure; a title she still holds to this day. As a panel member, Goldberg has been a part of countless iconic moments, both good and bad, including her very public quarrel with noted scumbag Bill O’Reilly, as well as her controversial stance on things like the Bill Cosby’s rape allegations and celebrities taking nude photos of themselves. Known for vehemently standing up for what she believes in, regardless of what others may think, Goldberg has kept “The View” entertaining for more than a decade, keeping ratings high and the Daytime Emmy nominations rolling in.

After 17 seasons, two Daytime Emmy wins, and close to 4,000 episodes, Barbara Walters left the show she helped create all the way back in 1997. During her time on the show she served as both a nurturing mother-figure to her co-hosts and a staunch supporter of a woman’s right to express herself in whatever way she sees fit. A fan favorite from the beginning, Walters was often the last person to speak on a subject, adding credence to her status as the show’s top dog. While she officially hung up her lapel mic in 2014, she would go on to appear in a number of episodes the following season as a guest contributor.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions:

Raven-Symoné

Debbie Matenopoulos

Michelle Collins

Paula Faris

Rosie Perez

There is no name more synonymous with “The View” than Joy Behar. In her 20 seasons (and counting) as a co-host, Behar has managed to pick fights with seemingly everyone; including a protracted feud with former host Star Jones. No stranger to making controversial statements that upset individuals, organizations, or entire denominations of political, social, or religious groups, Behar always manages to back up her statements with well thought out rebuttals and/or zippy one liners. She’s funny, grounded, outlandish, and opinionated all at once, and for that, she’s our number one co-host, now and always!