Say It Ain’t So! Joy Behar Leaving The View After 16 Years!
It’s officially the end of an era. Comedian Joy Behar has announced her departure from ABC’s The View after 16 years of co-hosting the show.
The news comes just as the 70-year-old’s contract is set to expire at the end of August, with Behar telling the network that she will not be renewing her contract.
Behar told Deadline.com the reason for her departure from the show is because she wants to focus on her own career as a stand-up comedian while also finishing up some other projects she’s been working on. ”It seemed like the right time,” said Behar. “You reach a point when you say to yourself, ‘Do I want to keep doing this?’ There are other things on my plate I want to do. I’ve been writing a play, I’ve been neglecting my stand-up.”
It might not be the end of her career in television, however, as Behar stated that she might be interested in hosting her own talk show. ”I do like talk shows. I’m interested in talking to people,” she continued. “I want to do an intelligent talk show where you have room to breathe.”
Although looking forward to new opportunities, Behar also pointed out that it will be sad to leave her co-workers. ”I have a lot of friends there, and I will miss everyone I’ve worked with because we have a family there.”
Her current co-hosts include Elizabeth Hasselbeck, Whoopi Goldberg, Barbara Walters and Sherri Shepherd.
ABC has not yet released a statement on a potential replacement for her soon-to-be vacant position.