Is Barbara Walters helping Elisabeth Hasselbeck save face after firing her?

On Sunday, I covered the Us Weekly story that Elisabeth Hasselbeck had been kicked off of The View for being “too extreme and right-wing” for test audiences. The actual wording of the Us Weekly story was that Elisabeth hadn’t been flat-out FIRED, though – sources claimed Elisabeth had been informed that producers would not be offering her another contract. Which gives her some room to claim that she was leaving of her accord as a goodwill face-saving gesture. I think Elisabeth is putting up some kind of fight, though! On yesterday’s View, Barbara Walters told the audience that “We have no plans for Elisabeth to leave the show.” Us Weekly is playing it like they’re still right, but Elisabeth hasn’t gotten the ax… YET.

Barbara Walters and Elisabeth Hasselbeck are keeping up appearances — for now. After Us Weekly and other outlets reported last week that Hasselbeck’s contract on ABC’s The View had not been renewed, Walters took to the air to address the issue. Walking onto the set arm-in-arm with her controversial co-host, the veteran journalist opened the March 11 episode by reassuring viewers that Hasselbeck was a respected member of the show.

“The truth is, we love Elisabeth…Beyond that, we value and appreciate her point of view,” Walters said Monday. “It’s important to us because Elisabeth helps give this show perspective and balance…We have no plans for Elisabeth to leave the show.”

That said, she added, “[Executive producer] Bill [Geddie] and I have always said that when one of you makes the choice to leave, that is your choice, and we will support your decision.”

A source tells Us that the denial is part of a strategy to “save face” for both Hasselbeck and the series. Producers are “just leaving the door open for Elisabeth to announce she is leaving on her own when she is ready,” the insider explains. “They don’t want to make her look bad and don’t want to make the show look bad for canning her…They just want to make it seem like Elisabeth decided to leave on her own when the announcement comes.”

Original panelist Star Jones departed the show amid similar drama in 2006; before Jones’ surprise, on-air exit, Walters had denied rampant rumors that Jones was on her way out. Jones returned to the show to bury the hatchet in February 2012, saying of her renegade departure: “I made the decision to go out on my own terms, to control it, so that if I was ever invited back, I would feel good about it.” Walters then admitted to viewers that Jones’ contract was simply not renewed and that the denials about her leaving were to “protect” Jones.

Us Weekly first broke the news of Hasselbeck’s departure on Friday, March 8. “The viewers they polled all said she was too extreme and right wing,” a source told Us of the conservative 35-year-old mother of three, who officially joined the cast in November 2003, after a guest-hosting stint following Lisa Ling’s 2002 departure. “People did not watch the show because of Elisabeth. So they told her [Thursday, March 7,] her contract would not be renewed.”

Hasselbeck isn’t the only host who won’t be returning to the couch. Joy Behar, the only remaining original cohort besides series co-creator Walters, announced last week that she would leave to pursue other interests after this season.

“You can’t stay forever on a show,” the 70-year-old host of Current TV’s Joy Behar: Say Anything! told Good Morning America of her decision to leave The View when her contract ends in August. “I am graciously exiting stage left. I’ve put in 16 and a half years and felt the time was right. I want to explore other opportunities.”

[From Us Weekly]

Yeah, I believe Us Weekly’s version of events. I think producers don’t want Elisabeth to come back and they’ve already informed her that she will not be offered a new contract, and she’s either fighting with them or Barbara is letting Elisabeth look like she’s leaving because she (Elisabeth) wants to leave.

Bizarrely, there are also rumors that Barbara is going to step down from cohosting the chat show too, which is weird because The View is Barbara’s baby, and I think it’s probably one of the most profitable talk shows out there right now. Not, like, Ellen DeGeneres profitable, but still pretty lucrative. And Barbara is the executive producer too! So, if Barbara steps down from co-hosting (Big IF), my guess is that she’ll still retain her producer credit and have a hand in deciding who should be hired and fired.

Photos courtesy of WENN.

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87 Responses to “Is Barbara Walters helping Elisabeth Hasselbeck save face after firing her?”

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  1. Bowers says:

    Women who work out of the home don’t watch that show.

    • BB says:

      I believe the US Magazine story too. However, I like Elisabeth. I don’t agree with her, but I like that she has an opinion. Elisabeth is a 100 times better than Sherri Shepard.

      • Lucy94 says:

        Sherri is a full blown idiot! Stupid doesn’t even begin to cover it.

      • floretta50 says:

        Sheri is the reason I don’t watch the show she is so dumb!

      • Marie Antoinette Jr. says:

        Agreed. I thought EH was the worst possible until Sherri. Sherri is so stupid it’s depressing. Cannot watch because of her.

      • Aunt Bea says:

        EH needs to submit her resume to Bill O’Reilly over at Fox. She’s a shoo-in to become at the very least his next intern. Those in the know are aware that Mr. O’Reilly takes a “special interest” in nubile eager young interns, bestowing upon them the benefit of his vast wisdom with close one-on-one brainstorming sessions, often held until the wee hours in cozy restaurants. He is also happy to make himself available for late-night phone sessions. EH will positively swoon to receive this invaluable constant “mentoring” and “nurturing. This placement should cause EH to thrive under his direct tutelage, as Mr. O’Reilly is recognized as the preeminent common tater.

    • HappyMom says:

      I’m a stay at home mom, and I’ve never watched it.

    • Seagulls says:

      Well, it’s not the type of show anyone would DVR, so why would they? I SAH and haven’t watched it in years. Were you just trying to insult SAHP?

      • BeesKnees says:

        I’m a stay at home mom and I found that pretty insulting too. I don’t watch daytime television at all; not all stay at home moms are dumb, spoiled couch potatoes!

    • Lucinda says:

      I don’t think she was trying to insult SAHM’s. (Yes, I’m one. Been one for 11 years). I simply think she was trying to say that you would only watch it if you were already at home. It’s not good enough to DVR. Heck, it may barely be good enough to watch if the tv is left on and it happens to come one. I don’t know. I don’t watch it.

    • nanette briggs says:

      I watched it a few times and Barbara Walters is very out of touch with a younger audience, & advertisers are wooing women in that demographic. Ms.Walters isn’t aware of who many young celebs are.

    • Victoria1 says:

      Hahahahahaha that’s the funniest comment ever!

  2. Andrea says:

    I respect Barbara’s achievements as a female broadcast journalist but I’ve never warmed to the woman.

    • Hannah says:

      dito

    • FassDaActor says:

      dito too

    • Sophia says:

      When Barbara made the announcement that Elizabeth was not leaving The View, coupled with the lack of eye contact to Elizabeth, when she made the announcement, I noticed that Barbara’s nose was growing and growing, longer and longer, like Pinnichio’s nose. The body language and lack of expression and “no comment” from Elizabeth spoke volumes. Come August, Elizabeth will be gone, gone, gone.

    • Stellax2 says:

      I also have to sign with this, while Barbara’s achievements have been quite notable, I do not feel a strong attachment.

      I rarely watch the view. I would never dvr it.
      I don’t want to diss Shepard. I have do not see her contribution to the show, honestly. She’s full of energy, devoted to her child, etc., but I think she’s on the wrong show/outlet.

      As far as Hasselback is concerned, I was told (several yrs. ago) that Barbara personally loved Elizabeth. Elizabeth had evidently always catered to Barbara-helping her to the stage, etc. My understanding was that Barbara viewed Elizabeth as another child of her own.
      Now, when it comes to business, Barbara and Bill are capable of anything. If it’s time for Elizabeth to go, I’m sure BW will allow E to save face, if possible.

      As to whether you are a stay at home or go to an office, everyone has a job. I wouldn’t place The View of must see tv or when I’m laying in bed sick (now).

  3. Jackie Jormp Jomp (formerly Zelda) says:

    35?! God she looks awful.

    • Sarcasmo says:

      +1

    • Melissa says:

      I was just thinking the same thing. I had assumed she was my age (40).

    • GreenTurtle says:

      I used to think she was really cute, but I think her judginess/mean tendencies are showing up on her face.

    • Chicago Girl says:

      I thought the same thing. It seems like 15 years since she was on Survivor. But what really makes her seem older are all the lines on her face, especially the crows feet. She must have tanned (and maybe still does) quite a bit to have that much wrinkling at her age.

    • The Wizz says:

      +1000 and I’m Australian so extra wrinkly

  4. Elisabeth says:

    i cannot stand hasselback. She seems so Stepford wife, just barking out what she’s been told.

  5. Vera says:

    She’s probably working out a deal with Fox News right this moment.

    • Nibbi says:

      you called it

      they’re probably dying to have her, she’d bring some “non-faux-network cred”, unfortunately , AND she’s perky and bright blonde

  6. Faye says:

    My first thoughts on hearing this is that her contract is up, but they want to re-sign her at a much lower salary, so the View people released these rumors themselves to scare her.

    I can be a bit paranoid sometimes, though :).

  7. Kiddo says:

    If a tree falls in the woods, and no one is there….

  8. sonia says:

    If she could ever, just once, back up an opinion she spouts with anything coherent and not turn into a screaming harpie, I’d believe she is an intelligent republican woman. Instead, she repeats what she has been told somewhere, and has no reasoning behind her statements and cannot answer questions about them. She is an embarassment to republicans, (and I’m a democrat).

    • anneesezz says:

      Usually she just regurgitates something that Sean Hannity or Bill O’Reilly said the night before. She has no original thoughts when it comes to politics. Plus she seems evil. One of these,”I got mine so to hell with the rest of you,” types. All she really did was go on Survivor and fall into that show. She didn’t really pay her dues.

  9. Sarcasmo says:

    I hope that “saving face” is all it’s about, because that shrill, argumentative shrew needs to GO. I stopped watching YEARS ago, and she’s the reason why.

    • Debbie says:

      @Sarcasmo,

      Ditto!

    • JenD says:

      The Joy and Elisabeth combo made it insufferable, to me. And Sherri’s apparent stupidity pushed the show over the edge for me.

      • Katia says:

        I don’t find her that annoying (though I disagree with what she says) I get annoyed by Sherri’s lack of contribution and actually whoopi and Barbara just bore me and say a lot of useless stuff too. Joys the only really interesting one- maybe i enjoy Elisabeth because she’s pretty?

  10. mom2two says:

    I don’t see why Elizabeth would be let go. It’s not like she’s hid her political leanings over the years and it just came out. While she can be shrill, I think it’s good that they have someone who has a different POV on there.
    That being said, either US is trying to save face with this story since Barbara went on the air and flat out said Elizabeth isn’t fired or it is a ploy to get her to resign at a lower salary. I’m betting that’s why Joy Behar left.
    Because if Elizabeth does announce she’s leaving anytime in the next year, everyone is going to assume as she was fired behind the scenes.

    • TheOriginalKitten says:

      I agree that it’s good to have someone repping the conservatives but SURELY they could find someone more intelligent than Hasselback. This woman backed Palin of all people and blindly defended her with no reasoning or explanation for her choice.
      Beyond that, she is highly reactive and insanely annoying.

      Hasselback does the Right no favors.

      What about Mary Katharine Ham? She seems pretty sharp and very conservative.

    • Sassy says:

      Joy is 70 years old, and is entitled to do what she wants. I have watched the View from the very beginning and it is not what it used to be. I don’t like Whoopi, Elizabeth or Sherri. That leaves Joy, who I love and Barbara, who is getting kind of
      doty. Perhaps time to retire the whole show.

      • Lucinda says:

        I would agree that it wasn’t bad when it first came on years ago. I would watch it occasionally, if I was home. But now I would never watch it. It’s just terrible. Maybe it’s because I’m 41 instead of 25 so I’m a bit pickier these days.

  11. Simple Red says:

    I don’t like her political views, she comes off dense as hell on those matters. I have spoken to a few that are Republicans before and many don’t like her.. She is a waste of space when it comes to that..

    Barbara is something else with that statement.. I don’t care for her, she seems soo phony to a point

    As for Joy well I like her, she’ll be missed

    Sherri well IDK about her, what does bring to the table other than talking her hubby n son

    Whoopi is another that I like.. She has her moments too but def holds her own better than Sherri and Elisabeth

  12. MsAubra says:

    If they were going to fire her over her right wing opinions, she would have been let go alot sooner

  13. aims says:

    Elizabeth makes my head explode. For real!!!

  14. GoodCapon says:

    Can someone plainly tell me why people don’t like her? I watched that Survivor season she was in years ago and she came across as very sweet and good-natured. Or was all that just a front?

    • Tessa says:

      People don’t like her because she’s a conservative woman with conservative values, plain and simple. If she was on the left, she’d be a rockstar. It’s just how our media is constructed. If you’re right wing, you’re a pariah and your opinion and beliefs are invalid.

      • TheOriginalKitten says:

        Oh please. I dislike Hasselback for the same reason I dislike Palin AND Pelosi.

        All three misrepresent polictically-minded women as unintelligent and reactionary. It’s ok to have a strong political opinion-but be consistent and know what you’re talking about-do your RESEARCH. This is particularly important when you’re presiding on a public platform like The View, a show that represents and caters to a largely female audience.

        People don’t like Hasselback because she is VERY opinionated but not well-educated about her political stance, PERIOD.

        If she were capable of having a rational, thoughtful and calm argument backed up with FACTS then people might start to respect her.

      • aims says:

        Not true. I have no problems with her political views, though I strongly disagree with them. This is a country of many perspectives, and I’m thankful for that. It’s her whole manner. She’s so self righteous, she just spits out information about anything, with out checking if it’s correct.

        Politics aside. Remember when she said something offensive regarding that sports reporter, who had a peeping tom? Then she gets called out for it. The next day she’s “crying” because she feels horrible for it. She’s snarky, rude and someone I would avoid.

        Why would I spend an hour of my life with this hateful person, willing? No thank you.

      • Jackie Jormp Jomp (formerly Zelda) says:

        Yes. The poor persecuted American right wing *eyeroll*

        I’m not American, here. You should see how ridiculous what you are saying looks from the outside.

        People hate EH because she’s shrill. She and Rosie O’Donnell (sp?) need to learn the difference between yelling and articulating.

      • Marie Antoinette Jr. says:

        Tessa I disagree. If Ann Coulter or someone like her were to replace EH I would watch for sure. It’s not the conservative values people negatively react to with Elizabeth–it’s her delivery. She gets so agitated, starts talking so fast she spits, gets all red in the face–it’s difficult to watch.

        She’s annoying in other ways as well, but her frenzied outbursts are disturbing.

    • babythestarsshinebrite says:

      @Jackie – Thank you.

  15. Orange_Blohan says:

    I don’t have any problem with her views or beliefs, but I do have a problem with the fact that she just sounds so ignorant. She starts ranting and sounds so shrill. I’m sure there are others who could do such a better job with expressing themselves. IMO she should have been let go after her stupid remarks about Erin Andrews when she was on DWTS, ugh total ignorance.

  16. HK9 says:

    Wow, love Barbara Walters as I do, getting a “hug” from her is like getting kissed by Michael Corleone in the movie The Godfather~you know you’re gonna die. 🙂

  17. bea says:

    Hope EH doesn’t come back.

    The real issue is that embroidered faux- denim-vest/blazer-combo that BW is wearing in the first photo. Revolting.

  18. putchka says:

    I’ll always love Rosie O’Donnell fighting with Hasselback. “I didn’t get where I am by standing on a plank all day”. Hilarious and true! Love Joy Behar, can’t tolerate Hasselback. It’s not her opinions, it’s her delivery.

  19. Debbie says:

    I don’t agree with but I certainly respect her beliefs. My problem with Elizabeth is she gets overly emotional and doesn’t express her views well. I think she is sort of charming when she goes off on pop culture but when she talks politics she starts of well but if anyone challenges her or questions her she gets so flustered and starts screaming, rambling or crying.

    If the view is going to stick with just pop culture and not bring up politics then I see no reason to get rid of her, but if they want to continue to have a political discussion then they need someone who can handle the disagreements and questions. Like Megan McCain or the bush daughter that has a show with Chelsea I think it’s Jenna but I could be wrong on that.

    Oh and I feel the same way about Joy, I share her beliefs but she is just like Elizabeth she can’t handle being questioned or disagreed with. On both sides they need better representatives because neither one is doing either view point proud.

    If where you I wouldn’t try to make it like liberals can’t handle a different view because it sounds ignorant and lacking self awareness does the name Combs ring a bell? He use to have a little show with this guy hanity and was legit fired for being a democrat.

    • garvels says:

      I rarely watch the View due to work but when I have watched,I often would change the channel after 10 minutes because it drove me crazy the way they yell over each other. Elizabeth’s views are somewhat closer to my views than Joy’s or Whoopie’s views but Elizabeth’s shrill voice was irritating. It wasn’t her views but it was her voice…….

      • truthful says:

        that’s IT!!!

        I couldn’t put my finger on it!

        her shrill voice screaming and her presentation, its scathing.

  20. Zigggy says:

    It would be nice if they replaced her with somebody with right wing views, who is actually intelligent and can explain themselves, not just regurgitate the opinions of others with no sound reasoning.

  21. lisa says:

    im not sure why an intelligent person of any stripe would want to be on that show. no one in the current cast is articulate or backs up their opinions with facts, but no one talks about anyone but elisabeth.

  22. truthful says:

    I don’t watch BECAUSE of Elizabeth and never will…alot of folks don’t watch because of her.

    the end

    • truthful says:

      LOL

      sad really, chill out, geeze.

      you love her and I dislike her robotic rude brittle bones.

      we both don’t watch, get over it.

      Meghan McCain is much more likeable, THEN I’d watch.

    • Nina W says:

      You’ve not watched the show then because every time I tune in EH is acting like a bully.

  23. Jackie Jormp Jomp (formerly Zelda) says:

    If you think the network cares about ANYTHING other than ratings, you’re insane.

  24. Starllight says:

    I wish she would work for Fox. She’ll fit in there instead of being outnumbered. I couldn’t take it that she was outnumbered the whole time and ganged up and still get fired. What kind of nonesense is this?

  25. Dawn says:

    I used to really like the View when it first started, then it slipped a little, then Rosie came and it was good again and then she left and it slipped a lot. Not only because of the ladies but by who they would bring on…I mean Kate Gosselin and Madam Kris Jenner. Really? That’s when I quit watching.

  26. LeeLoo says:

    I’m very liberal in my political beliefs but I never understood the Elizabeth Hasselbeck hate. Maybe that’s partially due to the fact I only watch The View when I’m sick. But I always felt she was very willing to listen to the opposition while making her own opinions and beliefs known. I actually liked her a lot more compared to Joy and even Whoppi. I know she’s said some very “controversial” things but I don’t think someone’s personal opinion should be met with such offense. I may disagree with her a lot of the times but she at least had a conservative opinion I could respect and understand. All of those women have made comments out of ignorance. Elizabeth Hasselbeck’s opinion tends to keep the show interesting otherwise it’d be a bunch of women preaching to the choir. I hope they keep her.

  27. Lem says:

    Barbra pulled this same shtick with Star and tried to with Rosie. “No, no we love you -get out” Babs is poorly trying to cover her own tush. She may be helping Elizabeth save face, but only for self/ show preservation.
    Here’s the thing. Elizabeth does exactly what she was hired to do. Antagonize. Annoy. She, strangely, holds the same opinions and presents them in the same harpy manor as the day she debuted. To say viewers don’t respond to her is a duh! that hasn’t changed since she started. So… Why now? Easy, they’re ready to clean house and attempt to resettle with more viewers. Brooke and Elizabeth cover many of the same demographics. Brooke, I don’t think will do well.
    Sherri is so dull. Babs is ugh, Babs. Linda Ellerbee or Candice Bergen would be an excellent replacement for Joy. Megan McCain would be a great replacement for Lizzie. While I’m at it let’s replace Sherri with Regina King or even Lisa Bonnet’s flighty daughter. At least the table would be interesting again.

    • Nancito says:

      I would love for Alexandra Wentworth to join the show – she’s already doing a web show on Yahoo! that is virtually a one-person version of The View.

    • Marie Antoinette Jr. says:

      Lem, good call. Megan McCain would be terrific!

  28. HubbaBubba says:

    I am convinced Babwa is a buwwy! Sorry to see Joy go – she had spunk! But the show is overall dreck. If you are looking for a morning talk show with intelligent and diverse political pov’s, The View ain’t it.

  29. I’ll be glad to see the two of them leave the show together. Barbara because when anybody gets to be 100, they need to relax and Elisabeth because she gives the children the wrong impression of what America is all about.

  30. KellyinSeattle says:

    Out of all the women on that show, Sherri and Joy grate on my nerves the most.

  31. janie says:

    I agree… It is that shrill voice & never ending battle over something everyday! I can’t watch her, period.

  32. Sophia says:

    I do not believe Barbara Walters. The lack of eye contact when Babara made the announcement, body language between Babs and Elizabeth, and Elizabeth keeping her mouth SHUT, which is unheard of, speaks volumes. The more Bab’s talked, the more I saw her nose growing and growing, longer and longer, just like Pinnichio!

  33. LurkeeLee says:

    I don’t watch this show of screaming harpies, but I cannot imagine that EH is any more ignorant, annoying or inarticulate as Joy, Whoopi or Sherry. BW had a legitimate career in Journalism, so she is probably not in that catagory. I don’t believe in the US story, that EH was getting fired for her conservative political beliefs. However, that story would have made Babs, the show, the entire network and the other hosts look intolerant of the conservative point of view, so they had to deny this story. In fact, if Elizabeth is the worst of the harpies on that show, then it is no wonder she was cast on purpose to represent the conservatives to try and make them look bad. They are probably just pandering to their liberal audience, who in reality would probably be disappointed if EH was dropped for a more articulate conservative woman.

  34. koala says:

    Ugh she is awful. Looking rough and insane too.

  35. Simple Red says:

    I dislike her because she doesn’t present her view very well. It holds no substantial meaning.. If she was a democrat I would still say the same thing

  36. Yup, Me says:

    They should replace Elizabeth with Meghan McCain.

  37. Manda says:

    She’s morphing into Kate Gosselin in these pics.

  38. teri says:

    I haven’t like her for some time now, makes me so angry. When she said she wanted to punch AJ in the face for stealing Brad, it just got me boiling. Like wt, a grown man doesn’t deserve to leave and find happiness? I just can’t stand her now and her and yes I’m a republican also. Her being this wonderful Christian is pure crap, she loves Sherry who’s had too any abortions to count, Barbara who slept with a married man for years and Elisabeth loves them to death. Geesh what a hypocrite she is.

    • ohiogirl says:

      Jesus is about grace not condemnation. Of course someone who loves him would still be friends with someone who had abortions or affairs. That is exactly what Jesus did. And truthfully none of us is any better.

  39. bjrosenfeld says:

    I’ll miss Joy Behar. Whoopi & Barbara are getting very boring. Whoopi, although I like her, is becoming increasingly irritating with her inability to articulate a clear position in complete sentences. Sherri is embarrassingly ignorant. I never got over her opinion that the world was only 6000 years old & that evolution is a myth. She should have at least been smart enough to keepher mouth shut on the topic. They should have have let her go after her first week. E.H. simply comes across as immature & under-informed, sounding more like a taped version of the lunatic conservative front then an uniquely independent voter. Actually, that’s what they really need, a good independent with a lot of common sense sitting at the table.