Barbara Walters On Life At "The View": "We're Happy"

NEW YORK — So you think the ladies of "The View" don't get along?

Things have never been more cordial, says Barbara Walters, whose weekday ABC talk show pits her with Whoopi Goldberg, Joy Behar, Elisabeth Hasselbeck and Sherri Shepherd debating "hot topics."

"I don't know of any five women who get along as well as we do," says Walters. "We see each other off-camera. Whoopi is having a big Christmas party for everybody. Last week, Whoopi, Joy and I had dinner together" (only illness kept Hasselbeck and Shepherd away).

The conservative Hasselbeck and liberal Behar "love sparring," with never any hard feelings, says Walters, who points to the show's recent robust ratings.

"We're happy," she says, "and the show's success reflects that."

Comments

[suuzie]

To Barbara,

You should replace Whoopi with Amy Holmes, she is a very pretty black republican, intelligent , informed and well spoken. She would add some balance to the show for EH. I cringe at some of the nasty things Whoopi says on the show, I feel embarassed for her because she says things that are not appropriate for day-time or any time tv, they are nasty and gross and I don't care if she don't like what I am about to say, but she can at least wear some lipstick and act more like a lady.

[neurologymatters]

With all due respect to Amy Holmes, Whoopi is a great moderator who handles the situations which arise with ease. Whoopi has an established career and is an asset to The View. EH spewed lies about President Elect Obama-EH, like all of us, need to balance ourselves. Whoopi might not wear lipstick, but she wears her heart on her sleeve. Which is more important? Please keep Whoopi.

[suuzie]

Barbara looked so pretty on Oprah today.

[Kerra52]

Barbara's ego is getting pretty annoying. Almost every week you are reminded that she was the "first female news anchor for a major network" SERIOUSLY those quotes when ever she can fit them it if anything comes up about network news or Katie Couric. Sometimes it does not even fit the context of the conversation! One time I have no idea why she felt she had to mention it! AND we are reminded on how many prominent leaders she has interviewed. "You know when I interviewed so and so"

And it seems to me that there is a clause in the co-hosts' contracts to feed and stroke Barbara's ego because you feel like they are forced to compliment or bring up the fact that she is so special. It is boring....

[charmon5]

well Kerra, not to be sarcastic, but why do you watch if you don't like it, or like Barbara? Use your remote...pretty simple really.

[Kerra52]

Barbara has admitted to lying so much for either the show or a certain co-host. Admitted lying about Star's gastric by-pass (although said they were wrong doing so) Admitted to letting Star tell any lie she wanted about her reasons for leaving the show and would support those lies. Star went on all the shows telling the truth that she got fired. Lied about Rosie leaving (she got fired) saying her contract was up and she would not renew. It is what they do to protect the show and the people working on the show.

Why would be believe THIS? And she is surprised that we don't believe it? You know how someone feels about a person when you see fire in their eyes when addressing them. I saw it with Joy so many times as I did with Sherry towards Elizabeth. It was contempt!

[kaukerc]

Are you going to believe me or your own lying eyes? Thanks, but no thanks, Barb.... total crap.

[progressivelady]

Lie's, Lie's, Lie's

[roblabrousse]

How can 3 out of five people make it to a dinner?Being sick is such a lame excuse. The 2 absentees just didn't want to be there. Whether the panel are "friends" despite all the confrontation doesn't matter. The show is more about cat fights than it is about responsible discussion. This show is about cheap shots and ignorant commentary .What qualifies these women to be considered as social experts? Some are deeper thinkers than others but they don't aim to truly discuss the matters. More often than not it becomes a shouting match, a verbal boxing match. Opinion should be based on well founded and well rounded research and reflection. This doesn't happen as frequently as it should on this show.

[bobbysgurl]

The part that reeks is, EH said she didn't have a sitter, but Babs said she was sick.

Maybe, I'm just too old school, but if I were asked to be at a dinner with my boss, I would take enough meds to get me through the dinner.

I don't believe anyone on the show has professed to be a social expert. However, you are correct in statiing one should express opinion "based on well-founded and well-rounded research and reflection."

This does not always happen on The View because personalities and closely held ideologies turn every difference of opinion into shouting matches. I like Joy, but EH, not so much. This does not mean that I agree with everything Joy says, but I never agree with anything EH says.

Joy is a mature woman. EH is a whiney, back-stabbing brat. When I was a teenager, many moons ago, I used to yell, scream, slam my room door, and occasionally I tried to go on a hunger strike. Why? Because I wanted my way. I wanted to be heard, and I didn't care what anyone else had to say about it. EH is that teenager.

[roblabrousse]

If they're going to be on major television and voice opinions that affect viewers opinions, then they should be well versed on the subjects. Sometimes they let guests make remarks that should be addressed better. Keep away from the hot topics if you can't support your view with more substance.

[gracewithease]

B.S.
Hasselbeck and Sherri are complete idiots. I don't believe for a minute that Whoopi and Joy put up with them off camera, not for a minute. I question Walter's integrity and like to blame ABC/Disney for having the Fox News View screached every morning on their network, rather than assigning responsibility to Walters because I respected and admired her so. That respect and admiration is waning though. Like many others, I stopped watching the View months ago, even before the Foxette began spewing Palin's anti-Obama propaganda and hiding her racsim behind the word "terrorist".

[meede]

I still say, when EH opens her mouth, her ears close. She doesn't hear any view but what she wants to say. As for Sherri -- the show is not about religion. She can do her bible thump on a Sunday show where it belongs. She speeaks all bible preach but her actions speak very, very different. BW -- she's lied through her eye teeth for years. Her interest on the show has been w.h.o.r.ing her book every chance she gets. Joy, if you listen to many things she says, she has no concept of what mainstreet people say or do. Out of touch with reality. Whoppi - is she that desperate for work to remain there as it does nothing for her credibility. Much of what she talks about too is out of touch of reality of real people's lives. To say they socialize outside the set -- pure BS.

[truthyguy]

You have to give Walters a lot of credit. In an industry obsessed with visuals comes Walters - who has never been particularly attractive, has a spech impediment and asks invasive, personal questions that serve no purpose other than to tittilate viewer curiousity - and she has succeeded beyond the wildest asperations of most of the typical bleached blond talking heads you regularly see on TV today.

[suuzie]

...and yeah...Go Barbara!

[truthyguy]

To understand Walters you need to read what Dave Garroway - who gave her her big break - said about her.

[harriettubman]

I believe her too because Whoopi isn't going to tolerate any diva nonsense. Those women are doing just fine on the show. Hasselbeck needs to be replaced but I can deal with her for now. She has no integrity to me.

[timetorevolt]

I never watch the show but based on the video clips I've seen that show looked like one bar stool away from a Jerry Springer moment right before the election

[dryrock]

Finally someone said something intelligent! LOL

[Vixter]

So timetorevolt, you're like the person who wants to censer books without reading them, right?

[postman606]

Why don't I buy this?

[kylennblack]

Babs is lying, but who cares if they get along off the set or not? It's a dumb TV show, not a way of life and anyone who hyperventilates at the thought of them not being BFFs off the clock is too stupid to watch TV.

[bobbysgurl]

Barbara Walters is a LIAR!

Just watch the looks on Whoopi's and Joy's faces when EH says something completely outragious and vile. Sheri even gets upset, but she rarely expresses it. Sheri will usually ask EH is she believes what she has said from what the facts reveal, but she won't call EH a liar.

Barbara Walters is lying for the ratings, and is willing to do anything to keep the ratings up, including keeping EH on The View.

I thought for sure EH would have been reprimanded publicly for the way she has been to both the Obamas while she has been associated with the view, but she hasn't. The witch doesn't isn't gracious enough to accept the Obamas' invitation to the WH. EH couldn't even answer a hypothetical question regarding what role she would like to play in the WH, without being totally vile.

Barbara Walters, you really need to speak to that mynah bird for the right-wing nuts. EH owes Michelle Obama a public apology to make up for publicly ridiculing Michelle at the GOP Convention.

[GayGrandpa]

I think you missed witch...doesn't it have an o in it wiotch!

[bobbysgurl]

Thanks, you are so right. (lol)

[meleon]

Of course you're not going to take my word for it, but I honestly do have it on excellent "up close and personal" authority that Barbara Walters is not only telling the truth, but the only way anyone would be out is if they chose to be out. They genuinely are fond of one another, and DO socialize away from work, and interestingly enough, Joy and EH are closer than Sheri.

[bobbysgurl]

You're right--of course I'm not going to take your word for it. It is nice you are "up close and personal" with what goes on with Babs. Being so up close and personal, why don't you find out why EH has not publicly apologized to Michelle Obama for the outragious comment she made about Mrs. Obama at the Republican convention?