Joy Behar Talks New HLN Show, Why Rosie Won't Be On, & Why Charles Manson Should Be Killed

Joy Behar's new show will open with a splash this week — Bette Midler, Bay Buchanan, and Janeane Garofalo are scheduled for tonight's debut, with Michael Moore, Bill Maher, Ann Coulter, Larry David, and Regis Philbin all lined up — but one person who won't be appearing on "The Joy Behar Show" is Rosie O'Donnell, who turned down her invitation.

When asked whether her former "View" co-hosts O'Donnell or Star Jones would be welcome on her new HLN show, Behar said, "Maybe. I asked Rosie, she wasn't available for some reason."

Behar is referring to the show, which premieres tonight at 9PM, a "variety talk show" and while she's known for her liberal political perspective on "The View," she does not plan for "The Joy Behar Show" to be an overtly political show.

"You can see a lot of politics on a lot of different channels," Behar said. "I'm not interested, really, in talking in some wonky conversation about politics, though. It's not my speed. I'm not interested in the ins and outs of health care."

Further, she said she has some views that may surprise viewers who expect her to offer traditional liberal politics.

"I don't believe in the death penalty, but in Charles Manson's case I would say, 'Just do it,'" she said. "So that's a conservative position. Somebody who commits a heinous crime like that, and we know for sure 100% that they did it, why leave them in jail? Why spend money on it and aggravation? They need to be taken off the face of the earth, and I don't think that's a liberal position."

Behar also dismissed the New York Post's speculation, printed Monday, that CNN executives are viewing her as a potential replacement for when Larry King's contract expires in 18 months.

"He's not retiring," she said of her friend, for whom she has guest-hosted several times. "The guy's never gonna retire. And also I have this show so why concentrate on that? But it's nice to be mentioned. That's great company to be in."

The article also mentioned Katie Couric, Ryan Seacrest, and John King as potential King replacements.

Behar is settling in with her female-heavy HLN family, saying she had "a lot of fun" at a photoshoot recently with Nancy Grace, whose strong lead-in she will hope to take advantage of at 9PM.

"She's just a regular girl," Behar said of Grace. "I like her a lot. And Jane Velez-Mitchell is really a lot of fun. We get along just fabulous."

"CNN Headline News" re-branded to HLN in December 2008. "The Joy Behar" show rounds out its opinionated evening lineup, which includes "Issues with Jane Velez-Mitchell" and "Nancy Grace," in addition to "Showbiz Tonight."

Comments

[Izadora]

I WISH JOY THE BEST. CONGRAT AND LOTS OF LOVE.

[SlappHappy]

Charles Manson? Roman Polanski? What is it with this obsession with figures from the 1960s right now?

[joprux5]

In the one week Joy's been on the air, she's had more guest on her show who hold different political views than her own than Keith Olbermann and Rachel Maddow have had on their shows the entire time they've been on the air.

[NevaforLeadership]

Turned down invite?

It's "invitation"!

[middlemoderate]

love Joy but her producers are recycling the tired news of the day
Michael Moore, Michael Jackson, etc. etc. NOTHING new NOTHING
to distinguish this show from the rest of cable. JOY, JOY, JOY,
why not have a new POV ? Talk about something we haven't heard
all day long?
Good luck.

[slocomp]

With media overload and the internet do you really think that is possible?

[starri]

finally a female host i can stand to watch on HLN!!! i cannot stomach nancy and/or jane and neither has the ability to control her guests so there's nothing but shouting. i don't always agree with joy but i at least am willing and able to listen to her. and her opinions are not shoved down my throat which is why i cannot tolerate nancy whatever i say is always right---WRONG.

i have totally enjoyed the variety of guests and topics on joy's show and only left the room for manly ann coulter knowing that heshe would contribute nothing of interest to me. congrats joy and long live your NEW show. i've missed you since i stopped watching the view after star left because i couldn't stomach that liar baaawaaa another day.

[FabulousAt52]

Is it just me, or is Joy's show getting very little promotion on TV or the Internet??

I was really excited about giving her show a try... heard about it many weeks ago, and then NOTHING.
Maybe it's because I watch almost next to nothing of the network (commercial) television and even less of CNN itself? Has her show been promoted at all???

I'm in the EST area, when is Joy on?

[joymunro]

Joy is your real name Pina? I see it is Josaphina in your linkapedia. My real name is Pina too but most call me Joy as well. How did you choose the name Joy? Can you please talk about your name on television.

My mother Lilla Savona was an Italian Radio Announcer for over 34 years in New York on several radio stations she played the best Italian music in New York on Saturday and Sundays. She was also an opera star on Broadway in the 40's. I love my Italian heritage --won't you please talk more about your Italian heritage. I see you have VIctoria Gotti on tonight. Italian American Woman are positive influences in today's. We seem to be in fashion right now. Thank Joy for being you!

[oceanofconsciousness]

Re: Larry King. NO ONE can take over for him. He's one of a kind.

[cajazzy]

Joy did a great job and will probably be able to have people on that won't go on the View because of Elizabeth. I wish her much success.

[Melissa]

What a horrible evening lineup - Valdez, Nancy Grace, Behar. Three screaming wackie women!

[slocomp]

Don't watch

[CLOUDZ77]

I was NOT surprised to read that Rosie O. would not be on Joy's New show - she said so on her own Blog and I don't blame her Joy has done NOTHING to defend Rosie on The View since she left -Rosie made 'The View ' must see TV . She also spotlighted Joy at every opportunity and slowly viewers started to appreciate & listen to Joys'comments - Joy started to speak out -often taking the same stand as Rosie but Rosie had to take all the heat . There have been MANY opportunities when Joy could have defended even Thanked Rosie for paving her way yet she says nothing -Now 'The View' is using all Rosie's suggestion Back stage 'ViewTube' talking w/ Audiece even going back to her 'blue' color scheme, But Rosie' name is never uttered -Joy could have ( and should have) stepped up to her defense. I would goes as far as saying she probaly would NOT have this new opportunity except for Ro. Before Rosie Joy was just the background 'comic' who occasionally made Barbara W laugh.The 'View' jumped the shark when Rosie left , Joy should think long & Hard on how she got this current opportunity and start making amends!

[jessicajuliette]

cloud--not surprised.iniitally didnt like joy, thought she was too shrill, and not that liberal..
she used to go off on johnny cochran and oj til star advised "when you have a relative in trouble, you will wish you had his number."

she has grown on me, i actually find her the most enjoyable, sherri and elsabeth are so deep into the religious aspect of everything and dont know very much.whopi also leads segment "Hot Topis" and seems to out of touch with the topics a lot of the time...

lastly, Joy knows Rosie and Babara fell out, Joy is making nice, as she doesnt want to lose her cushy job..

[wm1066]

I heard Joy talking about Anne Coulter and how she likes to have her on, that floored me! why would she like to give this woman a platform to spout her hatred?! Joy just lost me as a fan.

[DeeW]

Did you see her interview her on Larry King? She was pretty good - didn't let Ann get away with anything. I wasn't a Joy fan until I saw that particular show. Unlike other interviewers Joy just went after her with humour and it was great. Shut Ann down.

[wm1066]

I channel surfed right by that when I saw who she had on, I have no tolerance for Ann the Man anymore!

[Unlimitedchance]

Joy, you were terrible and still suffer from SPDS.

[9liberal]

I liked the show and I loved Janine Garafalo. She is one smart lady!

[pjsolarz]

Janeane Garofalo is a liberal mop. She keeps refering to the tea partiers; Americans that don't agree with the liberal socialist agenda as "racists".
The only group that has brought race into the picture has been Obama and the Democrats. Obama started talking race back during the campaign when giving speeches stating that "they will tell you I don't look like the other Presidents on our money"
Janeane used to be a funny comedian, but now, she's just a clown.

[slocomp]

Did you see the signs, the footage & the comments from the so called tea parties? Let alone that they are ALL WHITE.

[Richard Hartman]

Are you serious? That you bothered to bring up the subject of race and Obama in a blog about Joy Behar and then defend teabaggers while slamming the President, reveals who you are and your actual intent. And that would be, most likely, an angry teabagger.

[Melissa]

Janeane Garofalo needs a good hot shower and a new hairdo.

[Giada]

Joy was off to a good start last night. The only non-fit was Roger Friedman, who appeared more to present hype than facts on Polinski.

Congrats to Joy .... hope she continues.

[janiceev1]

Last night's show was boring. I'd rather watch Hannity. Maybe it will get better, cut not if she's just going to spew liberal nonsense.

[shamumbo]

We're still waiting for Hannity to make sense.

[9liberal]

janiceev You would rather hear Hannity's republican nonsense

[pjsolarz]

Apparently, you don't know Hannity. He's not a Republican, he's a Reagan Conservative.

[slocomp]

You should probably stick to Hannity? I don't think Joy will lower the bar that much.