Joy Behar will be joining the politicos over at Current TV with the debut of her new show in September.
The network announced the addition of its newest host on Monday. The move gives Behar, who ended her HLN program last November and continues to co-host "The View," a new home for her solo show.
In an interview with The Huffington Post on Monday, Behar said that Current approached her about doing a show, and she was "thrilled" to accept. She praised the network, saying, “I think it’s a progressive station, I think it’s ahead of the curve, and it’s going to become more and more popular."
She joins Current as it strives to present a more progressive alternative to MSNBC. Former Michigan governor Jennifer Granholm, former New York governor Eliot Spitzer, California lieutenant governor Gavin Newsom and former MNSBC host Cenk Uygur were added to its lineup earlier this year.
Though the channel's programming focuses on political coverage, viewers should expect Behar's show to be more varied. “They’re known for that, but I'm known for Joy Behar — whatever she is,” she said. Asked how she would fit in at the network, Behar brushed the question aside. “I seem to be able to fit in pretty well," she said, referencing her fifteen-year run on "The View."
Current said in a release that the new show would be her “platform to discuss the latest headlines, pop culture events and anything else that comes to mind.” Behar cited “intelligent actors” like Jane Fonda and Ellen Barkin, “political people” like Barney Frank, and Jonathan Alter as examples of the “smart and funny” people she wants to have on the show.
“I hope that people who watch will be entertained as well as informed,” she said, adding that she was looking forward to covering the election.
She described the network "as a place where you can speak freely" — which is exactly what the opinionated host plans to do. “Current doesn't belong to anybody," she said. "They say do whatever you want, and I believe them."
Behar will be previewing her show during the week of June 18, filling in for Spitzer at 8 p.m. The program — whose working title is “The Joy Behar Show” — is scheduled to officially premiere at 6 p.m. in September.
She will be the second host to premiere on Current since Keith Olbermann’s fiery exit from the network in March. The network is still engaged in an intense legal battle over his firing, but that does not seem to be an issue for Behar. She has told others, according to Current, "I wasn't there and I don't care.”
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Posted: 06/11/2012 6:06 pm Updated: 06/12/2012 9:14 am