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The panel of hosts on The View has gone through many changes over the years, and the latest has now been officially confirmed. Reports earlier in August indicated that Fox News host Abby Huntsman was poised to leave her network and move to ABC to take a place on The View to replace the woman on her way out. Now, ABC confirmed that Hunstman is in on The View. Here's what we know so far.
Abby Huntsman is officially a co-host for Season 22 of The View, which kicks off on Tuesday, September 4 at 11 a.m. ET on ABC. The most recent panel was comprised of Whoopi Goldberg, Joy Behar, Sunny Hostin, Meghan McCain, and Sara Haines, and Haines' departure is the latest the shake up the series. Huntsman, who is best known at this point for her role as Fox & Friends Weekend co-host on Fox News, fits the bill to lend her input as a conservative panelist. Former View panelist Candace Cameron Bure has suggested that the show needs more than one conservative panelist to balance the panel discussions; perhaps the show with Huntsman on board will be a bigger hit.
That said, The View hasn't exactly been struggling to win an audience. Season 21 was The View's most-watched in four years, and that's a pretty big deal for a show that has been around for more than two decades. Other series might have run out of steam by this point; The View is still going strong despite the frequently revolving team of panelists. One panelist who has not revolved in and out over and over again is original host Joh Behar. Season 22 will see Behar celebrate her 20th season on the show. It should definitely be interesting to see how such a veteran of broadcast network daytime TV interacts with a newcomer fresh off of a stint on Fox News.
While Abby Huntsman is best known nowadays for her work at Fox News, she actually worked for ABC News with appearances on Good Morning America and This Week with George Stephanopoulos years ago. Joining The View will take Hunstman back to where she began her career. According to Huntsman, joining The View "really is a dream come true." We'll have to wait and see if Huntsman will become yet another View panelist only to last a brief time or one who sticks around for the long run.
The View isn't holding back on bringing in some big names for the first month of Season 22. Guests including Associate Justice of the Supreme Court Sonia Sotomayor, former Secretary of State John Kerry, Chuck Schumer, Stormy Daniels, Wendy Williams (who has spoken up about her struggles with a disease diagnosis and addiction this year), Kristen Bell, America Ferrera, Ricky Gervais, Taraji P. Henson, Mariska Hargitay, Ice-T, Emma Thompson, Sally Field, Jane Fonda, and Bindi, Robert, and Terry Irwin.
Season 22 of The View kicks off on Tuesday, September 4, and viewers will get the chance to see how Abby Huntsman fits into the existing dynamic. For some primetime viewing options, check out our fall TV premiere guide.