'View' Source: Barbara Walters Would Take Meredith Vieira Back

By Rob Shuter Posted Jun 2nd 2011 04:00PM

Come next Wednesday, the great Meredith Vieira will be saying goodbye to NBC's 'Today' show, but if Barbara Walters has her way we might be seeing Meredith back on TV very soon.

"Barbara adores Meredith and would welcome her back on 'The View' in a second," a 'View' insider tells me. "Meredith returning home would be a great ratings boost and Barbara likes nothing better than ratings success even if it means asking one of the regular women to have a less active role."

Meredith was the talker's original moderator from its debut in 1997 until mid-2006 when it was announced she'd be taking over for Katie Couric at 'Today.'

Tired of getting up at 2:30 in the morning and wanting to spend more time with her journalist husband Richard Cohen, who has multiple sclerosis but is in good health, was the main reason Meredith decided it was time to leave. However, returning to a show like 'The View' which broadcasts live only four days a week (they record Friday's show on Thursday) would be a much easier schedule.

"Don't forget when the show started Joy Behar was part time. She wasn't on every day," a senior producer who has worked on 'The View' tells me. "Having Meredith back if only for a few days a week would make Barbara very, very happy. She never wanted her to leave in the first place."

Although for once it doesn't look like Bab's dream will come true. Meredith told me recently that she's dedicated to her NBC family ... a family she hopes to continue working with in a different position for many years to come!

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Tags: Barbara Walters, Meredith Vieira, The View

Comments

(97)

Friday 03 June

By Dr. Joe

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Get rid of the old crow that can't even speak. Once she had an affair with the black man, she'll go down in history for that one revolting error in judgement and nothing else. How bad off could she have been, sickening. She has gone against all that's good and decent. All his kind set out in life to be with a white woman, it's in their nature and blood, he did it, he's got his hotch. Barbara is now and forever a tramp. Money doesn't give you the right to override the laws of nature.
One tired old prune searching for ?

By geigo

You are such a sicko. Get off your racist high-horse and join the human race.

By nevadamoxie

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If Meredith came back I would watch the View again but only if Joy Behar and Whoopi were given their walking papers. Both women are ridiculous in their positions and will not tolerate anyone with different ideas than theirs. Worse, there is only one person who thinks Behar is funny. Who? Why Behar of course.

By Donna

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OK, maybe there is something wrong with me, but more often then not, I agree with whoppie. She has a down to earth look at life, and she has been to the school of hard knocks. BEEN THERE, DONE THAT. !!!!!!!

By Lisa

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Get rid of Elizabeth! She interrupts conversations all the times.

By P

I have no idea what you could possibly be referring to. Elisabeth gets talked over all the time.

By Jan

Bring back Meredith and tell Barbara to retire!!!!!!!!!!!! We all know she has been everywhere and done everything so we don't need her to tell us all the time and about all the important dinners she attends!!! She needs to stop "tooting her own horn"!!!!

By nlbcal

Meredith,
Don't go! Change your mind please!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tuesday 07 June

By cdf4mak

I think that Joy is pretty boring and not too bright..........Joy what's up with that hairdo ????? I also think that Barbara should think about retiring from the show and just do her celebity interviews, really she is 81 give someone else the chance to make some money, I'm sure she has plenty !!!!!

by Cat

By mary

Please, get rid of Elizabeth! Her voice and opinions are annoying! And she speaks so fast I can't understand her. She ruins the show for me.

By p

Well, Elisabeth is entiltled to an opinion, even if it's not a liberal one like everyone else on the show. Give her a break! I don't agree with her all the time but she is respectful of the other panelists. Unfortunately, you can't say the same for them.

By chrisall4

Say adios to foul-mouth Joy and bring back Meredith.

By johndoe

Yes it would be A great change to get Barbara off and replace her with anyone else, Barbara Walters is old school with Old Views, she needs to leave the show, Whoppie is Great On there, She keeps things running Smooth.

By Mary

What a racist JERK!!!

By tandralei

Might be a decent show if they got rid of Joy who is a waste of time and air.

By stinkfistula

best legs on tv

By gposner29

These people are like hydras...always sprouting new heads...please already....enough.

By robert

JUST ANOTHER STUPIED LIBERAL,,, BARBIE WHY NOT BROTHER AL SHARPTON

By Shirl

Please, please, please replace Whoopie. Maybe then we can stomach watching the View again!!!!!

By Geo

Wait just a second here! Do you mean to tell me that THE Meredith Vieira might just return to "The View"?!!! Holy Toledo! Start a fresh pot of coffee! This is going to be one hell of a ride!

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