'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 Janice

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ONLY REASON I DON'T WATCH IS BECAUSE WOOPIE AND NOT BECAUSE SHE IS BLACK, HER MOUTH THINKS SHE HAS ALL THE ANSWERS AND SHE IS ALWAYS RIGHT. LIKE HER MOVIES NOT ON TALK SHOWS.

By corrie

as long as Sherry and Joys time on the show is not
cut I don't care ,but if their time is cut I'll have to
say by by. Hey I know get rid of Elizabeth first.

By damididude

Put Sarah Palin on the panel. That should liven things up.

By Patti

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Get rid of Elizabeth!!!!!, I always liked Meredith, Whoopie is wonderful. The only person I dislike on the show is Elizabeth, the person who thinks her sh-it doesn't smell and has a attitude.
her way or the highway. BYE BYE ELIZABETH

By Elaine

Would be great having Meredith on the View, maybe then, they could let Joy go! Joy is the only reason I don't watch The View. Not because of her beliefs but because she is so mean and hateful and critical of others who don't agree with her.

By Gerry

Dont matter who they have on the show, with the exception of the soaps, I will never watch anything on ABC ever again

By mnursey

GET RID OF ELIZABETH, I CAN'T HEAR HER YAPPING, IF SHE GOES I WILL WATCH THE SOW AGAIN.

Saturday 25 June

By Carol

I would love to see Meredith back on the show and I would get rid of Elizabeth. She is only there to represent the "right wingers" & besides she is the one who is "full of herself". If you remember correctly she didn't go too far on Survivors and should go on to a reality show!

By srosebud96

yes get rid of the blonde what a pnta never shuts up

By Derob DeYawn

SHE IS AN OVERPAID WASTE OF TELEVISION TIME, AS ARE THE OTHER THREE MORONS ON THE TODAY SHOW...THESE PEOPLE GET PAID MILLIONS FOR GIGGLING LIKE IDIOTS AND WAKING UP EARLY...I WOULD RATHER WATCH A PUDDLE EVAPORATE.

By Denizio

God, yes! Get rid of Goldberg and Behar and bring Meredith back. Please!

By Annette9929

NOOO - Wish the whole show would go away. Get so sick of Whoopee preching and ignorant Joy. All they do is rehash shows.

By Mike

Sure, bring back Meredith and dump Lizzy.

By Ruth

The reason that Elizabeth is always butting in is that is the
only way she can make herself be heard. The others are talking so
loud and interrupting her, that it is all but impossible to
hear what she has to say. Joy Bahar annoys me with her big mouth,
as she is always interrupting everybody. The show makes me
nervous, as I would like to hear what each one has to say. I
admire Elizabeth because she doesn't let the democrats keep her
from saying what she wants to say.

By Sue

Within this season I've lost interest in the View!
I think it's not a venue for Whoopie.
Joy and Sherrie have run there course as well
I like Barbara, Elizabeth..

I just wish the ladies would stop yelling and talking over each other!!!
I SOO LOVE MEREDITH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Bring her back!

Saturday 04 June

By Tom

So many want glamor how about Sarah Palin?

By HBelly

I actually love the group as it is. I love Whoopi and her wise, unique way of thinking and her ability to keep the group in line with humor and grace. I NEVER liked it with Meredith and would be chagrined if she came back except as a guest. Easy plan: Please keep Whoopi. Nix the idea of a Meredith return.

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