Will Debbie Matenopoulos replace Meghan McCain on 'The View'?
Ever since Meghan McCain quit ABC's hit show 'The View', speculations have been high on who's going to replace her. Reportedly, McCain gave up her four-season stint on the daytime talk show despite having two years left on her contract when she announced her resignation on Thursday, July 1. She will finish by the end of July.
According to reports, ABC is looking to bring back former co-host Debbie Matenopoulos to replace McCain on 'The View'. McCain quit the show alleging that she was "done" with her co-star clashes. Fans had demanded guest host, Ana Navarro, to be brought in place of McCain.
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Debbie was one of the original hosts in the show alongside Barbara Walters, Meredith Vieira, Star Jones and Joy Behar when it first aired in 1997. According to DailyMail, talking about bringing back Debbie, an ABC source said, "Next year is our 25th season and we're considering Debbie Matenopoulos making a triumphant return to The View." The insider also hinted at the exit of another host apart from McCain. "While we need to fill the seat that Meghan has vacated, there may be another change coming that we need to plan for. But Debbie would be the perfect fit for our anniversary season, " the source said. Debbie served as co-host for two seasons before her exit but has appeared as gues co-host occasionally on the show.
Further speaking of Debbie's return on 'The View', the source said, "Debbie got such a raw deal when she was cast 24 years ago, she was only 21 and had no real life experience. Yet over the past 20 plus years she has blossomed, she's married, has a child, is a successful television host and she now could hold her own at The View's table, day after day." The source also added, "Ratings struggled in those first two years that Debbie was at The View, but SNL took notice of the dynamic between Debbie and the other women and their The View skits became must viewing on Saturday nights. SNL's audience would then take a peek at The View to see Debbie and the other ladies in action on the show and The View's audience began to grow." The source then added that "It would be a great blast from the past" and that "Debbie certainly has the experience and wit to return to the table and reclaim her seat".
According to DailyMail, a spokesperson for Debbie spoke about the news and said indicated that things may not be as reports say, "Debbie will always have a fond place in her heart for The View, the show that launched her career as a 21-year-old straight out of NYU. Her rep has in fact been having conversations with senior executives at ABC News over the past few months about many things, including her participation in celebrating the 25th season of The View, and she appreciates all the interest in her returning. Currently, she is in development on two food shows and her own lifestyle show, but she'd never say never to returning to her first television home."
