ABC’s “The View” is set to welcome back former co-hosts Elisabeth Hasselbeck and Abby Huntsman as replacements for Alyssa Farrah Griffin, who is about to embark on maternity leave. Her last episode is planned for February 13th.
The network is planning a lineup of rotating guest co-hosts, including Hasselbeck, Huntsman, and Savannah Chrisley, to step in during Farrah Griffin’s absence.
A representative for the show confirmed this arrangement on Thursday.
Hasselbeck, whose full name is Filaski, first became a household name as a contestant on “Survivor: Australian Outback” in 2001. She was a co-host on “The View” from 2003 until 2013, known for her strong conservative views that often sparked intense debates with her more liberal co-panelists.
In her memoir, Hasselbeck described her shock at being let go in 2013, saying she felt physically overwhelmed and betrayed. She recounted needing her inhaler due to the distress of the moment.
Huntsman, daughter of former Utah Governor Jon Huntsman Jr., co-hosted the show from 2018 to 2020. She left to assist her father in his gubernatorial campaign, which she later criticized as a “toxic” work environment.
Chrisley, known from reality TV, will also guest co-host in place of Farrah Griffin, whose parents received a presidential pardon after a conviction for financial crimes.
ABC is also considering additional guest co-hosts, including political commentator Amanda Carpenter and comedians Sheryl Underwood and Whitney Cummings.
Farrah Griffin joined “The View” in 2022 and has openly discussed the emotional challenges of her role. She candidly admitted to crying at work, expressing her struggle to manage it while maintaining her professional demeanor.
Previously, she announced her pregnancy on air, revealing the couple had been trying to conceive for over a year and had undergone in vitro fertilization, a process she found to be both challenging and taxing.
The former White House communications director has spoken about the difficulties in balancing live television demands with the uncertainty that comes from fertility treatments, and at times became emotional on the show. The pregnancy marks a significant personal milestone for her.
As of now, ABC has not indicated how long Farrah Griffin’s maternity leave will last or when she might return to the show. The network has been contacted for any further details.
