Rosie Perez Leaving ‘The View’
EXCLUSIVE: Seven months after Rosie O’Donnell’s exit was announced, another Rosie is leaving The View. This time, it’s Rosie Perez. Her last day on the ABC News program will be August 6, the final original show of the season. Expect Perez, who joined the show in September, to talk about her exit on tomorrow’s broadcast.
“Our friend Rosie Perez has decided to leave the show to pursue full time her love for acting,” EP Bill Wolff told staff this afternoon in an email.
No word yet on the future of co-host Nicolle Wallace, who also joined The View in September. Raven-Symoné, who became a co-host last month, and Whoopi Goldberg are locks to come back next season, but Wallace’s future is unclear. Speculation has been building for a while that Perez and/or Wallace might not be back for another season, as Deadline’s Nellie Andreeva reported last week.
Sources report that talks with Wallace have just begun. But Wallace, a longtime political adviser as well as commentator, also is a contributor at NBC News’ MSNBC and frequently appears on its Morning Joe program – more frequently as the presidential election cycle revs up. That said, The View has enjoyed some of its highest ratings during presidential election races, and Wallace brings instant credibility to the show as well as a much-needed conservative perspective.
Related‘The View’ Director Ashley Gorman Exits
Back in January, ABC News shot down a report that Perez was out at The View, issuing a statement: “Rosie Perez is currently in rehearsal for her Broadway play for the month of January. Her status with the show has not changed.” A press report had speculated she would not return after taking a pre-planned break to rehearse with Larry David in his Broadway production, Fish In The Dark. Several reports noted at the time ABC’s statement did not address the long-term prognosis for Perez on the show, which went on to be a success and is still going strong.
When contacted for comment this afternoon, Perez’s rep told Deadline, “Rosie wants to thank ABC for their graciousness and their flexibility with her schedule during the Broadway run.”
RelatedRosie O’Donnell Says So Long To ‘The View’ – Again
Perez had been announced as one of the new panelists at the same time the addition of Wallace was made official, joining the back-from-gone Rosie O’Donnell — all of whom were signed to one-year deals. They joined Goldberg, who was the show’s only returning panelist. Of the new lineup, only Perez had been largely under the radar during the search. She had served as a guest co-host on the talk show in February 2014. Adding Perez into the mix meant the ladies of The View included three actresses: O’Donnell, Goldberg and Perez.
Related‘The Talk’ Edges ‘The View’ In Both Total Viewers & Women 18-49 For First Time
Weeks into its reboot, following the “retirement” of co-creator Barbara Walters, ABC News President James Goldston told his staff he was taking over The View – Goldston being the guy who helped former ABC News prez (and incoming Disney-ABC Television Group President) Ben Sherwood to reboot ABC’s Good Morning America. He named ABC News staffers who would “help guide The View in its exciting next chapter.”
Related‘The Talk’ Edges ‘The View’ In Both Total Viewers & Women 18-49 For First Time
With its host lineup in a state of constant flux, ABC’s The View has been relying heavily on guest co-hosts, and a number of revolving contributors are expected to take continue taking turns joining the full-time panelists — those who are left.The View also is close to naming a successor to director Ashley S. Gorman, who left the show last month and since has joined the new Tyra Banks syndicated talk show FABLife. ABC News’ Jeff Winn has been filling in since.
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