Whoopi Goldberg will be absent from ABC’s “The View” for two weeks to film the upcoming Netflix movie “Women Like Us,” according to announcements confirmed by the show’s producer Brian Teta and reported by outlets including Page Six. The 70-year-old EGOT winner will maintain a partial schedule, appearing on Mondays while former co-hosts Lisa Ling, Star Jones, Sherri Shepherd, and Debbie Matenopoulos step in during the rest of the week.
Production Details for “Women Like Us”
Goldberg is stepping away from the daytime talk show’s Hot Topics table to shoot “Women Like Us” locally in the New York area. The Netflix comedy is produced by Barack Obama and Michelle Obama’s Higher Ground production company. The film features a cast that includes Vivica A. Fox, Vanessa Williams, and Goldberg’s “Sister Act” co-star Jenifer Lewis, alongside Goldberg herself.
Speaking on “The View”’s “Behind the Table” podcast, Goldberg described the project to producer Brian Teta. “It’s about change and getting older and having fun with your friends and people who get you,” Goldberg said, according to Page Six. “It’s about finding your people. I’m excited to do it. It’ll be fun.”
Guest Hosts Fill the Hot Topics Table
During Goldberg’s two-week hiatus, current co-host Joy Behar will moderate the Hot Topics roundtable, working alongside Season 30 crew members Sara Haines, Ana Navarro, Sunny Hostin, and Alyssa Farah Griffin, as detailed by Page Six. To cover Goldberg’s absence on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, ABC is bringing back several familiar faces from the show’s past. Lisa Ling, Star Jones, Sherri Shepherd, and Debbie Matenopoulos will temporarily return to the panel.
Did You Know? Goldberg has been a fixture on “The View” for nearly 20 years, yet she regularly negotiates breaks into her schedule to star in outside acting ventures, such as the Italian soap opera “Un Posto Al Sole” and the television series “Anansi Boys,” as reported by Page Six.
Rigorous Preparation for the Role
Goldberg prepared for physical scenes in the movie by tackling an unexpected athletic challenge: learning how to do yoga while standing on a paddleboard. Goldberg admitted to podcast listeners that the water-based preparation tested her comfort zone. “I’m determined to do it because there are those who didn’t think I would,” Goldberg stated, per Page Six. “I do most of the things that I do because I know people are not waiting for me to fail, but they’re waiting for me to bail.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Whoopi Goldberg missing from “The View”?
According to Entertainment Weekly, Goldberg is taking a two-week pre-planned hiatus to film the Netflix movie “Women Like Us,” produced by Barack and Michelle Obama.
Who will host “The View” while Goldberg is away?
Joy Behar will moderate the panel alongside Sara Haines, Ana Navarro, Sunny Hostin, and Alyssa Farah Griffin. Former co-hosts Lisa Ling, Star Jones, Sherri Shepherd, and Debbie Matenopoulos will fill in during the middle of the week.
When does Goldberg return to the show?
Goldberg will still appear on Mondays during her two-week project before returning to her full weekday schedule once filming wraps, as confirmed on the “Behind the Table” podcast.
What do you think of Whoopi Goldberg’s temporary departure and the return of the show’s former co-hosts? Share your thoughts in the comments below, and subscribe to our newsletter for daily celebrity and pop culture updates.
Worth a look