’It’s Such A Different Show Now’: How The View Has Really Changed From Barbara Walters’ Original Vision, According To One Show OG

’It’s Such A Different Show Now’: How The View Has Really Changed From Barbara Walters’ Original Vision, According To One Show OG

As a gamer who has spent countless hours immersed in various virtual worlds and lived through numerous in-game narratives, I can’t help but draw parallels between my gaming experiences and the evolution of ABC’s The View. Much like how game developers often reimagine classic titles with modern updates, the show has undergone a significant transformation over the years.


As ABC’s “The View” prepares for major updates before its upcoming season premieres, it seems like an opportune moment to consider the show’s origins. In light of this, original co-host Debbie Matenopoulos has expressed her opinions on how the current era of “The View,” under the guidance of Whoopi Goldberg as moderator, compares to its early days when Barbara Walters was in charge.

In 2022, Walters, who had passed away, initially sat at the table with Matenopoulos, Star Jones, Joy Behar, and Meredith Viera during the show’s early seasons, but none of them were part of the panel in Walters’ final season. As she was only a part of the first two seasons, Matenopoulos can undeniably discuss how the program evolved compared to its current format on television. She believes it has drastically changed from what her late boss originally envisioned for the project.

Discussing her brief role in “General Hospital” and its related skincare website with Michael Fairman, Matenopoulos shared thoughts on what makes “The View” unique compared to the initial vision set by Barbara Walters and Bill Geddie. In her own words, she explained:

The show has transformed into something quite distinct from what Barbara Walters and Bill Geddie initially envisioned. I strongly suspect they never intended it to take this direction. Barbara Walters, being careful with her political leanings, would refrain from openly declaring whether she was a Republican or Democrat when interviewing people as she felt it was inappropriate and might influence the interview process.

Although her comment might seem critically harsh at first glance, it’s not quite the same as past hosts criticizing The View, like Meghan McCain. Instead, Menopoulos is essentially highlighting what appears to be an obvious fact, given the substantial political news coverage on the show almost every day.

She continued, positing that difference isn’t necessarily a bad thing:

It’s unlikely that Barbara would recognize the show as it stands today, given its transformation into a highly political and significant political talk show. While it has undeniably changed in numerous aspects, it is now fundamentally different from the lifestyle-oriented program it once was.

Previously, the host of “Home & Family” has expressed criticism about the politically charged discussions on “The View”. However, it’s important to note that she generally avoids heated exchanges and dislikes conversations that escalate into disagreements and distress.

For Debbie Matenopoulos, the purpose of the show mirrored Barbara Walters’ initial vision: it served as a casual setting for women to chat about topics they found engaging. The show was intended to contrast with programs that focused more on political matters. Debbie further explained:

Barbara, having spent much time immersed in serious news, found an opportunity to step away and enjoy herself with friends. This shift was a chance for her to unwind and be seen in a more casual, less intense setting. Essentially, she took this new role to have fun and present a lighter side of herself to the public.

It’s highly unlikely that Barbara Walters would have invited Deadpool’s biological mother on her show, as she only had Ryan Reynold’s mother as a guest. Despite this, one could still imagine an unexpected scene if Deadpool’s mom ever made an appearance!

The television show “The View” is planning to come back to ABC this autumn, featuring its fresh Hudson Square stage arrangement. The specific debut date remains undisclosed for now. In the meantime, enthusiasts can enjoy Matenopoulos’ two-episode guest role on “General Hospital” by subscribing to Hulu.

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2024-08-28 21:07