ABC CEO Michael Bellaman shocked everyone by announcing that “The View,” the network’s long-running talk show, has been cancelled. The choice comes after years of fights, walk-offs, and meltdowns on air that made the show more famous than important.
Bellaman said that the structure of the show, which was once new and innovative, was now old and controversial. “We wanted spirited debate, but what we got was a daily battleground,” he said. “It’s like watching a Thanksgiving dinner argument that never ends – and frankly, the turkey’s overcooked.”
The news was said to have taken the cast and crew of the show by surprise, with some expressing shock, sadness, and even defiance. Whoopi Goldberg and Joy Behar, who have both been on the show for a long time, were said to be especially upset. Behar is said to have told the producers, “They’re cancelling The View? Have fun with that. It’s been worse for me than this.”
The end of “The View” is a big turning point for daytime TV programming. Traditional talk shows may not be around for much longer as networks continue to deal with changing viewer habits and a more divided political climate.
For years, “The View” loved controversy. But now that there are political debates all the time on social media, fans seem to want a break instead of more of the same. ABC seems to get it that people are sick of all the noise.
What’s next for ABC’s afternoon shows? There are already rumours going around that the network might switch to shows that focus on lifestyle or talk shows with a more comedic tone. One thing is for sure, though: ABC is ready to move on, and “The View” is now truly over.
