The View paid tribute to Barbara Walters, who created the veteran Emmy-winning ABC talk show. Barbara Walters passed away on December 30th, at the age of 93 years old, and on the first episode after her passing, the talk show dedicated its hour to paying tribute to the life of Walters. Many of the shows past and present hosts made an appearance either virtually or in person to pay tribute. Joy Behar, Whoopi Goldberg, Sunny Hostin, Sara Haines and Alyssa Farah Griffin were joined by Meredith Vieira, Star Jones, Debbie Matenopoulos, Lisa Ling, Sherri Sheperd and Elisabeth Haselbeck all made an appearance.
When The View originally launched, it was described by Walters as a talk show that features four or five women “of different backgrounds, different generations, and different opinions” who would discuss the topics of the day.”
All of the current co-hosts spoke of Walters’ tenacity despite the sexism and ageism she faced in her career. Sara Haines stated, “What she endured, to then make a table for more people to sit at, I think that’s when you sit here and say… I will be forever grateful that she made a seat for us.” While Behar added, “I asked, ‘How come you always get the interview?’ She says, ‘Because I don’t go to the bathroom.’” While Goldberg said, “There was nobody like her. There isn’t anyone like her and like all firsts, she’s the first. There are many of us duplicates, but there will never be another Barbara Walters.”
The tribute episode ended with a clip from Walters’ own signoff from when she left The View, as well as an image of her empty chair. At the time that Walters left the show she said, “How do you create a television show called The View that puts together these wonderful women, all of them over the years, who have shared their contrasting opinions? And finally, how proud when I see all of the young women who are making and reporting the news. If I did anything to help that happen, that’s my legacy.”
Walters is survived by her daughter, Jacqueline Dena Guber.
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