The TV Column

Former co-host Behar, 2 newbies to share View

Joy Behar
Joy Behar

Time to clean out the overstuffed "in" box with a passel of TV tidbits.

More Joy. In an effort to restore some of the old "joie de vivre" to its frequently turbulent daytime morning chatfest, ABC has rehired Joy Behar on The View and added Candace Cameron Bure and Paula Faris.

The trio will join Whoopi Goldberg, Raven-Symone and Michelle Collins as co-hosts when Season 19 begins at 10 a.m. Tuesday.

Just to be clear, in case you've lost count, that'll be six -- count 'em -- co-hosts. Political analyst Nicolle Wallace will not be back, nor will Rosie Perez, who left to concentrate on her acting career.

Behar, 72, is one of the show's original co-hosts, but left in 2013 after 16 seasons "to pursue other opportunities."

"There are other things on my plate I want to do," Behar said at the time. "I've been writing a play. I've been neglecting my stand-up [comedy]."

Cameron Bure, 39, has been a fan favorite since her days as D.J. Tanner on Full House. In 2014, she finished third on Dancing With the Stars.

Faris is a correspondent for ABC News and has done duty as a co-anchor of Good Morning America Weekend. She will be the first journalist to co-host The View since creator Barbara Walters retired in 2014.

Speaking on Good Morning America last week, Behar said she missed the good times.

"I spent two years where I didn't ever have to think about Kim Kardashian or the Duggars and it was really kind of nice," Behar said. "But I remembered ... all the wonderful things, fun I had over there. I thought, 'Let me go back and try and have some more fun.' That's why I'm back."

Behar seems primed and ready. In a statement following the ABC announcement, she said she was "happy to be back home," and was "looking forward to sticking my 2 cents into the hot topics, especially now that Hillary and the Donald are in the spotlight."

Finally, they may not be on board as official co-hosts, but expect regular appearances by contributors Padma Lakshmi, Stacy London, Ana Navarro, Molly Sims and former co-host Sherri Shepherd.

More masters. PBS' American Masters series highlights pioneering tennis pro Althea Gibson, the first black player to play and win at Wimbledon and the U.S. Nationals. It airs at 8 p.m. Friday on AETN.

That's followed by a second American Masters special at 9:30 featuring tennis ace Billie Jean King. The special commemorates the 40th anniversary of King's infamous match with Bobby Riggs.

More busting. Mythbusters Star Wars Special airs at 8 p.m. Saturday on Discovery Channel, with Jamie Hyneman and Adam Savage taking on the plausibility of stuff we've seen in the film series.

Examples: Could Luke and Princess Leia safely swing across the chasm in the Death Star? Would the Ewoks' swinging-log trap actually destroy an Imperial walker? And could a Tauntaun carcass really have kept Luke from freezing to death on Hoth?

More Morgan. Tracy Morgan is set to guest host Saturday Night Live at 10:35 p.m. Oct. 17 on NBC. The former SNL cast member and star of 30 Rock has been recuperating from a June 2014 crash that killed a fellow comedian when their limousine was hit by a truck.

Miley Cyrus will kick off SNL's 41st season on Oct. 3 (her third guest host appearance), and Amy Schumer will make her hosting debut on Oct. 10.

More Steve. AETN has scheduled more episodes of Barnes and ... A Conversation With, hosted by veteran Arkansas journalist Steve Barnes. Each debuts at 6:30 p.m. Thursday and repeats the following Wednesday at the same time. Here's the lineup.

Today: PBS President and Chief Executive Officer Paula Kerger.

Sept. 10: Conevery Bolton Valencius will chat up her book, The Lost History of the New Madrid Earthquakes.

Sept. 17: Donna Beegle will discuss her research and experience concerning poverty in America.

Sept. 24: Retired Gen. Wesley Clark will discuss his latest book, Don't Wait for the Next War.

The TV Column appears Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday. Email:

mstorey@arkansasonline.com

Weekend on 09/03/2015

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