Michelle Collins Officially Announced as Co-Host on The View

ABC makes the hire official after a week of speculation

By Sydney Bucksbaum Jul 13, 2015 7:30 PMTags
Raven-Symoné, Michelle Collins, Whoopi Goldberg, Nicolle WallaceABC

Now time for some not-so-shocking-but-still-amazing news...Michelle Collins is officially the 15th co-host in the history of The View!

E! News revealed last week that the comic, who has been guest co-hosting for weeks alongside fellow guest host-turned-regular Raven-Symoné, will now sit at the table full-time. The news was announced on The View live this morning with confetti when Collins made her grand entrance as "Empire State of Mind" played. She will officially start in September when The View returns for season 19, but she will continue to make regular appearances until the show breaks for hiatus in August.

"These past few months have been the most fun and exciting of my career, and I couldn't be happier to join such an awesome, smart, accomplished and funny group of women," Collins said in a statement. "Ever since the age of four (and the height of 5' 6") it's been my dream to host a talk show, and the fact that I now get to do just that every day with an amazing, hard-working team of producers, writers, cast and crew is beyond my wildest expectations. Many thanks to the people at ABC for inviting me to be a part of this team, and specifically to the great Barbara Walters and Whoopi Goldberg, whose support has meant the world to me."

"Michelle Collins brings a fantastic energy and a keen sense of humor to the program," creator and executive producer Walters said. "Michelle can be both outrageous and thoughtful. She is a welcome addition to The View panel with her intelligence, quick wit and vast knowledge of pop culture."

Collins' addition to the show full-time comes hot on the heels of current host Rosie Perez's exit announcement. Perez, who joined the show less than a year ago alongside Nicolle Wallace and Rosie O'Donnell as part of the season 18 reboot, will depart in August. Perez will have an official goodbye later this summer, but got teary addressing her exit.

"You guys all heard [the news]. I've decided that it's time to move on and I will say that today is very bittersweet for me. I am excited for what is to come but I am so sad to leave The View, the staff, the producers, ABC and especially these two ladies," Perez said through her tears, pointing at Goldberg and Wallace.

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