The View’ Guest Host Pulls Back the Curtains on Workings of Show

While “The View” may look polished on screen, so much more is going on behind the scenes, and guest co-host Sara Eisen is spilling. 

With Alyssa Farah Griffin out on maternity leave, the Hot Topics table has welcomed a rotation of substitutes, including Eisen. 

The “Squawk on the Street” anchor is now detailing her experience on the broadcast, gushing about how seamless the show appears even though it is raw and unscripted. 

On her second day subbing in for Griffin, Eisen shared insight on what it is like at the table, admitting it’s not exactly what she expected as a longtime viewer.

When Joy Behar asked whether she was enjoying herself, the CNBC anchor didn’t hesitate to share. “First of all, you guys are all wonderful and gracious. It’s a pleasure to be here, as someone who’s watched the show forever,” the 41-year-old said, according to Entertainment Weekly.

Eisen described the opportunity as a “treat,” saying it allowed her to speak freely about a range of topics. Sunny Hostin then asked whether the reality of the show matched Eisen’s expectations.

“I love how spontaneous it is and how authentic it is,” the business journalist responded. “And how we’re prepared and we’re read-in, but not scripted. It looks very perfect when you watch it on TV, but anything can happen out here.”

Eisen admired her colleague’s ability to perform without earpieces, which sparked a playful jab from Ana Navarro: “Even when Joy does get cued in her ear, she just ignores it.”

Eisen isn’t the only guest co-host to step in during Griffin’s absence. Savannah Chrisley also joined the panel and spoke about her time on the show, thanking the panel for giving her a platform to share differing opinions.

Chrisley’s brief stint on the table did not go without backlash. As The Blast reported, the February 19 episode featured Chrisley, Hostin, and Whoopi Goldberg in an argument over Donald Trump. 

Goldberg argued that the president has sent “mixed messages” during Black History Month, citing his stance on DEI initiatives and past racist actions. 

However, Chrisley countered her, saying she had personally seen Trump’s positive side and finds it hard to see people call him “racist.” She then pointed out Trump’s support of a longtime Black employee.

Hostin pushed back, saying Trump’s behavior still amounted to racism, while Goldberg highlighted examples such as Trump sharing offensive posts about Barack and Michele Obama. 

Chrisley’s defense of the U.S. leader drew criticism from fans, and one even accused her of “auditioning for the White House press secretary.”

With Chrisley’s guest-host run now over, more familiar faces, including former co-host Abby Huntsman, are expected to fill in for Griffin in the months to come. However, one thing is for sure: past panelist Jenny McCarthy won’t be reclaiming a seat at the table.

McCarthy appeared on the daytime talk show from 2013 to 2014, but she has firmly ruled out ever returning, even after producers reportedly reached out.

During an appearance on “The Katie Miller Podcast” last month, McCarthy reflected candidly on her experience, admitting it was far from positive.

As The Blast reported, McCarthy explained that producers initially hired her to provide light-hearted commentary. However, they quickly shifted toward political discussions, which left her feeling unprepared at the time. 

McCarthy added that she was asked to return for the reunion, but her reaction was, “over her dead body.”

After McCarthy recounted her past stint with the long-running ABC show, her ex-colleague Sherri Shepherd echoed the same account. 

According to The Blast, Shepherd revealed that the showrunners hired her because they wanted someone “relatable.”

However, the order of the day soon turned to political debates, which Shepherd said was challenging given her strict upbringing. At one point, she was advised to read to get more insight into the political world. 

Meanwhile, Griffin isn’t the only permanent co-host to take a break from the show recently. Whoopi Goldberg was off the panel from November 17 until her return on December 1 last year. 

Per The Blast, Goldberg resumed with shared details about her hiatus, revealing she was filming a soap opera in Italy.

She joked with Ana Navarro about forgetting English and described the experience of working in a different language and country as “really interesting.” 

Goldberg noted she kept her colleagues updated with videos from Naples, where it rained constantly.