PPM Version:
JOY BEHAR is leaving "The View" after its current season, which will make BARBARA WALTERS the last remaining original yenta . . . unless she leaves, too. Joy says it just "seemed like the right time [to go]." She adds that she'd like to get back to doing stand-up, and potentially launch another talk show of her own.
Full Story:
JOY BEHAR is leaving "The View" after its current season. She's been there since the beginning, which . . . believe it or not . . . was 16 years ago. (--Here's something else you may not believe: She's 70 years old.)
--Joy's contract is up in August, and she opted not to renew her deal. She says, quote, "It seemed like the right time. You reach a point when you say to yourself, 'Do I want to keep doing this?' There are other things on my plate . . .
--"I've been writing a play, I've been neglecting my standup." Joy is also considering another, solo talk show. There are rumors it could be something on CNN, but nothing's been determined yet.
--Joy also has a show on Current TV called "Joy Behar: Say Anything", although that's expected to end in a few months, once Al Jazeera takes over the programming.
--There's no word on who may replace her on "The View".
--This makes BARBARA WALTERS the last original yenta . . . but there's also speculation that SHE may be on her way out, too. On top of that, ELISABETH HASSELBECK isn't signed beyond this season either.