‘The View” from here is changing at the speed of klieg lights.
The long-running ABC gabfest took its biggest hit yet yesterday when Joy Behar made her exit in a pre-taped final episode airing Aug. 9.
The tribute show, hosted by comic Mario Cantone, was called, “This Was Your Life on ‘The View,” with Behar’s most memorable clips playing and her best friends showing up to surprise her.
No, Joy didn’t cry. Yes, I almost did.
No, the tears didn’t start when Tony Bennett came on with a full orchestra to croon, “Well, just wake up. Kiss the good life goodbye” which, given the occasion, seemed maybe not the best possible choice of lyrics.
I felt like crying because Joy is actually not going to be part of “The View” any longer.
Even though Joy’s final show was shot on the usual set and Barbara Walters, Sherri Shepherd and Whoopi Goldberg were all present, every segment began with Joy and Cantone introducing her long-time pals, who showed up without letting her in on it beforehand.
Who showed? One former “View” co-host, Meredith Viera, as well as Alan Alda, Joan Rivers, Susie Essman and Regis Philbin.
Joy slow-danced with Alda and then proceeded to make out with the gals.
What spurred the lesbian lovefest?
Cantone, of course, who introduced Vieira as “Your sister lesbian.”
The only one on-stage that Joy had never kissed like that, it turns out, was Walters. Oh no! Barbara was clearly game, but when push came to kiss, Walters turned the other cheek.
Philbin did not turn gay for a day and, instead, took the opportunity to go into the audience and kiss more women than Ellen DeGeneres has in a whole lifetime.
The almost-best moment of the show? When Joy stepped, by mistake, on Joan Rivers’ line. Said Rivers, “We’ve been together since the Kardashians were dating . . .”
“White guys?” Joy broke in.
Very best line? After Joy thanked everybody for everything, she turned to Walters, who was fighting back the tears. “There’s something I’ve been wanting for 16 years to say,” she said very seriously. “F–k Harry Reasoner!”
When I spoke with Joy later, I asked her why she’s really leaving such a great gig.
“Since I did the HLN [talk] show, it hasn’t been the same for me,” she said. “Like the [John] Mellencamp song goes, “Life goes on after the thrill of living is gone.”
So what now? “I have another meeting with CNN, so maybe something will happen by the fall,” she said. “I want to put together a one-woman [Broadway] show. I’d also like to write [another] book, and I’m a pretty decent actress. Love to do a movie.”
Her answer to the biggest question, however, was the biggest surprise: Just who would she like to take her seat on “The View?” “I really don’t care who takes my place,” she said, and she means it.
Only thing is, we do!