Brooke Shields to Join THE VIEW?

The View might be fairly close to filling one of its vacant co-host positions.

Following the news that both Joy Behar and Elisabeth Hasselbeck would be departing the long-running ABC daytime talk show, Showbiz 411 reports that executive producer and co-host, Barbara Walters, is gunning for Brooke Shields to join the panel.

In the past decade, Shields has won rave reviews and has established herself as an acclaimed Broadway musical leading lady with her performances as Ruth in Wonderful Town, Roxie Hart in Chicago and Sally Bowles in Cabaret. Her Broadway debut came in 1994 as Rizzo in Grease, for which she won a Theatre World Award. She most recently appeared in the role of Morticia in Broadway's 'The Addams Family.' She can next be seen on Lifetime's hit series ARMY WIVES.

Behar and Walters are the final two original VIEW members remaining on the show since its inception over 16 years ago.

"It seemed like the right time," Behar told Deadline this week. "You reach a point when you say to yourself, 'Do I want to keep doing this?' There are other things on my plate I want to do - I've been writing a play, I've been neglecting my standup."

Hasselbeck, who joined The Talk show in 2003, has frequently engaged in arguments with her co-hosts and guests, including Barbara Walters over former presidential candidate Mitt Romney just last fall.

After Behar and Hasselbeck's departure, Barbara Walters, Sherri Shepherd, and Whoopi Goldberg will be the only remaining members on the panel. Though Shields' contract is by no means finalized, it appears, should the final negotiations go smoothly, that ABC may have found one of its replacement co-hosts.

For the original report, head on over to Showbiz 411.

Photo by: Jennifer Broski

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