Elisabeth Hasselbeck is being booted from “The View” because her right-wing musings are unpopular for daytime TV, according to a report.
Hasselbeck, 35, the show’s lone conservative voice, reportedly won’t return next season. She will join Joy Behar, who announced Thursday that she’s bailing on the show in August after 16 years — leaving only Barbara Walters as the show’s last original co-host.
Meanwhile, the Web site Showbiz411.com reported that Barbara Walters wants actress Brooke Shields to join her on the show.
Hasselbeck has occasionally clashed with her co-anchors over political issues — most famously with blustery liberal Rosie O’Donnell, who spent one turbulent season on the show (2006-07).
ABC is cutting Hasselbeck loose because she tested poorly in market research — with viewers finding her opinions too strident and extreme, according to a report in Us Weekly.
ABC denied the news yesterday. “Elisabeth Hasselbeck is a valued member of ‘The View’ and has a long-term contract,” an ABC spokeswoman said yesterday.Hasselbeck’s agent did not return a call.
“The View,” remains one of daytime’s top-rated shows.