Jenny McCarthy Will Join 'The View' Next Season

Jenny McCarthy will be taking a permanent seat at the table on The View in September when she officially joins as co-host for the show’s 17th season in September.

“I am beyond thrilled to be joining Barbara and the other amazing women at the table. I’d like to thank ABC for this great opportunity. I’d also like to give a big thank you to VH1 for their support and for allowing me to fulfill this lifelong dream. I look forward to helping make hot topics a little bit hotter, and showing my mom that my interrupting skills have finally paid off,” McCarthy said in a statement.

McCarthy recently hosted her own talk show, The Jenny McCarthy Show, on VH1 and the network appears to be letting her leave without a fight after on season. Over the years, McCarthy has acted as a guest co-host on The View eight times, and, aside from working as a comedian and actress, McCarthy has already acted as television host for various programs.

The announcement comes less than a week after co-host Elisabeth Hasslebeck left the talk show for a new gig on Fox News.

“Jenny brings us intelligence as well as warmth and humor. She can be serious and outrageous. She has connected with our audience and offers a fresh point of view. Jenny will be a great addition to the show as we usher in an exciting new chapter for The View,” Barbara Walters said in a statement.

McCarthy had previously denied rumors that she would be joining The View permanently after Joy Behar announced her plans to leave the show when her contract ends in August. Though she did admit that she would be making appearances as guest-host until The View found a permanent replacement.

“I will be helping them [The View] while they’re looking … I can’t [host full time because] I have my own show … maybe someday in the future,” McCarthy reportedly told Extra in March.

The news of McCarty’s new hosting duties is not the only The View casting news expected this summer, as both Behar and Hasselbeck have announced imminent departures from the show, leaving two empty seats. Now that McCarthy has claimed one, there is still one left for the taking. Furthermore, Walters has also announced her plans to retire from co-hosting next year, which will leave room to add another new face to the show.

McCarthy will take her seat at the table starting on September 9.

– Olivia Truffaut-Wong