Whoopi Goldberg Makes Announcement About ‘New Member’ of ‘The View’

ABC’s “The View” co-host Whoopi Goldberg held back tears as she introduced a “new man behind the camera.”

Goldberg kicked off the segment by noting the network and show have made a slew of changes recently, which included the crew at “The View.”

Before getting into the topics that the table would be touching on, Goldberg introduced the newest member of the show’s family.

“We got a new man behind the camera. Hey Paul,” Whoopi said, with other members of the table saying, “Hi, Paul” as they noted the writer’s strike that has hit many other shows in Hollywood.

Near the end of the show, as Whoopi welcomed viewers back and held up a notecard to ask a producer if this was the moment she clearly was not ready for — announcing that producer Rob Bruce Baron was leaving.
Baron has worked in television for over 40 years and has spent all 26 seasons working for “The View.”

“Is this this? Ohh, yeah,” she said, looking down at the notecard and holding back tears.

“Rob is retiring today after 40 years in television. Rob has been with The View since Day 1, 26 seasons.”

“Don’t leave!” Whoopi called out to Rob as she continued to hold back tears.

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The show made headlines earlier this week when Goldberg claimed “American Idol” contributed to the “beginning of the downfall of society,” which led to her arguing with executive producer Brian Teta and some pushback from her own colleagues.

The conversation began when Goldberg kicked off a segment detailing 18-year-old Hawaii-born singer Iam Tongi winning Season 21 of the show.

“We, as a society, love to watch stuff to judge folks,” Goldberg said. “You know, I’ve always thought that the beginning of the downfall of society was with ― what’s the name of that show? I always tell you that,” she continued, looking over to Teta.

“ABC’s ‘American Idol,’” replied Teta before the audience let out a laugh. ABC notably is also the network that airs “The View.”

“Because once we gave people the ability to judge other people, I think we ran amuck with it and it’s gone out of control,” said Goldberg.
“Remember ‘The Gong Show?’” asked co-host Joy Behar, referencing the 1970s show that allowed judges to hit a gong to signal their distaste for a performance.

Goldberg said that she doesn’t remember an instance where “so many people” judged a person’s talent. Teta and co-host Sunny Hostin chimed in that Goldberg likes the show now that it’s on ABC.

Goldberg said it was “a very different show” now than when it began.

“ABC knows that I feel like this. I’ve told them,” Goldberg said. “It had nothing to do with them, it had to do with the show. See, you starting stuff, man.”

“The View” made headlines last Friday after co-host Sara Haines made a comment that was apparently so inappropriate that her audio was cut.

The segment began when the ladies at the table were discussing the recent announcement that ABC will be expanding the Bachelor universe to include the “golden years.”

In The Golden Bachelor, a senior citizen will have the chance to date women with a “lifetime of experience,” they said while describing the show.