If you aren’t a fan of ABC’s “The View” then you won’t even notice she’ll be gone. No, I’m not talking Rosie O’Donnell–I’m referring to Rosie’ co-host, Elisabeth Hasselbeck.
The 29-year-old former “Survivor” contestant just announced that she and her husband, New York Giants quarterback Tim Hasselbeck will be adding to their family.
Just a few hours ago on today’s edition of the ABC chatfest Rosie O’Donnell asked: “I was just wondering if there’s anything new, Elisabeth?”
“Um, just a couple things,” replied a coy Hasselbeck. “Like, I’m totally three months pregnant.”
On cue, confetti blasted out of the studio ceiling.
Hasselbeck revealed that her new addition is due in November, which means come September (when the show’s new season gets underway), only Barbara Walters and Joy Behar will remain at the desk (provided they don’t find replacements for Star Jones Reynolds and O’Donnell in the next three months). According to FOX news, Hasselbeck will be gone on maternity leave within 5 weeks of the fall premiere.
The last time Hasselbeck went on maternity leave (when she gave birth to her daughter Grace Elisabeth on April 6, 2005) she was gone from the show for six weeks.
Several months ago Hasselbeck told viewers she was anxious to get pregnant again. Though, late last year she revealed that she and her husband were trying to conceive a sibling for Grace, but it seemed her body “wasn’t ready.”
Well, ready or not she got her wish and now it looks like Walters is going to have to kick it into gear to find bodies to fill the growing number of empty seats at “The View’s” table… or she and Behar will have to get a smaller table.
As for the gender of Hasselbeck’s baby–she says she doesn’t plan to find out until the birth.
If there is a silver lining for show creator Barbara Walters in all of this it is that Hasselbeck will be giving birth during November sweeps and returning in time for February sweeps (the time when ratings count the most).
Personally, I think they should beg Lisa Ling to come back…