Sarah Palin To Replace Hasselbeck on âThe Viewâ
Former Vice Presidential nominee Sarah Palin is set to replace Elizabeth Hasselbeck on ABC's daytime talk show The View. TheÂ controversialÂ conservative figure has reportedly signed a $10 million five-year deal to join Whoopi Goldberg, Sherri Shepard and fellow newcomer Brooke Shields in a revamped lineup designed to stoke spirited discussions. The arrival of Palin and Shields replenishes the venerable show's roster following the departures of longtime hosts Joy Behar and Hasselbeck, who was finally fired today after intense speculation surrounding her status on the show. Palin's deal is especially important because it fills the need for a conservative viewpoint, a role which Hasselbeck had hitherto played. "We felt like we needed to replace Elizabeth with a leading conservative woman," said Charissa Gilmore, vice president of ABC Television Group. "Naturally, our thoughts turned to Sarah Palin who is both a conservative icon and a media whore...er star rather. Sorry." Palin contractÂ purportedlyÂ comes with a clause forcing her to read newspapers and magazines every day for the entire length of her tenure. Not to be outdone, Palin has requested copies of theÂ FinancialÂ Times, The Economist,Â ForeignÂ Affairs, National Journal, Roll Call,Â and the scientific journal Nature. "I'm just soÂ gratefulÂ for this opportunity to debate with the big girls," Palin says while shopping atÂ Carrs in Palmer, Alaska. "I've been reading up and preparing my talking points. "Ask me about anything. The civil war in Syriana, the India-Pakistan fight overÂ cashmereÂ production, Putin's attempt to invade Atlanta, or Queen Elizabeth's decision to pull U.K. troops out of Afghanistan. "Personally I think it's a travesty that Obama refused to mine the harbor in Savannah. It leaves usÂ exposedÂ for the next assault." Palin also expressed joy to be working with her new co-hosts, all of whom she has admired for decades. "Oh I'm just so excited to be working with Whoopi," Palin said. "I'm such a huge fan of her work in The HelpÂ and Eat, Pray, Love.Â Sometimes it seems like these people are mostly all in jail or on welfare, but she's one of the good ones." The subtle racism of mistaking Goldberg for Viola Davis is just one example of why Goldberg, a stand up comedian and actress, has in the past expressed extreme dislike of the formerÂ AlaskanÂ governor. Goldberg's intense hatred of Palin have caused some to speculate that she too might leave to show. But according to the comedian herself, she's justÂ re-uppedÂ her contract and is ready to do battle. "I'm not going anywhere. I'm gonna show this Eskimo Queen who's boss." A spokesperson forÂ ShieldsÂ explains that she's elated to be working again and is looking forward toÂ introducingÂ herself to a new generation of women who don't exactly know who the prominent 1990sÂ actressÂ is.