Michelle Collins Is the New “The View” Co-Host

Michelle Collins & Rosie Perez; ABC/Lou RoccoIt’s official — comedian Michelle Collins is the new co-host on ABC’s The View.

Collins had been been rumored to be the new panelist ever since rumors surfaced several weeks ago that Rosie Perez would be leaving the daytime talk show.  Perez announced last week that she’ll be leaving the show August 7 to devote more time to her acting.

Collins, who’s the show’s 15th co-host, has previously served as a guest panelist on The View and is well-liked by both the other hosts, and by viewers.  Even moderator Whoopi Goldberg told the audience previously that she wanted to make Collins’ stint on the program “permanent” and urged viewers to “write in to everybody.”

“I am so excited and I feel so lucky that I get to come here and and spend this time with you,” Collins said on Monday’s show.  In a separate statement, she said, “Ever since the age of 4 (and the height of 5’ 6”) it’s been my dream to host a talk show, and the fact that I now get to do just that every day with an amazing, hard-working team of producers, writers, cast and crew is beyond my wildest expectations.”  

Executive producer Bill Wolff called Collins “a great addition to The View. She is lightning quick, has strong opinions and is wickedly funny. Our entire staff is looking forward to her joining the show.”

Collins hosts her own Web talk show, Martini Minute, and has appeared on Walk of Shame Shuttle, Kathy, The Gossip Queens and VH1’s Best Week Ever blog.

Collins will join Goldberg, fellow new co-host Raven-Symone, and Nicolle Wallace, who joined in September 2014.

Copyright © 2015, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.