About two weeks after Sara Haines became the latest to pass through The Revolving Door of The View to host the third hour of Good Morning America with Michael Strahan, it appears Abby Huntsman has won the sweepstakes to replace her.
Fox & Friends Weekend co-host Huntsman, daughter of U.S. Ambassador to Russia Jon Hunstman, would give the show a second conservative host to keep Sen. John McCain’s daughter Meghan McCain company.
A Fox News Channel spokesperson confirmed this will be Huntsman’s final weekend co-hosting Fox & Friends Weekend, the Saturday and Sunday editions of President Donald Trump’s fave morning show.
The View had two vacant panelist chairs; Haines’ announcement followed by four days the news that three-year co-host Paula Faris is leavingthe show, and her weekend GMA duties, for a new assignment that includes contributing to Good Morning America and a podcast on faith.
ABC declined to make executives available for comment. Huntsman is expected to work her last stint on “Fox & Friends Weekend” this Saturday and Sunday, Fox News said in a statement.
Huntsman joins “The View” after several news outlets have sought to burnish their Republican credentials with Donald Trump in the White House and Republicans ascendant in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. MSNBC has found success with Nicolle Wallace, a former official in the George W. Bush White House, in the early afternoons. CNN is moving S.E. Cupp, a right-of-center host and anchor, to its Saturday lineup after launching a show with her on CNN.
The roster of “The View,” as is often the case, has been in flux. Sara Haines left the program to co-anchor an extension of “Good Morning America” called “GMA Day” on ABC in September. Paula Faris left the program to focus more on reporting.
Huntsman previously worked on MSNBC’s “The Cycle,” which featured hosts including Ari Melber and Krystal Ball who held a range of political opinions. Her father also served as U.S. Ambassador to China under President Obama.
(Excerpts) Read more in: Deadline & Variety