Rosie O'Donnell is heading back to the table at The View, but this time as a guest for the show's milestone 30th season. The comedian and former co-host confirmed her participation during an appearance on The Tangle podcast, as reported by Entertainment Weekly.
"I will go on the 30th anniversary next [season]," O'Donnell said, adding, "in whatever way they want me." She noted that the network plans to bring back a roster of past hosts to mark the occasion, celebrating the program's three decades on air.
O'Donnell expressed pride in how the show has evolved, particularly its role in political conversation. "I'm pretty proud of that show, what it's become and how it really speaks to the people and to politics," she said. That wasn't the case when she first joined in 2006, she added, describing the early environment as chaotic and male-dominated.
"Many, many people got the short end of the stick there. It was a factory where people were being churned in and out and their tenuous security; nobody got to be calm," O'Donnell recalled. "It also was a show at the time that was run by a man." She emphasized the irony: "A show created by a woman, for women, about women, and the man was deciding what we should talk about. And that didn't sit right with me."
O'Donnell's original tenure was marked by outspoken criticism of the Iraq War, President George W. Bush, and a pre-political Donald Trump—sparking a feud with Trump that has lasted decades. That combative style led to a highly publicized on-air clash with then-co-host Elisabeth Hasselbeck in 2007, after which O'Donnell exited the show. She returned briefly in 2014 but left again within months.
Her upcoming appearance comes as the show continues to navigate a polarized political landscape. The reunion is expected to highlight the program's influence on daytime television and its role in amplifying women's voices in political commentary. O'Donnell's return is likely to draw attention given her history and the ongoing dynamics among former co-hosts.
While details of the reunion episodes remain under wraps, O'Donnell's willingness to participate signals a measure of reconciliation with the show's legacy. As she put it, she's open to however producers want to use her, and she remains "pretty proud" of what The View has become.
