Critic Reviews

For a guy like me, The View is a nice cheap thrill — gee, is thiswhat it's like to be at a multigenerational pajama party? And if the whooping enthusiasm of the mostly female studio audience is any measure, it's a party women are also glad to be invited to.

Behar is the true star. She's funny, likable (without sacrificing irreverence) and sensible. She's much too good to be sidelined an average of two days a week.

This respectable, illuminating View was also--let’s face it--kind of boring.... It’s kind of a comfort, and even exciting, that these four very intelligent, very congenial women with an abundance of respect for each other are going to be the ones helming it.

A flawed if promising start for a tough old veteran that proved it's still got some fight--and talk--left.

Most of what went on in between was rather stilted, which is to be expected when new hosts take over a long-established show, and this one has been around for 17 years. But even on Day 1, there were signs of where The View is headed, and it’s likely to be more tame.

Only time will tell how well the chemistry holds up and evolves among the central quartet, but despite all the changes (including a new showrunner), The View hasn’t done much more than rearrange--and perhaps reupholster--the chairs.