The View fans were surprised Friday morning to see former co-host Sara Haines sitting at the table alongside Whoopi Goldberg, Joy Behar and Meghan McCain. At the top of the episode, Goldberg announced to the audience that Haines was filling in for co-host Sunny Hostin, whose paternal grandmother passed away recently.
“So Sunny is still out as you know, her grandmother passed yesterday. … But we do have someone at the table who we’re used to having. Sara Haines is back,” Goldberg said.
Videos by PopCulture.com
Haines joked that she spent so much time talking to everyone backstage that she didn’t end up studying her notecards for the upcoming show.
It’s a @TheView family reunion — @sarahaines is back at the table as a guest co-host! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/zRo2UZfvvR
— The View (@TheView) March 6, 2020
“It’s so nice to have you back,” McCain told Haines. “You’re such a bright [ray of] sunshine on your show and on [The View], it’s so nice to have you.”
“This place is such a magical place, I’ve always said that. When you walk in the door, the hugging train … it’s a special staff here,” Haines gushed.
“Once a View host always a View host,” McCain told Haines.
“I’m here forever, guys,” Haines joked back.
Fans of The View were saddened back in 2018 when Haines announced she was leaving the morning talk show to co-host the third hour of Good Morning America with Michael Strahan, called GMA Day — which was later rebranded to Strahan and Sara, and even later added new host Keke Palmer to rebrand yet again as GMA3: Strahan, Sara & Keke.
Haines started on The View in 2014 as a guest co-host and was promoted to a regular in 2016. On her last day in August 2018, Haines said a tearful goodbye to her co-hosts, the show’s crew and the audience. “It has been an honor, a privilege and an absolute dream to work here at this show,” she said.
“For anyone who has ever played a sport knows that the best team members are the ones who life you up and make you better,” she said. “You guys did that for me. I love this view, and I love all of you, so thank you so much.”
Photo credit: Lorenzo Bevilaqua / Contributor / Getty
Most Viewed
-
(Photo by Ben Curtis – PA Images/PA Images via Getty Images) -
A ring of vibrant marigold flowers with glowing candles at the center, set against a dark background. (Credit: Eduardo Monroy Husillos / Getty Images) -
US singer Miley Cyrus attends the 97th Annual Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California on March 2, 2025. (Photo by Angeka Weiss/AFP via Getty Images) -
Antique TV set with color bars, on black background. 3D rendering -
NEW YORK CITY – DECEMBER 19: "Toil and Trouble" – Elsbeth is thrown into the world of television after the showrunner of a long-running police procedural is brutally murdered in his office, and although it appears to be the act of a disgruntled fan, she begins to suspect the show's longtime star Regina Coburn (Laurie Metcalf) who yearns for artistic fulfillment. Meanwhile, Judge Crawford (Michael Emerson) continues to be a thorn in Elsbeth's side, on the CBS original series ELSBETH, Thursday, Dec. 19 (10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network, and streaming on Paramount+ (live and on demand for Paramount+ with SHOWTIME subscribers, or on demand for Paramount+ Essential subscribers the day after the episode airs). Pictured (L-R): Carrie Preston as Elsbeth Tascioni and Carra Patterson as Kaya Blanke. (Photo by Michael Parmelee/CBS via Getty Images)
