Joy Behar Drags a Guest Out of Bed to Save The View After Three Stars Go Missing and Whoopi Goldberg Claims a Volcano Ate Her Homework
Best excuse ever.
The View scrambled to fill its empty chairs this week after three of its stars went missing, leaving Joy Behar to drag a guest out of bed at 6 a.m. to save the show. The daytime talk staple returned from its Fourth of July reruns on Monday with a skeleton crew, and Behar didn’t waste time explaining why Whoopi Goldberg, Sara Haines, and Ana Navarro were nowhere to be seen. The reason for Goldberg’s absence? A volcano in Sicily decided to go full blockbuster and strand her overseas.
According to Decider, Goldberg sent in a video from Italy, and delivered the kind of excuse that makes every other vacation story sound lame. “We have spent most of the day trying to get back to the United States, and all of the airports are closed here,” she said. “I know that we got all kinds of stories about our different vacations. Well, I think my story just takes the cake. A volcano ate my homework.”
The volcano in question, Mount Etna, Europe’s largest, had been rumbling since late June, but things escalated on July 5 when lava flow spiked and forced flight cancellations. Goldberg, who’s no stranger to dramatic exits, leaned into the absurdity of the situation. At 70, she’s seen her fair share of chaos, but even she probably didn’t expect to be stuck in Sicily while her co-hosts dealt with their own messes back home.
Two other co-hosts were dealing with their own weather woes
Navarro was stuck in Miami due to “the weather,” a phrase that sounds suspiciously vague when you consider Florida’s climate. Behar, ever the skeptic, couldn’t resist poking fun at the explanation. “It’s always hot there. What’s the problem?” she quipped, as if Navarro’s absence was some elaborate scheme to avoid Monday’s episode.
Navarro had already warned fans on Instagram the day before, posting, “I’m sorry I won’t be there tomorrow. I’m sure the other ladies will have great, insightful things to say. Take a little time to enjoy The View without me.” Haines, the third missing co-host, was dealing with storm damage, which Behar found equally suspicious.
“How many people are dealing with storm damage? Anybody in this group? No. Just Sara,” she joked, scanning the audience for anyone who might back up Haines’ story. The 48-year-old’s absence was left vague, but if you’ve ever dealt with storm cleanup, you know it’s not exactly a glamorous reason to skip work. Still, Behar’s playful ribbing made it clear that the show’s producers weren’t taking any chances with the empty chairs.
With three co-hosts out, the show’s producers turned to Behar, who is typically off on Mondays, to fill the void. “So you may be asking, ‘Why am I here on a Monday?’ I asked myself the same question,” Behar said. “But Brian begged me to come in, on his knees, where he belongs, because we are down three co-hosts today.” It’s rare to see Behar in the moderator’s seat on a Monday, but the 83-year-old didn’t seem to mind, especially since she got to roast her absent co-hosts.
The producers also called in Michelle Buteau
The star of Survival of the Thickest, who was already scheduled as a guest but ended up pulling double duty as a co-host. Behar thanked her for being “roused out of a dead sleep today at 6 o’clock in the morning,” adding that Buteau joked it was “the best booty call” she’d ever gotten. She joined Alyssa Farah Griffin and Sunny Hostin at the table for what turned out to be a surprisingly smooth episode.
The View has always thrived on its chemistry, and while the show can survive a few empty chairs, it’s clear that the producers will go to great lengths to keep the conversation flowing. Whether it’s calling in reinforcements at the last minute or leaning on a volcano excuse, the show’s ability to adapt is part of what makes it so enduring. Goldberg’s absence, in particular, added a layer of drama that even the most scripted reality shows couldn’t dream up.
For fans wondering if The View was live on Monday, the answer is yes. The episode aired as scheduled, proving that even when half the cast is missing, the show must go on. Behar’s willingness to step in, combined with Buteau’s last-minute heroics, kept the Hot Topics segment lively and engaging. It’s a testament to the show’s resilience that it can turn a potential disaster into a memorable episode, complete with jokes about booty calls and volcanic eruptions.
(Featured image: Library of Congress Life)
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