‘The View’: Joy Behar Walked Right Over Meghan McCain on Her First Day Back

If you caught the February 10 episode of The View, you saw a sort of throwback edition of the long-running talk show. Instead of the usual cast of Monday co-hosts, viewers found both Meghan McCain and moderator Whoopi Goldberg out for the day.

With Ana Navarro and Tyra Banks replacing them, Joy Behar moderated and Sunny Hostin spoke without worry of confrontation from McCain’s end of the table. In short, it was a refreshing change of pace from the shows fans have seen over the past year — and briefly felt like the Barbara Walters days.

When McCain returned February 11 (joined by opinion writer Bari Weiss), the show got right back its familiar, tense ways. And it wasn’t long before McCain started a fresh confrontation. But on this occasion, Behar had no time for her co-host’s interruptions.

Behar blew off McCain’s election takes and asked why McCain refused to read a script

Media critics and casual viewers love to describe The View as a liberal/left-leaning program. But on days you find Weiss co-hosting, Whoopi out, McCain in, and the pro-life Hostin at the table, the conversation takes a very conservative tone.

You certainly saw that February 11, as Weiss and McCain did what they could to take shots at the Bernie Sanders campaign. For her part, Hostin said she “didn’t love” any remaining candidates in the Democratic primary field. (Hostin backed Kamala Harris before she exited the race.)

But Behar wasn’t interested in the quibbling and said she would vote for any Democratic nominee over Donald Trump. “I’d vote for Colonel Sanders,” she quipped. When McCain said that’s not how most of the country feels, Behar blew off the comment, saying she was speaking her mind as the moderator on The View.

When McCain went to respond interrupt her again, Behar seemed to find a compromise: She’d have McCain read the daily Black History Month segment on the air. And she didn’t quit until McCain did as she asked.

Behar insisted McCain narrate the Black History Month segment

Somewhere between beginning to ready the Black History Month script and McCain interrupting her, Behar decided she’d have McCain read it. “Go ahead, read that,” she said. “We don’t have time,” McCain responded. “Yes, we do — do it,” Behar answered.

“I’m not doing this in 30 seconds,” McCain replied (having wasted 10 seconds to that point). “Are you the stage manager?” Behar asked. Again, McCain kept stalling. “Do it,” Behar repeated. “DO IT.” “OK!” McCain finally said before she read the script. “There you go,” Behar said once she began.

As many of the show’s fans pointed out on Twitter, McCain could have read the promo in the time she took saying there was “no time” to read it. But that’s not how most mornings go at The View. When McCain is in her chair, it’s a confrontation every few segments.

Also see: Why ‘The View’ Insiders Believe Abby Huntsman’s Days Were Numbered Anyway