Joy Behar, the beloved co-host of daytime talk show *The View*, has provided a hopeful update to her fans during her absence from the show. Behar’s last appearance was on September 30, a date marking the beginning of her recovery after a shoulder dislocation, as revealed by colleague Sunny Hostin during the episode.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(jpeg)/joy-behar-the-view-101326-1-0b20e4368af04b17b96dcfe1e9632bc0.jpg)
On October 13, in a message read by Whoopi Goldberg, Behar confirmed that she is on the mend and anticipates returning to the Hot Topics table the following week. Her light-hearted message struck a familiar chord with viewers, typical of her characteristic humour, as she expressed gratitude for the outpouring of support she has received.
“Thanks to everyone who inquired about my recovery,” Behar said, adding, “If I was still 21, I’d have bounced back the next day. But since I’m an old bat, recuperating takes a bit longer.” She concluded her message with a promise to share all the details of her journey back to health upon her return.
Behar’s playful tone prompted affection from her fellow hosts, with Goldberg responding, “We wait for you because we miss you, Joy.” This sentiment echoes the thoughts of many of Behar’s long-time viewers, who have come to cherish her presence on the show over the years.
Her health update is particularly significant as it follows her recent birthday celebration, which she missed on October 7. In her absence, her colleagues paid tribute to her 84th birthday, ensuring she was remembered despite not being on set. Reflecting on the birthday milestone, they made light of her unique position of sharing a birthday with the controversial figure, Vladimir Putin, while clarifying that Behar is not suffering from a “Russian plague.”
Goldberg took the opportunity to urge Behar to recover quickly so they could properly celebrate her return to *The View*. As the show’s longest-serving host since its debut in 1997, Behar has become one of its most recognised faces, holding the record for having hosted more seasons of an American talk show than any other woman.
In a previous interview with *PEOPLE*, Behar reacted to this remarkable achievement, saying, “I’ve been on longer than Regis and longer than the Jolly Green Giant,” and added with a chuckle, “I feel old, really old. I know I don’t look old, but I am.” Reflecting on her journey on the show, she recalled a conversation with *The View* creator Barbara Walters, who once advised her, “You’re going to get old anyway. So you might as well spend it on television.”
Throughout her tenure, Behar has learned that hosting the talk show is akin to a game where quick thinking and interaction are key. “This is a volleyball game,” she shared. “It’s not a golf game. Don’t come here with your one stick. No. You have to bounce the ball around.”
Viewers can expect to hear more from Behar upon her anticipated return. The show regularly airs weekdays at 11 a.m. ET on ABC, and fans are eagerly awaiting her reappearance at the Hot Topics table, where her wit and insight have always been shining highlights. While her absence has been felt, it seems that Joy Behar is on her way back, ready to bring her unique flavour back to the screen.