She joins Barbara Walters, Joy Behar and Elisabeth Hasselbeck as the latest reason not to watch the daytime yakfest. Whoopi fills the Rosie O'Donnell chair (as, in Barb's word, "moda-waita"), a wide seat in which she gets to play the loud, sexless, opinionated, liberal, Broadway-flogging, sometime comedienne role on the panel.
Whoopi, who's 51, said today: "I love this show. I love coming on it. I love hanging out with you guys."
Even big fat Rosie aproves. She said in a statement: "Whoopi is fantastic in every way. She's perfect for the job. She's amazing and one of my favorites."
Whoopi starts the day after Labor Day.
Next up to be announced for the show's panel is Sherri Shepherd, who will take over the overweight, incorrect African American role vacated by Star Jones.
(FUN FACTS: Whoopi, who shaves off her eyebrows, has fulfilled a dream once expressed by Philip Michael Thomas by winning an Oscar, Emmy, Grammy and Tony in her career-- and she winds up on The View?)