Whoopi Goldberg announces extended hiatus from 'The View'

Whoopi Goldberg is stepping away from The View for an extended stretch just weeks into the show's milestone 30th season, with several former co-hosts returning to fill her seat. 

Speaking on executive producer Brian Teta's Behind the Table podcast on Wednesday, September 16, Goldberg confirmed she'll be absent from the panel on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays for the next two weeks, though she plans to appear on Mondays. 

Teta announced that Lisa Ling, Star Jones, Sherri Shepherd and Debbie Matenopoulos will rotate in as guest hosts during her absence, with longtime co-host Joy Behar stepping into the moderator role. 

"Joy is up for it. She's always excited to moderate," Teta said, adding that Star Jones and Lisa Ling will typically cover two days each, with Matenopoulos filling in for one.

The temporary lineup carries some nostalgic weight, Jones and Matenopoulos were both part of The View's original cast when Barbara Walters launched the series in 1997, with Jones departing in 2006 and Matenopoulos leaving in 1998. 

Goldberg's absence is tied to production on Women Like Us, an upcoming Netflix comedy produced by Barack and Michelle Obama. 

Describing the project, Goldberg told Teta, "It's five really wonderful women, several of whom I've worked with before. It's about change and getting older and having fun with your friends and people who get you."

This isn't the first time Goldberg has temporarily stepped away from The View to pursue acting projects, she previously took leave from the show last November to star in the Italian soap opera Un Posto al Sole.