Elisabeth Hasselbeck said her goodbyes on Wednesday as she made the official announcement on air that she will be leaving ABC’s The View for Fox and Friends.
After making the announcement Tuesday night through statements, she got a standing ovation when walking on to the set of The View Wednesday morning. She took the time to give a heartfelt thank you to each member of the panel – Barbara Walters, Sherri Shepherd, Whoopi Goldberg and Joy Behar.
Hasselbeck told Goldberg, “It is undeniable that you (Whoopi) are one of the most talented artists on this planet, but ... you are even more loving than you are talented. You are walking unconditional love and I have counted on that unconditional love numerous times. ... I am blessed to call myself a friend of yours,” Zap2it reports.
She then told Behar, who is also leaving after this season, "Joy and I have spent the last 10 years sparring over politics, but you know I have the most insane amount of respect for you. ... I even like when Joy has the ability to throw a one-liner in and make me laugh even when I don't want to."
As for Shepherd, who she served as a bridesmaid for in her wedding, she said “You're my sister in Christ, my friend for life.”
But for Walters, Hasselbeck praised her mentoring style and joked she feels like she attended “Barbara Walters’ School of Broadcasting and Journalism.”
“I don't even know that there's a program out there that can offer the depth of knowledge, technique, the art of interview that you have offered to everyone at this table and especially me. ... I can't ask for a better leader and mentor, you are the best that there is."