6/11: Atlanta’s HLN grabs “The View’s” Joy Behar for fall show

Joy Behar this fall will give Atlanta-based HLN its first non-repeat personality-based talk show at 9 p.m.

Behar will continue to work with “The View” on ABC’s at 11 a.m.

According to the press release:

The Joy Behar Show will showcase Behar's personal take on the day's news, offering primetime viewers a full hour of Joy's passionate point of view, sharp wit, and no-nonsense approach. The program will examine those provocative watercooler issues that Americans are talking about every day, with topics ranging from pop culture to politics and everything in between.

Can Joy Behar anchor her own talk show and does HLN make sense as a home for her?

Yes and yes. She's an ebullient personality and will give HLN some added punch vs. Maddow, King and Hannity
Sure, but HLN is a strange place to see her.
Nope. She's a loudmouth. No way I'm watching her on any network.

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"I just can't seem to keep my mouth shut, so another hour of conversations with interesting, outspoken people about the stories making news is right up my alley," commented Behar. "I'm an opinion freak – I love to offer my own and I love to hear other people's take on things – so this show is a great opportunity for me. I'm thrilled to join the HLN lineup."

I spoke with Behar Thursday afternoon. Compared to “The View,” she said, “nobody will be interrupting me unless I do it myself.” She said the show itself is still in the planning stages but she will be very opinionated like Nancy Grace (and not like CNN’s Larry King.)

Although she is a New York liberal, she will be happy to have the likes of Ann Coulter on the show. She also would like people from opposing sides on the show to duke it out. “I come from an Italian family. Nobody ever told me to shut up.”

And she’s shooting for offbeat guests. Instead of Bernie Madoff, she noted, she’d rather have Madoff’s secretary gab about sexual harassment. She’ll tackle any subject, from politics to social mores to pop culture, though sports is not her core strength.

She said HLN approached her. “It was very organic,” she said. She was already regularly subbing for King.

Ken Jautz, head of HLN, said he thinks Behar will be able to parlay her daytime success into primetime and will help differentiate HLN from CNN. "She fits perfectly in the lineup," he effused.

HLN is now airing a repeat of CNN’s Lou Dobbs show at 9 p.m.. Before that, it had been airing repeats of the Glenn Beck show (now on Fox News.). Naturally, HLN’s ratings currently lag far behind MSNBC (Rachel Maddow), CNN (Larry King) and Fox News (Sean Hannity) at that hour.