Joy Behar will be the new host of HLN’s 9pmET hour beginning this fall. The programming change was first reported by Broadcasting & Cable with the New York Times confirming Behar as the new host.
Behar will replace a “Lou Dobbs Tonight” re-air that has occupied the slot since Glenn Beck left the network for Fox News in October.
An official announcement is expected around 10:30 but insiders tell us “The Joy Behar Show” will be an opinion hour continuing the News & Views branding of HLN (formerly Headline News). Behar will now go head-to-head with opinion shows “Hannity” on Fox News and “The Rachel Maddow Show” on MSNBC and CNN’s longtime 9pm show, “Larry King Live.” Behar was often a substitute host for King who was informed of the decision and, we’re told, is delighted Behar is getting her own show.
Behar tells The Times’ Brian Stelter, “It’s not going to be dry, I hope, because I’m crazy.” And a “Nancy Grace” lead-in should help too. The show will be pre-taped in late afternoon as Behar will continue co-hosting ABC’s “The View.”
Conway Cliff will be the executive producer of the show which means there’s an opening for an EP of HLN’s 7pmET show “Issues with Jane Velez Mitchell.”