Michelle Collins Finally Announced As ‘The View’s Latest New Co-Host

Like the surprise party that surprises no one, including the guest of honor, ABC this morning announced Michelle Collins as the newest co-host for the revolving door that is The View — while confetti fell from the ceiling and the sound system played “Empire State Of Mind.” Collins is No. 15 in the growing list of The View co-hosts. Press got wind of the hire last week, when she popped up on the show the same day Rosie Perez broke the “news” she was leaving the show, months after that had first been speculated.

Reporters also got wind there would be a big announcement at the end of that day’s program. At some point during the episode, however, producers decided the broadcast should be Perez’s “moment” and not gum it up with news of Collins’ appointment, which was put off until later. Later being today.

Collins officially starts in September when The View returns for Season 19, though she will make regular appearances until the daytime talker breaks for hiatus in August. In today’s announcement, Collins said she’s wanted to host a talk show since she was 4 years old, and show exec producer Bill Wolff called her a “great addition” to the show, because she is “lightning quick, has strong opinions and is wickedly funny.”

“Michelle Collins brings a fantastic energy and a keen sense of humor to the program,” chimed in show creator and executive producer Barbara Walters, who praised her “intelligence, quick wit and vast knowledge of pop culture.”

Most recently, Collins was featured on VH1’s Walk Of Shame Shuttle. She has also served as a host on the syndicated talk show The Gossip Queens as well as a daily correspondent on VH1’s Big Morning Buzz Live. Collins made frequent appearances on Chelsea Lately, Today, The Wendy Williams Show, The Tyra Banks Show and Kathy, on which she was also a writer, and VH1 countdown shows. She spent six years as Managing Editor of VH1’s Best Week Ever, a website that earned her two Webby Awards for Best Celebrity/Fan Blog.

For those keeping score of the overhauled co-host lineup that debuted at the start of this season, in September 2014: Rosie Perez is out, Rosie O’Donnell is out, and the future of Nicolle Wallace is unannounced. When this season’s panel was finalized after the exits of Jenny McCarthy, Sherri Shepherd and Walters for on-air purposes, and with the addition of Perez and Wallace, producers promised this season of The View would “be unlike any in recent history.”

They certainly kept their promise.