Behar on Rosie Replacement: Someone 'a Little Less Controversial, Like Jack Kevorkian'

"View" co-host Joy Behar appeared on "The Tonight Show" to discuss the show, and predictably host Jay Leno brought up the fight between Rosie O’Donnell and Elisabeth Hasselbeck. However, when Leno asked about a potential replacement, Behar responded likewise.

"We had a lot of fun. She raised the game. She was very controversial. We were thinking -- I think they're thinking maybe this time we’ll put someone a little less controversial in there, like Jack Kevorkian."

Leno also asked Behar how "wacky" it is at "The View" and Behar noted her past mental hospital employment prepared her for the show.

JAY LENO: I want to know how wacky it is at "The View?" I watch this show, and it looks wacky.

BEHAR: You know, years and years ago, I worked in a mental hospital, and it prepared me for "The View."

LENO: Really, really?

BEHAR: So it's not that crazy for me. Seriously, compared to Kings Park State Hospital.

After Leno asked about the defacing of Elisabeth Hasselbeck’s picture, Behar exclaimed: "See, it’s like a mental hospital, isn’t it over there?" Relevant segments of the transcript are below.

JAY LENO: I want to know how wacky it is at "The View?" I watch this show, and it looks wacky.

BEHAR: You know, years and years ago, I worked in a mental hospital, and it prepared me for "The View."

LENO: Really, really?

BEHAR: So it's not that crazy for me. Seriously, compared to Kings Park State Hospital.

[...]

LENO: Now, there’s a lot of speculation about Rosie’s replacement. Your thoughts?

BEHAR: Rosie, well -- Rosie O'Donnell, she gave us a great year.

LENO: Right.

BEHAR: We had a lot of fun. She raised the game. She was very controversial. We were thinking -- I think they're thinking maybe this time we’ll put someone a little less controversial in there, like Jack Kevorkian.

[...]

LENO: Well, have you talked ot Rosie lately?

BEHAR: Rosie and I have been e-mailing each other.

LENO: Okay, so that's not actually talking.

BEHAR: We're friends. I knew her. Before she was a lesbian I knew the girl.

[ Laughter ]

LENO: Really? Wow.

BEHAR: For years I knew her.

LENO: That's a long time.

BEHAR: 30 years ago already I know the girl. And we're friends, and we e-mail each other, and we write, you know, to each other.

LENO: Okay. Now, 'cause I know it got a little nasty. I mean, someone, didn’t they draw a mustache on Elisabeth? Somebody drew a mustache on Elisabeth? What happened there?

BEHAR: See, it's like a mental hospital, isn't it, over there?