The view honors Barbara Walters after her recent birthday.
The experienced journalist, who hosted the first women’s panel for The view in 1997 and served as co-host until her retirement in 2014, turned 92 on Saturday.
In Monday’s episode of the legendary talk show, season 25 co-hosts Joy Behar, Sunny Hostin and Sara Haines, as well as guest speaker Ana Navarro, celebrated Walters’ big birthday. The viewCurrent host Whoopi Goldberg was absent from Monday’s show.
“Saturday was the birthday of the one and only Barbara Walters,” said Behar, 78. “Our mentor, our queen. We wish you all the best, Barbara. I hope you’re watching. You see your idea continue to succeed.”
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Beginning of the month View Former host Meredith Vieira spoke to PEOPLE about her job as the show’s first host, saying it was an “amazing” privilege to be chosen by Walters.
“Having the opportunity to work with her was like a dream come true for me. I think she was hesitant to hire me because she didn’t know I was funny. But Barbara gave me a chance. Until I auditioned, it wasn’t a job I was looking for, nor was it something I was particularly interested in,” she said. “And then I realized, ‘I don’t know why I should really enjoy this, but I do.'”
“Once you work with Barbara, you realise that she is a very complicated person,” Vieira added of her former boss. “On the one hand, she is very kind and generous, but on the other hand, she is a real taskmaster and tough, which is why she succeeded in this business at a time when there were so few women. She had not only brains, but also real tenacity.”
Ida Mae Astute/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Barbara Walters on The View
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Before The viewDuring the season premiere on September 7, the current co-hosts toasted Walters in a promotional video while also commemorating the show’s 25th anniversary.
“I can’t believe it’s been 25 years already,” Behar said in August when PEOPLE exclusively shared the first look at the clip. “I’m still trying to finish a sentence I started in 1997!”
Afterwards, the four toasted their 25th anniversary with champagne – and their original host, Walters.
“For you, Barbara!” they said in unison.
