Barbara Walters was so moved by a documentary by Rosie O’Donnell about a gay family cruise line, that she offered O’Donnell the job as co-host of The View on the spot.

Walters attended a screening of the documentary, and was seen in tears as she left the theatre, according to Fox News.

She then asked O’Donnell if she would replace Meredith Vieira, who was leaving to replace Katie Couric at the Today Show. O’Donnell said, “sure, call me.”

And if you were watching the Emmy Awards last night, you will know that it is now officiall: Rosie O’Donnell is coming back to daytime television.

The set of The View, according to Fox News, will be redesigned and Rosie will be seated in the middle.

Walters and O’Donnell walked side by side and announced the move, that she will replace Vieira starting in September.

“Well, thank God, because it was either that or Celebrity Fit Club,” O’Donnell said. Zing.

Connie Chung and former Everybody Loves Raymond actress Patricia Heaton were also reportedly up for the job. (Why couldn’t Patricia replace, say, Star Jones? Not that I’ve ever watched an episode of The View, but ?)

O’Donnell ended her popular daytime talk show five years ago.

“here we go,” O’Donnell ended a brief posting on her blog. (Spot a capital letter in her blog and win!)






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