ABC producers are reportedly eyeing Nicolle Wallace and October Gonzalez to replace Sherri Shepherd and Jenny McCarthy on "The View." Shepherd and McCarthy both announced they were leaving last month and taped their final episode on Thursday.
According to the New York Daily News, Gonzalez and Wallace filmed a test shoot Thursday afternoon and the two ladies seemed to work well with each other. If chosen, they will join Rosie O'Donnell and Whoopi Goldberg.
Wallace, a conservative political commentator, previously worked as George W. Bush's communications director and was famously portrayed by Sarah Paulson in HBO's "Game Change." Gonzalez is currently married to former NFL star Tony Gonzalez and posed naked with her husband for PETA to discourage people from wearing fur.
A source close to production told the Daily News that both ladies are top contenders to join the show. In Thursday's mock test Gonzalez and Wallace - among other potential candidates - got the chance to argue their points with Goldberg and O'Donnell.
Even though the Daily News reported that the test shoot went without a hitch, TMZ claims O'Donnell and Goldberg got into an argument over abortion with S.E. Cupp, who also tested that day. A source told the site that Cupp made a "nasty" comment about an Australian couple who made headlines for asking their surrogate to abort a baby with Down syndrome.
Goldberg reportedly asked Cupp if she ever had to make a decision about abortion and all-hell broke loose. O'Donnell also jumped in and told Cupp that she didn't want another Elisabeth Hasselbeck joining the show.
Following the disagreement, Goldberg reportedly slammed Barbara Walters saying she's been "working with a cranky 85-year-old woman who's mad about everything for 2 years, and I need a break," according to TMZ.
Other potential co-hosts who also tested on Thursday was Ana Navarro, who worked on Sen. John McCain's campaign; Stephanie Ruhle, Bloomberg TV managing editor; Sage Steele, an anchor for ESPN; "Good Day LA" co-host Lauren Sanchez; and ESPN.com columnist Jemele Hill.
Sherri Shepherd and Jenny McCarthy's last episode will air Monday.
