The internet exploded last week once word got out that the producers at ABC supposedly planned to fire cast co-host Rosie Perez from The View while she was already away rehearsing for Larry David's Broadway play, Fish in the Dark. According to the latest gossip news updates, the network had a tentative plan in place to replace Perez with Glee star Naya Rivera if her guest appearances turned out to be a big ratings hit. Now, that ABC have seemingly had the plans ruined by the immediate backlash from Rosie O'Donnell as well as some of the TV show's social media savvy fans, the network has announced that Perez is defiantly returning next month -- regardless of anything you might have recently read in the tabloids.
From the outside looking in, it certainly appears that ABC has botched their super-secret plan to have Rosie Perez amicably leave The View in light of the show's terrible ratings.
The good folks at HollyScoop were even reporting that Naya Rivera's recent appearances on the show where a trial run to see if the Glee singer could ultimately take Perez' spot permanently on the series.
According to Variety, however, the entire plan was sacked shortly after word got out that Perez was virtually getting blamed for the show's sluggish rating after just 4-months on the job:
"At the time, the network wasn't ready to announce the co-host's departure.
"One problem was that ABC execs hadn't told the other co-hosts of the plan.
"After O'Donnell and others pressed ABC bosses for an explanation, the network backpedaled on the plan."
While Rosie O has denied the rumors all along, for some reason, ABC felt that it should release a statement addressing not only Perez' status with the show but the rumors directly:
"These unnamed sources are wrong.
"As was always the plan, the amazingly talented Rosie Perez took time off to rehearse for her Broadway play.
"We're eagerly looking forward to having her back on February 3rd. Any speculation to the contrary is simply untrue."
At least when NBC took all that heat for firing Ann Curry from the Today show, the producers were actually able to get her off the program.
