ABC Cancels The View and Bets Big on Charlie Kirk, Erika Kirk, and Megyn Kelly: A Daytime TV Earthquake

In a move that has left Hollywood insiders, political commentators, and longtime fans of daytime television reeling, ABC has officially canceled The View—its flagship talk show of more than two decades—and announced that it will be replaced with an entirely new program: The Charlie Kirk Show, co-hosted by conservative firebrand Charlie Kirk, rising media voice Erika Kirk, and veteran journalist Megyn Kelly.

The announcement, made late Sunday, instantly ignited debate about the future of daytime TV, the politicization of network programming, and whether ABC has just gambled away one of its most recognizable franchises for a shot at recapturing ratings and cultural influence.

The End of an Era: Farewell to The View

Since its 1997 debut under Barbara Walters, The View has become synonymous with daytime talk. With a rotating cast of strong personalities—Whoopi Goldberg, Joy Behar, Meghan McCain, Sunny Hostin, among others—the program carved out a unique space where celebrity gossip collided with hard politics. Love it or hate it, The View was unavoidable. Clips trended daily. Moments from the panel routinely rippled into headlines and White House press briefings.

But the past few years brought challenges. Ratings softened, younger viewers migrated to digital-first platforms like YouTube and TikTok, and critics argued the show had lost the sharpness of its early years. Internal turnover didn’t help; behind-the-scenes reports pointed to management struggles and talent clashes that eroded the show’s consistency.

ABC executives, according to multiple insiders, had been quietly exploring “bold alternatives” for months. Sunday’s announcement confirmed what many suspected: the network is no longer content to merely defend its legacy programming. It wants to rebrand daytime TV itself.

Enter Charlie Kirk: From Activist to Anchor

At the heart of this pivot is Charlie Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA and one of the most polarizing conservative commentators in the country. Known for his fiery speeches on college campuses, his large digital following, and his unapologetic defense of Republican policies, Kirk has long been considered a rising star in right-wing media.

His new ABC platform signals something remarkable: a major broadcast network betting on a conservative talk show at a time when mainstream outlets typically lean center-left in tone.

Industry analysts believe the gamble serves two purposes:

Diversifying ABC’s Audience: By offering a conservative alternative during daytime, ABC may hope to peel off viewers who traditionally flock to Fox News or digital-first outlets like The Daily Wire.
Generating Buzz: Love him or loathe him, Kirk drives conversation. ABC seems to be wagering that controversy equals attention, and attention equals ratings.

Erika Kirk: The Fresh Voice

Joining Charlie is his wife, Erika Kirk, a rising figure in media and commentary. Known for her advocacy work and her emphasis on faith-driven conversations, Erika is expected to bring a mix of energy, relatability, and youthful optimism to the table.

For ABC, Erika Kirk represents more than a co-host—she’s the generational bridge. Executives hope her presence will resonate with younger viewers who may be skeptical of cable news but still crave personality-driven conversations.

Megyn Kelly’s High-Stakes Return

The third seat goes to Megyn Kelly, the former Fox News primetime anchor whose sharp questioning of Donald Trump during the 2016 debates made her a household name. After a brief and rocky stint at NBC, Kelly has rebuilt her brand through independent podcasting and YouTube broadcasting, cultivating an audience that admires her mix of hard news instincts and cultural commentary.

Kelly’s return to network television is a headline in itself. Her inclusion brings instant legitimacy, as well as the promise of tough, incisive interviews. For ABC, it’s a signal that this isn’t just Charlie Kirk’s megaphone—it’s a show designed to combine fire with rigor.

Industry Reactions: Applause, Alarm, and Outrage

The decision has produced a predictable split across the media landscape:

Supporters hail ABC’s move as groundbreaking. “For too long, daytime TV has ignored conservative viewers,” one analyst wrote. “This is ABC acknowledging that half the country exists.”
Critics accuse the network of “selling out to partisanship.” Media watchdog groups warn that replacing a relatively balanced panel show with overtly conservative commentary risks deepening America’s political divides.
Fans of The View are devastated. On social media, hashtags like #SaveTheView and #CharlieKirkShow trended simultaneously—one side mourning, the other celebrating.

In short: the culture war just claimed another battlefield, and this time it’s the mid-morning broadcast slot.

The Bigger Picture: Daytime TV in the Age of Polarization

ABC’s decision can’t be understood in isolation. Across American media, networks are struggling to adapt to fragmented audiences. Viewers are no longer satisfied with neutral, middle-of-the-road conversations. Instead, they seek content that affirms—or challenges—their identities.

By choosing Kirk, Kelly, and Erika, ABC is planting its flag in explicitly conservative soil. The hope? To bring in audiences who have long dismissed ABC as “mainstream liberal media.” The risk? Alienating existing viewers who valued The View’s ideological mix.

This mirrors broader trends: CNN shifting leadership strategies, Fox doubling down on populist voices, and streaming giants experimenting with politically charged documentaries. Daytime TV, once reserved for cooking segments and celebrity interviews, is now becoming another arena for ideological contest.

What Will the Show Look Like?

According to preliminary reports, The Charlie Kirk Show will blend:

Panel Debates: Modeled loosely on The View but tilted toward conservative perspectives.
High-Profile Interviews: Leveraging Megyn Kelly’s skills.
Cultural Commentary: Focused on the “culture war” issues driving online conversations.
Audience Interaction: Producers are reportedly exploring live social media integration, encouraging viewers to weigh in on-air.

The set, still under wraps, is said to lean “modern, sleek, and digitally connected,” reflecting ABC’s desire to differentiate from The View’s familiar roundtable aesthetic.

Can ABC Pull This Off?

The question hanging over all of this: Will it work?

ABC is betting that the mix of Kirk’s energy, Erika’s relatability, and Kelly’s credibility will create television that feels both combustible and compelling. If ratings spike, the move could inspire rival networks to copy the formula—ushering in a wave of partisan daytime talk shows.

If it fails, ABC risks alienating loyalists of The View without securing enough conservative viewers to justify the shakeup.

A Pivotal Moment

No matter how it unfolds, ABC’s move will be studied as a pivotal moment in U.S. media history. The cancellation of The View—a cultural institution—and its replacement by a conservative trio underscores how volatile and experimental television has become in 2025.

It’s no longer just about entertainment or even news. It’s about identity, polarization, and the fight for relevance in an era where attention is the most precious commodity.

For fans of The View, the grief is real. For conservatives, the excitement is palpable. For ABC, the stakes couldn’t be higher.

The only certainty? The launch of The Charlie Kirk Show will be one of the most-watched and most-argued-about television debuts in years.