By PATRICIA SHIPP
Bosses at The View are already scrambling to find a Star Jones replacement. As the smoke clears from Star’s spectacular on-air shootout with Barbara Walters, top candidates for the outspoken diva’s old seat are emerging, The ENQUIRER has learned.
Here are the Fab Five, with candid comments from a TV insider who says one of the network’s chief concerns is to pick someone unlikely to embarrass them.
BRANDY: The gorgeous, 27-year-old singer was born in McComb, Miss., and by the age of 17 had the hit TV show Moesha, and has sold 30 million albums.
According to the source: “Brandy’s on the short list. She’s already trying out. She’s beautiful and stylish and would bring a younger demographic.”
GAYLE KING: The 51-year-old from Chevy Chase, Md., is perhaps best known as Oprah Winfrey’s best friend.
“Gayle has the inside track. Executives want her because they think she has lots of class.”
SHAUN ROBINSON: This well-spoken beauty hails from Detroit and is a weekend anchor for “Access Hollywood.” The 44-year-old dated Eddie Murphy after his recent divorce. ” The View knows Shaun is very popular — and having Eddie Murphy in her corner is not the worst thing in the world.”
ROLONDA WATTS: This highly educated talk queen helmed a syndicated show that debuted in 1994. A native of Winston-Salem, N.C., the 47-year-old has a master’s degree and counts poet Maya Angelou as a friend. “Rolonda already knows Barbara Walters. She’s an outside favorite. Barbara’s been out to lunch with Rolonda recently.”
TANIKA RAY: The 34-year-old from Washington, D.C., was raised in Los Angeles. She is single and has been a correspondent for Extra since 2004. “Tanika has a very outgoing personality. She’d be fun.”
