No Latina for 'The View'?

By Stone Martindale Sep 6, 2007, 14:41 GMT

05/20/2007 - Barbara Walters - © Janet Mayer / Photorazzi

Amid calls for spicing up the show with a younger, hipper voice, perhaps with a Latin perspective, the "View" chieftain Barbara Walters announced yesterday morning on "The View" that the fifth panel chair will be filled permanently as of Monday. 

The safe bets are on African-American Sherri Shepherd who has guested on the show several times. 

She would be the second black woman on the View panel. joining Whoopi.

According to Cynopsis, "Whoopi's premiere episode on Tuesday drew in 3.4 million viewers, second only in the show's 11 year history to last year's debut by Rosie O'Donnell which drew in 4.4 million viewers."

AP sources cited comic Sherri Shepherd as the likely fifth wheel. 

Some viewers complain that ABC should have been fielding potential Latin guest hosts more vigorously, including actress and host Daisy Fuentes, celebrity blogger Perez Hilton, comic and radio personality Monique Marvez and actress Lauren Velez.

Other possible host names floated on entertainment websites and in magazines have included comic Kathy Griffin and tv host and comic Chelsea Handler.