IT'S TELEVISION HISTORY IN THE MAKING WHEN "THE VIEW" UNITES ALL 11 CO-HOSTS, LIVE, MAY 15 ON ABC

For the first time in television history, all 11 co-hosts of ABC's "The View," present and past, will share the same stage, live, THURSDAY, MAY 15 (11:00 a.m.-12:00 noon, ET) on ABC to celebrate the show's creator Barbara Walters. The following day, after more than five decades of entertaining and informing generations of Americans, Walters says goodbye to daily television, commemorating her final co-host appearance on "The View" that morning. Walters is the last remaining co-host of the original panel of five women she helped assemble. Behind-the-scenes she will continue to be an active part of "The View" in her role as executive producer along with executive producer Bill Geddie, her producing partner of more than 25 years.

Journalist Meredith Vieira, lawyer Star Jones, comedian Joy Behar, television personality Debbie Matenopoulos, journalist Lisa Ling, comedian Rosie O'Donnell, and cable news host Elisabeth Hasselbeck will join Sherri Shepherd, Jenny McCarthy, Whoopi Goldberg and Walters for this momentous, once in a lifetime television event.

"Barbara Walters' status as a trailblazer, a legend and an icon are undeniable," said Paul Lee, president, ABC Entertainment. "By creating a talk show panel with multiple hosts she changed the daytime landscape with a concept that is now widely emulated. It's a true testament to her legacy. We are grateful to her and recognize her enormous contribution to ABC Entertainment and the indelible mark she has left on television," Lee concluded.

When "The View" first hit the airwaves in August, 1997, it was unlike any other program on television. It featured an all female panel of dynamic women of different ages, experiences and backgrounds sharing various points of view and discussing the hottest topics of the day. "The View" is undoubtedly a pop culture phenomenon and made household names of the show's original cast, which featured a journalist/mom, a comedian/divorcee, an attorney and "the young one."

· Meredith Vieira (moderator, 1997-2006, Season 1-9)

· Star Jones (1997-2006, Season 1-9)

· Joy Behar (1997-2013, Season 1-16)

· Debbie Matenopoulos (1997-1998, Season 1-2)

· Lisa Ling (1999-2002, Season 2-6)

· Elisabeth Hasselbeck (2003-2013, Season 7-16)

· Rosie O'Donnell (moderator, 2006-2007, Season 10)

· Whoopi Goldberg (moderator, 2007, Season 11-Present)

· Sherri Shepherd (2007, Season 11-Present)

· Jenny McCarthy (2013, Season 17-Present)

Last May, Walters announced live on "The View" that the show's 17th season would be her last. Since then, "The View" has been celebrating Walters' career by highlighting her most famous interviews with the ongoing series, "The Year of Barbara." "The View" will commemorate Walters' final week (May 12-16) with ABC: A Barbara Celebration featuring surprise guests, dedicated segments, and retrospectives of Walters' incredible life, both on screen and off.

"The View," is broadcast in HDTV and produced in 2-channel stereo sound. It is available to watch online daily at 4:00 p.m., ET/1:00 p.m., PT on ABC.com. "The View" is produced by ABC and Ms. Walters' Barwall Productions. "The View" is directed by Mark Gentile.

For breaking news and updated videos follow "The View" (@theviewtv) and hosts Barbara Walters (@BarbaraJWalters), Whoopi Goldberg (@WhoopiGoldberg), Sherri Shepherd (@SherriEShepherd) and Jenny McCarthy (@JennyMcCarthy) on Twitter.(TM)