Ep 202. Thu, Jul 19, 2018

On Thu, Jul 19, 2018, the popular daytime talk show The View aired its 202nd episode of season 21. Hosted by the dynamic team of Whoopi Goldberg, Joy Behar, Sunny Hostin, Meghan McCain, and Abby Huntsman, the episode tackled a wide range of topics and current events with the signature wit, charm, and intelligence that the show is known for.

One of the most notable segments of the episode involved a discussion about President Trump's controversial meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The panelists engaged in a lively debate about the implications of the meeting and the president's apparent lack of condemnation of Russia's interference in the 2016 presidential election. Sunny Hostin, a former federal prosecutor, provided insightful legal analysis about the potential ramifications of such actions, while Meghan McCain expressed deep concern about the damage this could do to America's standing in the international community. Joy Behar added her signature humor to the conversation, while Abby Huntsman offered a unique perspective, having grown up in a family with close ties to the Republican party.

Another headline-grabbing topic the panelists covered was the ongoing controversy surrounding Hollywood director James Gunn, who was fired by Disney for a series of controversial tweets he made several years ago. The panelists debated whether or not Gunn should have been fired, and if his prior comments could be excused as a form of "edgy" humor. Meghan McCain and Abby Huntsman clashed on the issue, with Huntsman questioning whether or not the social media mob mentality was justified, while McCain argued that Gunn's tweets were too offensive to ignore.

The episode also featured a segment about body positivity, with the panelists discussing the recent trend of celebrities sharing unedited photos of themselves on social media. They debated whether or not this trend was a positive step toward acceptance and self-love, or if it was just another way to perpetuate unrealistic beauty standards. Whoopi Goldberg opened up about her own past struggles with body image, while Sunny Hostin argued that the focus on appearance in our culture is often detrimental to women's mental health.

In addition to these weighty topics, the episode also included several lighter segments that showcased the panelists' personalities and sense of humor. One standout segment was a game of "Real Housewives or Fake News?", where the panelists had to guess whether certain outrageous headlines were real or fake. The game was lighthearted and fun, providing a welcome break from the more serious discussions of the show.

Overall, the episode was a great example of what The View does best: tackling important issues and generating thoughtful, nuanced conversations that reflect different perspectives. With a diverse panel of intelligent, opinionated women, the show provides a refreshing alternative to the often one-sided political commentary of many cable news networks. Fans of the show tuned in for this episode to hear what the panelists had to say about some of the biggest news stories of the day, and were surely not disappointed.