Sherri Shepherd: Bible helped guide me to leave ‘The View’

“I'm a woman of faith and seven in the Bible is the number of God’s completion. And I’ve been here seven years and my time at 'The View' is complete,” Shepherd told viewers at the top of "The View" broadcast this morning — the show’s first original episode since Shepherd announced she was leaving, and Jenny McCarthy said “Me too!” — or words to that effect.

Shepherd said she had “exciting news” — and would announce it at some point in the future, on the show.

The Giant Neon Pink Gorilla — as Whoopi Goldberg named it, was addressed at the beginning of the show. McCarthy jumped in with word that the reports of the two exits was rumor only and not true. Roars from the studio crowd. “Actually, it’s true – but I love the support!” McCarthy simpered, then added, “After much consideration, I’ve taken a new job that will allow me to do what I do best, which is talk without having to interrupt anyone” — which she too said she would unveil at that Future Point.

Two weeks ago, Sherri Shepherd broke news that she had decided to walk, after contract talks broke down.

“It’s been seven wonderful years on 'The View' and after careful consideration it is time for me to move on,” she said, thanking co-exec producers Barbara Walters and Bill Gedde for the opportunity afforded her during her time on the show. That was followed fast by a tweet from Jenny McCarthy: “If Sherri goes… I go too. #sisters” – though that threat lost most of its teeth when word got out the show had planned to remove her from the cast for next season.

ABC responded with a statement:  “'The View' will be moving in an exciting new direction next season and ABC has made decisions to evolve the show creatively.” If so, the network forgot to send the memo to Walters, who last week was quoted as saying, “I don’t think we have a new direction, yet. I think we have time.”

That in contrast to the declaration the show’s co-exec producer Barbara Walters made back in April, right before she stepped down as "The View’s" on air Den Mom, that Shepherd “definitely” was coming back next season as were McCarthy, and Whoopi Goldberg.

While McCarthy appears to be just the latest victim of the TV industry’s “a decision was made to move the show in a new direction creatively,” Shepherd’s decision was the result of unsuccessful contract-renewal talks  — the two parties were too far apart on the Last Best Offer, sources with knowledge of the situation told Deadline.

"The View" has seen its share of co-host changes. Last month, the day before Walters bow out, all 11 "The View" past and present co-hosts assembled to say so-long.

Rosie O’Donnell. O’Donnell’s thought to be on the short list of possible co-hosts for next season. New game in town is spreading rumors about possible new hosts — Sarah Palin was a popular one this morning — the timing of which which became a little suspicious when Sportsman Channel announced it had ordered another reason of her "Amazing Alaska" series and elected her First Lady of Outdoors.