In 2008, Jenny McCarthy tells CNN that she believes that vaccinations triggered her son’s autism.

(Entertainment Weekly) — Done deal: Jenny McCarthy is joining The View.

The comedian-actress will fill one of the open slots on ABC’s popular daytime talk show this fall.

Longtime The View fans already have some sense of what she’s like on the panel. McCarthy, has made 17 previous appearances on the show, including eight as a guest co-host. For months the media has speculated that McCarthy is likely to fill a vacancy on the show.

The View saw the departure of longtime co-host Elisabeth Hasselbeck last week to Fox News, while Joy Behar will leave next month. Founding co-host Barbara Walters has announced she will leave the show next summer, but will remain on the show as a producer.

“Jenny brings us intelligence as well as warmth and humor,” Walters said in a statement. “She can be serious and outrageous. She has connected with our audience and offers a fresh point of view. Jenny will be a great addition to the show as we usher in an exciting new chapter for The View.”

“I’m beyond thrilled … I look forward to helping make hot topics a little bit hotter, and showing my mom that my interrupting skills have finally paid off,” McCarthy added in a statement.

McCarthy, 40, also thanked VH1 for allowing her to take the gig. She was under contract to her new late-night talk show, The Jenny McCarthy Show, on the cable network, but the program wasn’t a ratings breakout anyway. The former Playboy Playmate became a celebrity name as the goofy-sexy host of MTV’s Singled Out, has had guest star roles on several sitcoms and pens an advice column.

McCarthy will join the 17th season of The View which begins Sept. 9.