Sherri Shepherd returning to 'The View' as contributor, reports say

Reports: Shepherd returning to 'The View' as contributorSherri Shepherd is expected to return as a contributor to "The View" according to various reports, including Deadline, which said she will appear in 50 episodes next season, the 19th. ABC is expected to make a formal announcement after the final episode of the current season, which airs Thursday. Shepherd, a "View" veteran, left at the end of last season. For the 19th, here is the expected roster: Whoopi Goldberg, Raven-Symoné, Michelle Collins (announced this month), Candace Cameron Bure and Paula Faris. (The latter two have not yet been formally named except by the trade press, which say they are a lock.) A spokesperson for the program declined to comment on cast changes, rumored or otherwise.

By Verne J Gay

Verne.Gay@newsday.com@vernejgay

Verne J Gay is the television critic