'The View' kicks off new era with two Rosies, Nicolle Wallace

NEW YORK (WABC) -- "The View" may be new with a new set and new people in front of and behind the camera, but Barbara Walters who thought up the show, was on-hand to bless the effort, and Rosie O'Donnell has been invited back.

"I didn't think there was any way that they would ever," says O'Donnell.

However, ABC did ask, and she said 'yes'. One reason O'Donnell agreed is because Whoopi Goldberg remains as moderator.

"I want 'The View' to be a place where people hear diverse opinions, because we're an opinion show," Whoopi says.

On the first day, opinions are exactly what people got, and each new co-host was given a moment to shine.

Rosie Perez has been a star for years, and a guest co-host before. She says she brings a little from the borough where she was born.

"Oh yes, absolutely - Brooklyn was in the house most definitely," says Perez.

Nicolle Wallace comes to "The View" via the White House.

"I'm a Republican, we should get that out of the way first," says Wallace.

"And I really like her, I swear to God," O'Donnell chimes in.

When O'Donnell was last on the show, her feuds were legendary, but the comic told Eyewitness News that she is a kinder and gentler person following a heart attack two years ago.

"It forced me to value my life in a way that I didn't before I had a heart attack, and I'm really sad that it took that, but that's what it took," O'Donnell says.

She promises a "smarter" show with fewer celebrities, and on Monday the lone star was Kristin Chenoweth, who paid tribute to their late pal, Joan Rivers.