Joy Behar says Sunny Hostin wouldn't stop praising Whoopi Goldberg during Annie performance: 'Shut up!'

Joy Behar had a hard-knock time watching Whoopi Goldberg’s debut performance of Annie on Wednesday thanks to their fellow View cohost, Sunny Hostin.

While the 82-year-old praised Goldberg’s turn as the evil Miss Hannigan in the production, which is playing at The Theater at Madison Square Garden until Jan. 5, she explained on Thursday’s episode of The View that her viewing experience was impacted by Hostin repeatedly turning to praise their costar throughout the show. 

“This one had a glass of wine during the show,” Behar said, gesturing toward Hostin. “So the whole time, she’s talking to me: ‘She has a gift, she has a gift.’ In my ear. It’s like, shut up!” 

Sign up for Entertainment Weekly's free daily newsletter to get breaking news, exclusive first looks, recaps, reviews, interviews with your favorite stars, and more.

A laughing Hostin — who admitted to having “just one” glass of wine last night — confirmed that she ended up getting scolded by Behar for her nonstop compliments. “She did tell me to shut up,” she confessed, “but I was just like, ‘Oh my gosh. This is a blessing.’ It’s a gift. Congratulations.” 

Hostin explained that she was so charmed by Goldberg’s performance because it was the first time that she’d ever gotten the chance to see the actress perform onstage. “Whoopi has a real gift. There’s a reason why she’s an EGOT, right?” she said. “When she walked out on the stage, there is this thing that I see, like a glow, around the truly gifted, the blessed, the anointed in a certain thing, and that’s what I saw. And it was so incredible.” 

Sara Haines also noted that Goldberg should be praised for putting on such an amazing performance. “People are responding to something very unique,” she said, leading Behar to interrupt, “You know what it is, Sara? It’s a gift.” 

As the table exploded with laughter, Haines took a moment to poke fun at Hostin too, noting that “Wine Sunny is just an enhanced version of Sunny.” 

Alyssa Farah Griffin piled on as well. “Correct,” she teased. “A louder Sunny.”

Goldberg thanked her costars for all of their compliments. “One of the things that people forget is that I am, first and foremost, an actor,” she said. “I was lucky enough to get this gig when I needed it… Barbara Walters and Joy put me in here, and so it’s been fun, it’s been wonderful, but I am an actor. And so I realized that I missed it, but I also realized it's been a while since I’ve done it.”

When Goldberg expressed a desire to return to acting, Hostin voiced her support, adding, “It’s a gift.” 

Haines then shouted, “What’s in her mug, people!” 

The View airs weekdays at 11 a.m. ET/10 a.m. PT on ABC.