Rosie to return via 'The View'

Rosie O'Donnell is expected to make a surprise return to daytime television by taking over Meredith Vieira's slot on the ABC talk show "The View."

O'Donnell's appointment was confirmed by a person close to the show who spoke on condition of anonymity because the network was expected to make an announcement of it during the Daytime Emmy Awards on Friday night.

O'Donnell's syndicated series went on the air in 1996 and won her six Daytime Emmys in six years for best talk-show host. She left the show to help raise four children with her partner, Kelli Carpenter O'Donnell.

Vieira is replacing Katie Couric at the "Today" show.