Nicolle Wallace fire back at critics

Reputed lame-duck panelist Nicolle Wallace is indicating she has heard the reports saying ABC won't hire her back full-time next season for The View.

Variety reported Wednesday that Wallace -- a former White House communications director and the show's lone conservative co-host -- wasn't asked to return for a second season because she wasn't argumentative enough or overly interested in celebrity gossip. The network has not officially commented about her future with the show, however.

"So, what's new?" moderator Whoopi Goldberg asked Wallace at the beginning of Thursday's edition of the chat show.

"Not much," Wallace laughed, hanging her head and blushing.

"I promised my husband I wouldn't do this. Sorry, honey," she continued. "You know, there's a lot of news and a story about our show, always, right? And about me, lately, and it's hard. People have said a lot of things about me over the years. I've worked for very controversial politicians. These stories crossed a line, though, Whoop."

"Yes, I know they did, go ahead," Goldberg said, patting Wallace's hand.

"They called me Kardashian illiterate," Wallace said before rattling off rapid-fire, but concise and accurate backgrounds for each member of the reality TV dynasty.

"An injustice has been perpetrated on me," she declared as the crowd laughed and cheered. "I just want everyone to know that even I have a line that can't be crossed. Don't ever diss my Kardashian knowledge. That's all."

"You know way more about the Kardashians than I do. I just want people to understand that you demand respect and I respect the hell out of you," co-host Rosie Perez told her as the audience applauded.

"I feel better," Wallace said.

"You should feel better because I have to tell you if that was the way to get off this bad boy, I'd have been gone ages ago. I know nothing about the Kardashians. Don't care. They are very nice people, I'm sure, but they don't pay my rent, don't do jack for me," Goldberg said, before moving on to a discussion about the previous evening's ESPY Awards.

Perez announced last week that she would not return after the show's summer hiatus. Confirmed to appear on the program for Season 19 are Goldberg and new hires Raven-Symone and Michelle Collins.