Reynolds on June 29
After an explosive week in which she announced to PEOPLE that she'd been fired from The View, and then publicly traded barbs with former cohost Barbara Walters, Star Jones Reynolds is ready to move on.
Starting July 10, she'll serve a weeklong stint hosting HGTV's House Hunters, helping home buyers navigate the New York City real estate market, PEOPLE reports in its new issue.
But after that her calendar is clear. Still, she's optimistic. As she told PEOPLE of her job loss, "Yeah, this is an obstacle, but inside every obstacle is an opportunity."
She's already found plenty of TV viewers. Her June 29 appearance on CNN's Larry King Live was watched by nearly 3 million people, triple the show's usual ratings. And the next day, Today's Al Roker filled a full 20 minutes talking to Reynolds about her departure from The View.
Will she be able to keep her seemingly loyal fan base? "How this pans out for her career all depends on what she does in the next 18 months," says media analyst Bob Thompson. "Even if she tries a bunch of things and none of them work, I don't think she's going to end up on The Surreal Life 9."
One thing is for certain: She's already surrounded by supporters. After her rough week, she and husband Al Reynolds spent the Fourth of July weekend at their home in the Hamptons, where on Saturday night they went dancing at Southampton's Pink Elephant club. "She and Al were holding hands the whole time and having so much fun," says a source.
"She got a very warm welcome. A lot of guests were congratulating her on how she handled everything leaving The View."
As close friend LaTanya Richardson Jackson (wife of actor Samuel L. Jackson) tells PEOPLE of Reynolds, "She's incredibly hurt, but she's also incredibly resilient. She's moving on."
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