Whoopi Goldberg scolds The View producer on air as he steers her from trashing network's American Idol

The View executive producer Brian Teta inadvertently joined the Hot Topics table discussion during an awkward exchange with moderator Whoopi Goldberg on Wednesday's live show.

The Oscar-winning actress segued a conversation about Netflix's Anna Nicole Smith: You Don't Know Me documentary into a larger point about pop culture's obsession with reality shows that encourage contention, drama, and interpersonal conflict — and traced it all back to the scathing critiques from judge Simon Cowell on Fox's early seasons of American Idol, which currently airs on ABC.

"I think that we, as a society, love to watch stuff to judge folks. I've always thought that the beginning of the downfall of society was with, what's the name of that show?" she said, turning off camera to address Teta. He responded, "ABC's American Idol?" emphasizing the fact that both shows share the same network.

Goldberg continued, stressing that the show was "not always on" ABC. (American Idol aired on Fox from 2002 to 2016.)

"Once we gave people the ability to judge other people, I think we ran amok with it," Goldberg continued. "And it's gone out of control. They invited the public to decide who that person was and I feel once we did that, it began us in a cycle which we have not..." Goldberg then paused to scold Teta for an unknown action. "... did you really just do that?"

ABC Whoopi Goldberg scolds Brian Teta on 'The View'

"I'm saying, we've talked about this, that it's gotten better, you like it now. Remember?" Teta said when the camera switched to show him.

Sunny Hostin jumped in. "You like it. ABC, she likes it. ABC, she loves it. It's really good," Hostin said, but Goldberg soldiered on with her thought.

"When I was watching it, ABC didn't have it. They have it now, it's a different show, it's a very different show. The judges are different with the people who are coming," the 67-year-old said before throwing the show to a commercial break. "ABC knows that I feel like this. I've told them. It had nothing to do with them, it had to do with the show. See, you starting stuff, man. We'll be right back."

A representative for The View did not immediately respond to EW's request for more information on what Teta did to prompt Goldberg's response.

ABC; Inset: Lionel Richie/YouTube 'American Idol' judges Lionel Richie, Katy Perry, and Luke Bryan on 'The View'

In March, American Idol's current panel of judges — Katy Perry, Luke Bryan, and Lionel Richie — visited The View to discuss the new season, with Richie revealing a hilarious bit of information about his shortened sex drive after the panel inquired about his signature hit "All Night Long."

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

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