Joy Behar is a mainstay on The View ... she worked as a comedian doing stand-up routines in New York City before ending up on HBO comedy specials. Still, her love of comedy had a macabre beginning.

"Joy was a talking ... then suggested Behar had become competitive with her because Kennedy was naturally funny with quickly coming up with quips without needing a comedy writer.

Joy Behar (center ... t usually choose to speak out,” Behar notes. “When I was on stage—because I have 30 or 40 years under my belt as a stand-up comic—it was easy for me to engage ...