AceShowbiz -

"The View" kicked off the new season with a new set, a new logo and a new panel of co-hosts on Monday, September 15. Returning moderator Whoopi Goldberg was joined by Rosie Perez and Nicolle Wallace as well as Rosie O'Donnell, who had been on the show before from 2006-2007, in the panel.

"Hello, hello and welcome to the newer 'View'," Goldberg greeted the audience. "We're going to try a lot of new stuff. Some of it will work and some of it won't, but the thing that will never change is great conversation with great women."

Among the so many fresh stuff in the season 18 premiere, a familiar face returned. The show's vet Barbara Walters appeared in a taped intro, sitting on a throne while the co-hosts kissed her ring to honor her.

The four co-hosts then discussed today's hot topics, from Ray Rice's domestic violence case to the tragic death of Robin Williams. O'Donnell also talked about her 53-lb. weight loss, which she's "not used to it yet," since having vertical gastric sleeve surgery in July 2013. Apparently already feeling comfortable on the set, she went barefoot and sat cross-legged on her armchair.

Meanwhile, Wallace shared the hardest experience she had while working in the White House, which was related to former Vice President Dick Cheney's shooting accident. They also paid tribute to Joan Rivers by playing a montage of the late comedienne's 34 appearances on the show, followed by Kristin Chenoweth's performance of "Borrowed Angels" which closed the episode.

After the taping, Walters praised the new hosts. "They were terrific," she told PEOPLE. "And I'm completely unbiased."

Former co-host Sherri Shepherd also weighed in on "The View" season premiere. "Watching @theviewtv - loved Hot Topics! Beautiful Joan Rivers tribute. Congrats @WhoopiGoldberg @Rosie @rosieperezbklyn & @NicholeDWallace," she tweeted, adding later, "Well that's what I love about what @WhoopiGoldberg @Rosie @rosieperezbklyn & @NicholleDWallace did @theviewtv they opened up the discussion."