Rosie O'Donnell addresses her return to 'The View'

NEW YORK, Sept. 11 (UPI) -- Rosie O'Donnell is ready to return to The View.

The 52-year-old television personality first joined the program in 2006, but failed to renew her contract after an on-air spat with co-host Elisabeth Hasselbeck. O'Donnell declared at the time she would never go back, but told Variety her goal now is "to come in peace."

"I think it's going to be must-see TV," she said of the new season. "And the contrast between what the show will be and what it was is going to be glaring."

Whoopi Goldberg was the only remaining moderator until O'Donnell, Rosie Perez and Nicole Wallace signed on to the show. Series creator Barbara Walters retired in May, and co-hosts Sherri Shepherd and Jenny McCarthy shocked fans when they announced their departure in June.

O'Donnell said she wants the show to be smarter, and to focus less on celebrity. The Hot Topics segment will include pre-taped intros to fill viewers in on stories, and to "present an objective view of the situation" before discussion. She also declared the format of the show is not the only thing to have changed.

"I was going through a divorce," she said of her previous stint on the program. "That was a very emotional and tumultuous time in my life. Now I'm quite happily married." In addition, O'Donnell is healthier and alcohol-free, and lost 55 pounds after she had a heart attack in 2012.

The View will return to ABC on September 15.