CBS’ long-running daytime show The Talk, which first premiered in 2010, will end this year after 15 seasons.
The network made the official announcement Friday morning after months of rumors and low ratings following the departures of former hosts Julie Chen and Sharon Osbourne.
“Needless to say, hosting and producing a year-round talk show is no easy task, and we extend our sincere thanks to our incredible hosts Akbar Gbajabiamila, Amanda Kloots, Natalie Morales, Jerry O’Connell and Sheryl Underwood, our executive producer/showrunner Rob Crabbe and the production team and production team,” CBS Entertainment president Amy Reisenbach and CBS Studios representative David Stapf said in a joint statement.
The duo continued: ‘We also want to recognize our former hosts and colleagues who contributed throughout the seasons. We truly appreciate the skill, creativity and dedication that everyone involved brought to the program every day. And, of course, we thank the many guests who attended and the millions of viewers who tuned in daily.’
The Talk, CBS’ long-running daytime show, which first premiered in 2010, will end this year after 15 seasons (hosts Elaine Welteroth, Carrie Ann Inaba, Sharon Osbourne, Sheryl Underwood and Amanda Kloots pictured in above)
The network made the official announcement Friday morning after months of rumors and low ratings following the departures of former hosts Julie Chen and Sharon Osbourne (seen above in 2021).
Reisenbach and Stapf confirmed that the “final season” will conclude in December 2024.
The show’s original hosts included Osbourne, Sara Gilbert, Julie Chen Moonves, Holly Robinson Peete, Leah Remini and Marissa Janet Winokur.
Over the years, Aisha Tyler, Eve, Carrie Ann Inaba, Marie Osmond and Elaine Welteroth have filled hosting vacancies.
The Talk earned an impressive Daytime Emmy Awards and a total of 56 nominations.
Following Osbourne’s departure and none of the original co-hosts sitting at the table after season 11, viewership dropped dramatically.
Before Osbourne, 68, left the show amid controversy, The envelope had reported how The Talk attracted an average of 1.509 million daily viewers from September 2020 to March of this year.
After Osbourne’s heated exchange about racism with co-host Sheryl Underwood, the talk show went on hiatus and had four weeks of repeats.
The ‘last season’ will conclude in December 2024
When the show returned without Osbourne, it reportedly averaged 1.305 million viewers between April 12 and May 16, losing 204,000 viewers each day, resulting in a 14% drop.
The controversy began when Osbourne loudly defended Morgan, who quit Good Morning Britain after furious criticism for her steadfast insistence that she did not believe Markle’s explosive claims in her interview with Oprah Winfrey.
Allegations then surfaced that Osbourne made racist comments about co-hosts behind the scenes on The Talk, claims she has strongly denied.
“Sharon Osbourne has decided to leave The Talk,” CBS said in a statement confirming her departure in March. “The events of the March 10 broadcast upset everyone involved, including the audience watching at home.”
“As part of our review, we concluded that Sharon’s behavior toward her co-hosts during the March 10 episode did not align with our values ​​of a respectful workplace,” the statement continued.
“We also found no evidence that CBS executives orchestrated the discussion or took any of the hosts by surprise,” CBS said, responding to accusations from Osbourne’s camp that she was “set up to fail” by being goaded into the debate. by the producers.
“At the same time, we recognize that the network and studio teams, as well as the showrunners, are responsible for what happened during that broadcast, as it became clear that the co-hosts were not adequately prepared by the staff for a complex and sensitive that involved race,” the statement added.
The show’s original hosts included Osbourne, Sara Gilbert, Julie Chen Moonves, Holly Robinson Peete, Leah Remini, and Marissa Janet Winokur (seen in 2018).
‘During this week’s hiatus, we are coordinating workshops, listening sessions and training on equity, inclusion and cultural awareness for presenters, producers and crew. Looking ahead, we are identifying plans to improve production staff and production procedures to better serve the hosts, the production and ultimately our viewers,” CBS said.
On The Talk, Osbourne defended Morgan in an on-air debate with Underwood, which became heated.
“Educate me, tell me when you’ve heard him say racist things,” Osbourne said of Morgan to Underwood, who is black.
“I’m really sorry that they’re going to put me in the electric chair because I have a friend that a lot of people think is a racist, so that makes me a racist?” Osbourne added.
That led to a fight with Underwood, who was taken aback by the ferocity of Osbourne’s defense.
Osbourne apologized for her comments, but the show went on hiatus when CBS launched an investigation.