Is The Talk in jeopardy of getting AXED? New report suggests high-profile incoming soap ‘raises questions for future of’ daytime chat series

CBS daytime series The Talk may be in jeopardy as the network revealed it was working on a daytime soap titled The Gates from Emmy-winning soap vet Michele Val Jean.

According to a report from Deadline released Thursday, the series, which has a current cast of Akbar Gbajabiamila, Amanda Kloots, Natalie Morales, Jerry O’Connell and Sheryl Underwood, is “the lowest-rated show on CBS’ daytime lineup,” which may play into where the network ultimately decides to play The Gates.

The programming decisions come at a tumultuous time for the chat show, which originally hit the network in October 2010 and has run for 14 seasons.

The show’s longtime executive producer Kristin Matthews stepped down in June 2023, the magazine reported, with The Late Late Show with James Corden executive producer Rob Crabbe replacing her instead.

Dailymail.com has reached out to CBS representatives for comment on the story, which comes nearly two years after Sharon Osbourne was let go from the show following controversial remarks she made about Meghan Markle.

Deadline pointed to the “much-needed improvements” that Crabbe has made during his time in the position, including pulling out the show’s first act and focusing on in-depth interviews with guests.

Crabbe “needs more time to make his mark” since he’s only been in the position for one season, the outlet noted.

Other major personnel changes that have been implemented, according to Deadline, include the departure of CEO Laurie Seidman and a prominent public relations representative, in line with company-wide layoffs at CBS.

Series ratings have been declining, Deadline reported, noting that it was “down double digits” in the demographic of “people and women 18-49.”

The show is the third most watched series in the genre with The View and Live! With Kelly and Mark commanding larger audiences.

As of Thursday, CBS had not announced that the series would be picked up for its 15th season, the outlet reported.

CBS Studios’ development of a new soap opera series is “the result of a partnership with the NAACP and P&G Studios,” according to Deadline, and Ducksworth has been focused on developing The Gates as a result of the professional alliance.

Representation in the daytime soap realm has been sorely lacking for decades, with the last time a series in the genre focused on a black family was the 1989 NBC soap Generations. The series, which ran for episodes from 1989-1991, featured Kelly Rutherford, Kristoff St. Starring John and Vivica A. Fox.

As it stands, there are still only four soap operas on the air: CBS airs The Young and the Restless and The Bold & The Beautiful, as well as ABC’s General Hospital and Peacock’s Days of Our Lives.

The plotline for The Gates, according to Deadline, follows ‘the lives of a wealthy black family in a posh, gated community’.

Val Jean’s credits include writing more than 1,000 episodes of soap operas, according to iMDbas she has won seven shared Daytime Emmy Awards for her writing efforts on shows such as General Hospital and The Bold & The Beautiful.

Val Jean will serve as showrunner and writer on The Gates, as well as an executive producer, the outlet reported. Other EPs on the project include Sheila Ducksworth, who is president of CBS Studios’ NAACP venture; in addition to Kimberly Doebereiner, Leon Russell and Derrick Johnson.

Deadline noted that producers for The Gates are aiming for “an hour a day” on CBS’ daytime schedule, which would create a logjam under current conditions.

Both The Young and the Restless and The Bold and the Beautiful are cemented into their slots amid high ratings and contractual obligations to run for multiple seasons.

Game shows The Price is Right and Let’s Make a Deal both appear safe as they earn strong ratings on streamlined budgets, with occasional crossovers to the network’s prime schedule.