CBS’ “The Talk” made things official on today’s broadcast of the daytime talk show. Actor and comedian Jerry O’Connell will become the show’s first permanent male co-host, filling a spot left open following the departure of Sharon Osbourne in March.
“It’s real exciting,” said O’Connell during the on-air announcement. “First of all, I want to say, you ladies have been so welcoming to me. I mean, I came here as a guest months ago, and just from the moment I walked in, you’re just gracious, you’re kind, you’re fun, and it worked. And here we are. We’re going to have a lot of fun, we really are.”
“We are beyond thrilled Jerry O’Connell is our new host. We loved his infectious enthusiasm, humor, openness and insights as a guest co-host and look forward to him now bringing those dynamic qualities to the show every day,” said Heather Gray and Kristin Matthews, Executive Producers, “The Talk,” in a joint statement. “As an accomplished actor, devoted husband and father, Jerry will bring a unique and entertaining perspective to the conversation.”
As for how his family feels about him joining the show, particularly his daughters, O’Connell said, “I think they’re very excited. My whole family is very excited. You know, it’s an exciting time. It’s something new, you know, I don’t want to say it’s scary, but it’s new so it’s a change. And change is good. You have to do things that scare you, that shake it up a bit, and this is definitely shaking it up.”
First reported by TheWrap, the show is said to have been in discussions with O’Connell and his representatives in making him a permanent co-host since May. Incidentally, that’s a period in which the show has been featuring celebrity male guest co-hosts, including O’Connell and Justin Baldoni (“Jane the Virgin,” “The Bold and the Beautiful”), among others. Ratings have been up slightly ever since, albeit the show’s overall audience remains low.
With O’Connell’s hiring, he’ll be joining current co-hosts Sheryl Underwood, Amanda Kloots, Elaine Welteroth, along with a returning Carrie Ann Inaba, to the table at CBS Studio Center in Studio City in a season that’ll mark the show’s first without a single original co-host returning. Additionally, it’s understood that a good majority of talk shows, including “The Talk,” will be resuming with in-studio audiences in the fall.