The Talk Reverses Course, Postpones Premiere Following Strike Backlash
The Talk will not be talking after all: After CBS announced that the daytime talk show would air new episodes starting this Monday, its return is now on hold amid the ongoing WGA strike. “The Talk is pausing its season premiere,” a network spokesperson said in a statement on Sunday. “We will continue to evaluate plans for a new launch date.”
The move comes after Drew Barrymore also postponed the return of her daytime talk show on Sunday, following strong backlash from Hollywood writers who accused her of crossing their picket line. “I have listened to everyone, and I am making the decision to pause the show’s premiere until the strike is over,” Barrymore wrote in a statement. The Jennifer Hudson Show has also paused production and delayed its Season 2 premiere after initially setting this Monday as a return date.
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The Talk typically employs one WGA writer. According to our sister site Variety, the position would not have been filled during the strike, with the hosts ad-libbing their remarks.
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ABC rival The View, which is also a WGA signatory, opened its new season earlier this month, and as such has seen its studio get picketed. Daytime talk shows Karamo and Sherri are still set to return this Monday for their sophomore seasons as well.
CBS’ The Talk has no on-camera changes to speak of for the coming season — Akbar Gbajabiamila, Amanda Kloots, Natalie Morales, Jerry O’Connell and Sheryl Underwood will all return as hosts, reportedly on an updated set — but it does have a new showrunner calling the shots. Emmy winner Rob Crabbe, who most recently served as the long-running executive producer of CBS’ The Late Show With James Corden, was tapped back in June to oversee The Talk Season 14.
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