Jerry O’Connell Close To Inking A Deal To Fill Sharon Osbourne's Former Spot On 'The Talk': Report
Ladies of The Talk, get ready for a shake-up! Jerry O’Connell is reportedly close to signing a deal to become a new full-time co-host on the hit CBS chat show.
According to The Wrap, a source said that the 47-year-old actor will effectively replace Sharon Osbourne, who left the program back in March. Another source told the outlet that negotiations between O’Connell and the talk show have been ongoing since at least May.
If true, the Sliders star, who is a regular guest on the show, would become the The Talk's first full-time male co-host. He would join remaining co-hosts Sheryl Underwood, Amanda Kloots and Elaine Welteroth. ( has taken a leave of absence from the series).
As OK! previously reported, CBS announced that Osbourne "decided" to leave The Talk on March 26. The disgraced host's downfall began when she defended Piers Morgan's freedom of speech after he doubted claims made by Meghan Markle during her and Prince Harry's CBS tell-all with Oprah Winfrey.
After Underwood questioned how Osbourne could defend someone who "uttered" something "racist," on the Wednesday, March 10, episode of TheTalk, Osbourne had a melt down on-air followed by another after the episode — during which she accused CBS of blindsiding her with the Morgan segment.
Shortly after the heated discussion, CBS launched an internal investigation into The Talk episode, putting the show on hiatus. As the scandal continued to worsen, racist allegations were made against the 68-year-old.
- 'We're Going To Have A Good Time': Jerry O'Connell Officially Joins 'The Talk' As First Full-Time Male Cohost, Fills Sharon Osbourne's Former Spot
- 'The Talk' Host Sheryl Underwood Makes It Clear To Jerry O'Connell That She Is The 'Star Of The Show' Post-Sharon Osbourne Ousting
- Has Sharon Osbourne Hit Her Breaking Point? Embattled Former Host Seen Looking Disheveled After Jerry O’Connell Replacement News
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Osbourne was accused of calling former co-host and executive producer Sara Gilbert, who is a lesbian, a "p***y licker" and "fish eater," and allegedly called Julie Chen a "wonton" with "slanty eyes," according to a report by Yashar Ali. Holly Robinson Peete claimed Osbourne said she was "too ghetto"
CBS released a statement on Friday, March 26, that the talk show and Osbourne had parted ways. "Sharon Osbourne has decided to leave The Talk," it read. "The events of the March 10 broadcast were upsetting to 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 for a respectful workplace.
Currently, O’Connell voices Commander Jack Ransom on the animated series Star Trek: Lower Decks and, most recently, starred in the Broadway revival of A Soldier's Play as Captain Taylor.
He has previously filled in as guest host for The Wendy Williams Show and, in 2019, shot 15 episodes of his talk show Jerry O, which aired in first-run-syndication, but was never fully picked up.
O’Connell has been married to Rebecca Romijn since 2007 and the two share 12-year-old twin daughters Dolly and Charlie.
CBS has not commented on the story.
