NEWS'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
Ladies of The Talk, get ready for a shake-up! Jerry O’Connell will officially be joining the hit CBS chat show as a full-time cohost.
The actor, who began guest hosting for The Talk’s Men of May special, becomes The Talk's first full-time male co-host. He joins remaining co-hosts Sheryl Underwood, Amanda Kloots and Elaine Welteroth. ( has taken a leave of absence from the series.)
Underwood announced the news on the Wednesday, July 14, episode, opening the show saying, "This person has been doing some serious training to get ready for their new hosting duties."
A video then played of the Sliders star working out and heading to The Talk studios, as he greeted crew members before heading on stage to join his new costars.
"It's really exciting," he said. "You ladies have been so welcoming to me. I came here as a guest months ago. From the moment I walked in, you're gracious, you're kind, you're fun and it worked. Here we are. We're going to have a lot of fun, we really are."
Welteroth stated that The Talk ladies are "lucky" to have O’Connell on the show, as it takes a "real man" to come on a woman's program.
"I love having you on set everyday," Kloots added. "You bring such an amazing energy to this studio. I learn from you everyday. You are an incredible host, and we are so lucky to have you here.”
O’Connell then thanked the crew noting, "It's a special feeling around here," to which Underwood said he adds to. "You make everybody smile. You know names. You say good morning to everybody."
"We're going to have a good time," the actor added.
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- '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
The 47-year-old actor will effectively replace Sharon Osbourne, who left the program back in March. 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 The Talk, Osbourne had a meltdown 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.
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; the two share 12-year-old twin daughters Dolly and Charlie.
