Ratings For 'The Talk' Reportedly Soar With Natalie Morales On The Panel Amid Rumored On Set Tension With Cohost Sheryl Underwood
Sometimes change is good!
Since new host Natalie Morales joined The Talk, ratings for the daytime chat fest have soared — despite rumored on set tension between her and cohost Sheryl Underwood.
For the week of October 25-29, The Talk garnered an average of 1.5 million viewers, the highest ratings in eight months, reported The Sun, with an insider spilling that the NBC News veteran is being credited with “saving” the show.
Morales was hired as the “secret sauce to help improve ratings,” an insider dished, adding: “She is someone in the industry that no one has an unkind word to say about and that reputation is well deserved.”
Not only have fans taken to her, but the crew appears to be enamored with the 49-year-old journalist. “To say she has been welcomed with open arms is an understatement,” the source squealed. “Love at first sight would be the more accurate way to put it.”
Despite ratings being at a season high, OK! recently learned there is behind-the-scenes tension between Morales and Underwood. “Sheryl and Natalie seemingly get along fine, but there is some unspoken tension,” a source explained, noting the former Today host getting the coveted role as moderator has irked the comedian.
- 'The Talk' Host Sheryl Underwood Has 'Unspoken Tension' With Natalie Morales For Taking Over Coveted Role As Moderator
- Sheryl Underwood 'Blindsided' By Natalie Morales Hiring On 'The Talk', Reportedly Jealous Cohosts Are In The Spotlight
- Natalie Morales Joins 'The Talk' Following Announcement She Is Leaving NBC News To 'Pursue A New Adventure'
“Since the moderator position has been taken away from Sheryl and given to Natalie, Sheryl can’t help interjecting herself and stepping on Natalie’s role and cueing the other hosts,” the source continued. “[Sheryl] asks, ‘what about you? Have anything to add?”
The source continued, “Natalie won’t say anything, but you can tell it’s annoying and borderline disrespectful.”
Underwood’s alleged disdain for the veteran news personality grew after she was reportedly “blindsided” by Morales being hired in the first place, with a source noting she “felt she should have been consulted and kept in the loop out of respect for her seniority with the show.”
The Talk is currently in its 12th season and hosted by Underwood, Morales, Amanda Kloots, Jerry O’Connell and Akbar Gbajabiamila.
