If you’ve ever sat through a weekday afternoon wondering why the couch looks so different than it did five years ago, you aren't alone. Daytime TV is a revolving door. But The Talk? That show is basically a masterclass in musical chairs. Since its debut back in 2010, the roster of who was on The Talk has shifted so many times that it’s honestly hard to keep track of the original vision versus what we see on CBS today.
It started as a simple idea. Sara Gilbert wanted a space where mothers could talk about the world. No scripts, just raw perspective. But raw perspective eventually led to raw nerves. From the early days of Julie Chen Moonves to the explosive exit of Sharon Osbourne, the lineup has been a barometer for cultural shifts and, let’s be real, a lot of behind-the-scenes drama.
The Original Five: How It All Began
In the beginning, the vibe was very specific. Sara Gilbert, the show's creator, hand-picked a group that felt grounded. You had Julie Chen Moonves (then just Julie Chen) as the moderator. She brought that Big Brother authority and news-anchor polish. Then there was Leah Remini, who didn't have a filter, and Holly Robinson Peete, who brought a certain seasoned Hollywood grace. Sharon Osbourne was the wild card.
It worked. Sorta.
The chemistry was high-energy but volatile. Within just one season, the first major "who was on The Talk" shakeup happened. Leah Remini and Holly Robinson Peete were out. Rumors flew. Remini later famously blamed Sharon Osbourne for her firing on The Howard Stern Show, though Sharon always denied having that kind of pull with the executives. This was the first hint that the show wouldn't just be about parenting—it was going to be about survival.
The Sheryl Underwood and Aisha Tyler Era
After the Season 1 purge, the show found its "Golden Age" stride. Sheryl Underwood joined in Season 2, bringing a stand-up comic’s timing and a Republican perspective that balanced the table. Then came Aisha Tyler.
Aisha was a game-changer. She was incredibly smart, funny, and could pivot from a joke about video games to a serious discussion about racial profiling without missing a beat. For six seasons, this lineup—Chen, Gilbert, Osbourne, Underwood, and Tyler—became the definitive version of the show. They won the Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Entertainment Talk Show Host in 2017. They felt like a real group of friends.
But then, things started to crumble.
The Massive Shifts of 2018 and 2019
The first domino to fall was Aisha Tyler, who left to focus on her directing career and her role on Criminal Minds. She was replaced by rapper Eve. Eve brought a younger, cooler, Philadelphia-bred energy to the show. She was often the most reserved person at the table, which was a nice contrast to Sheryl’s boisterousness.
Then the big one happened. Julie Chen Moonves left in 2018.
Her exit wasn't about the show; it was about her husband, Les Moonves, the then-CEO of CBS who was ousted following a wave of sexual misconduct allegations. Julie stood by him, even adding "Moonves" to her sign-off as a point of defiance. When she left, the show lost its anchor. Carrie Ann Inaba from Dancing with the Stars stepped into the moderator seat, but the tone had permanently shifted.
Sara Gilbert Says Goodbye
In 2019, the creator herself walked away. Sara Gilbert was exhausted. Between producing the show, acting in The Conners, and raising a family, she was done.
"I'm someone who's been doing this since I was eight years old," Gilbert told the audience during her tearful announcement. Her departure felt like the end of an era because it was. Marie Osmond joined for a single season, but the chemistry felt forced. Marie is a legend, but she didn't quite fit the "edgy daytime" vibe the show was moving toward.
The Sharon Osbourne Incident: The Day the Show Changed
If you’re looking into who was on The Talk, you cannot ignore March 10, 2021. This is the day the show became national news for all the wrong reasons.
It started with a discussion about Piers Morgan’s comments regarding Meghan Markle. Sharon Osbourne defended Morgan’s right to his opinion. Sheryl Underwood challenged her, asking what Sharon would say to people who felt Morgan's comments were racist.
The conversation turned white-hot.
Sharon felt she was being framed as a racist on live television. She began yelling, telling Sheryl not to cry and demanding that Sheryl "educate" her. The fallout was immediate. CBS put the show on a multi-week hiatus to investigate. When the show returned, Sharon was gone. She had been the only remaining original host. Her exit marked a complete decoupling from the show’s 2010 roots.
The Modern Roster: Men Join the Table
After Sharon left, the producers did something radical for a show that was originally branded as "mothers talking." They hired men.
Jerry O’Connell became the first permanent male co-host in the show's history. He brought an infectious, almost golden-retriever energy that lowered the tension in the room. Shortly after, Akbar Gbajabiamila from American Ninja Warrior joined. Suddenly, the show wasn't just for moms; it was a co-ed hang.
The current lineup has settled into:
- Sheryl Underwood: The longest-serving host currently on the show.
- Jerry O’Connell: The energetic moderator and comic relief.
- Akbar Gbajabiamila: The athletic, family-oriented voice.
- Amanda Kloots: A fitness instructor who gained national sympathy after the tragic loss of her husband, Nick Cordero, to COVID-19.
- Natalie Morales: The seasoned journalist who brings the "Julie Chen" level of professionalism back to the moderator chair.
Why the Turnover Matters
You might think, it's just daytime TV, who cares? But the evolution of who was on The Talk is actually a really interesting mirror of how we talk about culture. In 2010, the show was about domesticity. In 2024 and beyond, it’s about navigating "cancel culture," racial identity, and gender dynamics.
The shift from an all-female cast to a mixed-gender cast was a survival tactic. Ratings for daytime talk shows have been sliding for a decade as audiences move to YouTube and TikTok. By bringing in Jerry and Akbar, CBS tried to broaden the net. They wanted to capture the "working from home" crowd that isn't just stay-at-home moms anymore.
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The Hosts Who "Almost" Were
There were always guest hosts who felt like they were auditioning. Remember Rosie O’Donnell’s brief stints? Or when Carnie Wilson seemed like she was a shoo-in for a permanent seat? The show has used over 50 different guest hosts over the years, including celebrities like NeNe Leakes and even Kelly Osbourne (which would have been an interesting mother-daughter dynamic).
Lessons from the Couch: What This Means for Viewers
Looking back at the timeline of the show, there are a few takeaways for anyone who follows the industry or just enjoys the drama.
- Chemistry is Unpredictable: You can put five famous people in a room, but that doesn't mean they'll click. The Chen/Osbourne/Gilbert/Underwood/Tyler era worked because they actually hung out off-camera.
- Brand Identity is Fragile: The Talk started as a response to The View. It wanted to be the "nicer" version. Over time, it became just as contentious, proving that conflict—not consensus—is what drives daytime ratings.
- The "Pivot to Men" worked: While purists hated it, the addition of Jerry O'Connell stabilized the show during its most turbulent period. It gave the audience a "break" from the heavy political and social infighting that characterized the Sharon Osbourne years.
If you’re catching up on the show today, don't expect the cozy motherhood chats of 2010. It’s a fast-paced, news-heavy, diverse panel that feels more like a morning news show than a coffee klatch.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Creators
If you are a student of media or just a dedicated fan, here is how to navigate the current landscape of the show:
- Follow the "Social Media Sentiment": If you want to know who might be leaving next, watch the show's official Instagram comments. Fans are incredibly vocal about chemistry issues long before the trades pick them up.
- Watch the "Moderator" Role: Notice how Natalie Morales handles the transitions. In daytime TV, the person who holds the cards (the blue cards with the questions) controls the narrative. If the moderator changes, the show's soul changes.
- Archive the Old Episodes: Many of the early seasons are hard to find on streaming due to music licensing and old contracts. If you find clips of the Remini/Peete era, watch them; they represent a version of the show that CBS has largely tried to scrub from its "official" history.
The story of the hosts is a story of a show trying to find its soul while the world around it changes. It hasn't always been pretty, but it has definitely never been boring.