Jerry O’Connell Is In Talks to Fill Sharon Osbourne’s Spot on ‘The Talk’

The Talk could be making history with its rumored top pick for a new host. E News reports that Jerry O’Connell is in talks to replace Sharon Osbourne after her exit from the series in March. If hired, O’Connell would be the show’s first male co-host, although he’s appeared as a guest host multiple times.

A source told E News that O’Connell “will bring a very different energy than Sharon did to set,” adding that the actor is “such a nice person.” He’s being considered for a permanent role after appearing on the show on-and-off over the past decade, and has guest hosted over 25 times so far.

O’Connell previously hosted his own short-lived talk show, 2019’s The Jerry O’ Show, which ran for a three-week preview and featured celebrity interviews and comedy segments. While he’s tried his hand at talk show hosting, he’s also well-known for his acting career in films like Stand By Me, Mission to Mars, and Jerry Maguire.

O’Connell is in talks to join The Talk months after Osbourne left. Her exit came shortly after she defended her friend Piers Morgan on air, standing by him after he made disparaging remarks about Meghan Markle that many saw as racist. During the show, Osbourne complained she was “about to be put in the electric chair” for her relationship with Morgan.

The Talk took a hiatus after Osbourne’s comments, and she left the show just weeks later on March 26. Following her departure from The Talk, CBS issued a statement.

“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,” the network stated at the time. “We also did not find any evidence that CBS executives orchestrated the discussion or blindsided any of the hosts.

“At the same time, we acknowledge the Network and Studio teams, as well as the showrunners, are accountable for what happened during that broadcast as it was clear the co-hosts were not properly prepared by the staff for a complex and sensitive discussion involving race.”

Osbourne later apologized for her comments on Twitter, but admitted to Bill Maher that she was “angry and hurt” after leaving the show. With Osbourne out, The Talk co-hosts include Sheryl Underwood, Amanda Kloots, Eaine Welteroth, and Carrie Ann Inaba, who recently took a health-related hiatus from the show.

Where to watch The Talk