The lecture has been cancelled! The daytime series ends with season 15 – three years after Sharon Osbourne was fired over allegations of racism

CBS’s long-running daytime show, The Talk, is ending this year after 15 seasons.

The network made the official announcement Friday morning after months of rumors and low ratings in the wake of Sharon Osbourne’s departure in 2021.

“The Talk broke new ground when it launched 14 years ago by returning to CBS daytime with a refreshing and award-winning format,” CBS Entertainment president Amy Reisenbach and CBS Studios prexy David Stapf said in a joint statement. ‘Over the years, it has been a key program on CBS’ top-rated daytime program, bringing current, important and entertaining topics and discussions into living rooms around the globe.’

The duo continued, “It goes without saying that hosting and producing a year-round talk show is no easy task, and we express our sincere gratitude to our amazing hosts Akbar Gbajabiamila, Amanda Kloots, Natalie Morales, Jerry O’Connell and Sheryl Underwood .’

‘We would also like to acknowledge our former presenters and colleagues who have contributed over the seasons. We truly appreciate the skill, creativity and dedication that everyone involved brought to the show every day,” Reisenbach and Stapf concluded.

The final season will conclude in December 2024 with a ‘proper send-off’.

The cancellation comes as CBS is developing a new daytime drama titled The Gates.

The show’s longtime executive producer Kristin Matthews stepped down in June 2023, the magazine reported, with The Late Late Show with James Corden executive producer Rob Crabbe replacing her instead.

According to Deadlinethe series, which first premiered in 2010, had become the ‘lowest-rated show on CBS daytime.’

Still, the show is said to be the third most-watched series in the genre, with The View and Live! With Kelly and Mark commanding larger audiences.

The program’s original hosts included Osbourne, Sara Gilbert, Julie Chen Moonves, Holly Robinson Peete, Leah Remini and Marissa Janet Winokur.

Over the years, Aisha Tyler, Eve, Carrie Ann Inaba, Marie Osmond and Elaine Welteroth have filled slots as hosts.

The Talk won an impressive Daytime Emmy Awards and a total of 56 nominations.

After Osbourne’s exit and none of the original co-hosts sitting at the table after season 11, ratings dropped drastically.

Before Osbourne, 71, left the show in a blaze of controversy, The packaging had reported how The Talk averaged 1.509 million daily viewers from September 2020 to March this year.

After Osbourne’s heated exchange about racism with co-host Sheryl Underwood, the talk show went on hiatus and went into four weeks of reruns.

When the show returned without Osbourne, it reportedly averaged 1.305 million total viewers between April 12 and May 16 — losing 204,000 viewers each day, resulting in a 14% drop.

In March, Deadline reported that the show has dropped “double digits” in the “people and women 18-49” demographic.

The controversy began when Osbourne delivered a vociferous defense of Morgan, who left Good Morning Britain following furious criticism of his staunch insistence that he did not believe Markle’s explosive claims in her interview with Oprah Winfrey.

Allegations then surfaced that Osbourne made racist remarks about co-hosts backstage on The Talk, claims she has vehemently denied.

‘Sharon Osbourne has decided to leave The Talk,’ CBS said in a statement confirming her departure in March 2021. ‘The events of the March 10 broadcast were upsetting for 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 statement continued.

“We also found no evidence that CBS executives orchestrated the discussion or blindsided any of the hosts,” CBS said, responding to claims from Osbourne’s camp that she was “set up to fail” by being pushed into the debate of manufacturers.

“At the same time, we recognize that the network and studio teams and showrunners are responsible for what happened during that broadcast, as it was clear that the co-hosts were not properly prepared by staff for a complex and sensitive discussion involving race,” the statement added .

‘During this week’s break we are coordinating workshops, listening sessions and training on equality, inclusion and cultural awareness for the hosts, producers and crew. Moving forward, we are identifying plans to improve the production staff and produce procedures to better serve the hosts, the production and ultimately our viewers,’ CBS said.

On The Talk, Osbourne defended Morgan in an on-air debate with Underwood that got heated.

“Educate me, tell me when you’ve heard him say racist things,” Osbourne said of Morgan to Underwood, who is black.

‘I feel very much like I’m about to be put in the electric chair because I have a friend who a lot of people think is racist, so that makes me a racist?’ Osbourne added.

That led to a dust-up with Underwood, who was surprised by the ferocity of Osbourne’s defense.

Osbourne issued an apology for her remarks, but the show went on hiatus as CBS launched an investigation.