How Julie Chen's Exit Changed The Talk, According To Co-Host

The Talk Julie Chen CBS
(Image credit: CBS Screenshot)

The cast of The Talk has had to deal with some major changes recently. Back in September, Julie Chen announced her decision to leave the show. With a month having passed since then, co-host Eve opened up about how Chen's exit has altered The Talk. Eve said:

They've changed it a lot. I think it's brought us closer as a cast, which is really true. We miss her, for sure. But at the same time, we're dedicated to keeping the show and making the show amazing. That's the best way that I can say it, it's us figuring out that new normal. And I think we're figuring it out.

The new normal means moving on without Julie Chen, something Eve and the rest of the cast are now working on. When Eve shared how the cast is handling the changes with Variety, she also credited The Talk's executive producers with pulling the cast together. Saying they made it easy for them to move on after a tumultuous month.

Created by The Conners' Sara Gilbert, the series is now in its ninth season, and Julie Chen had been a regular co-host ever since the show began. Gilbert and Sharon Osbourne are now the only original cast members left on the talk show, with the three other original hosts exiting after the first season.

Julie Chen's exit has undoubtedly shaken up The Talk's ninth season. Eve sharing that the cast has grown tighter in light of her departure is an encouraging sign, though. One of the keys to the series' success has been the dynamic between the women, and the fact that there is harmony between them is a big sign of the strength of their relationships off-screen. This is a strength that translates to their time on the show and, subsequently, brings in viewers.

Enduring a difficult situation, such as a cast departure, can test things. Eve shared that she considers Julie Chen a friend and that the adjustment has been "extremely hard." Eve also revealed that The Talk co-hosts were all told at the same time about Chen's exit.

The ninth season of The Talk marks Eve's second as a co-host on the show. So, she has had to deal with getting used to the show in the first season, and, now in her second season, she is adjusting to a cast change. Julie Chen announced her departure from the series in a pre-recorded message, which cited her desire to spend more time with her husband and son as the impetus for her decision.

While Julie Chen decided to leave The Talk, which features the panel discussing hot topics and interviewing celebrities, she has remained on another CBS series, and her status with Big Brother reportedly remains unchanged. Chen's decision to leave came after her husband, Les Moonves, resigned from CBS.

The former chairman and CEO of the network left following allegations of sexual misconduct, which he denied. Julie Chen offered a public indication of her support for her husband by signing off from her post on Big Brother by saying "I'm Julie Chen Moonves," when her standard sign off had, previously, left out her married name.

As for The Talk itself, the current cast is moving forward with new episodes. The Talk airs weekdays at 2 p.m. ET on CBS. The chat-fest is among a lot of shows airing new episodes this fall, so be sure keep on top of all the premieres.

Britt Lawrence

Like a contented Hallmark movie character, Britt happily lives in the same city she grew up in. Along with movies and television, she is passionate about competitive figure skating. She has been writing about entertainment for 5 years, and as you may suspect, still finds it as entertaining to do as when she began.