The TalkSigns Off After 15 Years with Tearful Live Series Finale: 'We Are Very Grateful'

Mar. 15, 2025

The Talk.Photo:CBS

CBS

It was a tearful episode ofThe Talkon Friday, Dec. 20, as the long-running CBS daytime talk showcame to an end after 15 seasons on the air.

Akbar Gbajabiamila, Amanda Kloots, Sheryl Underwood, Jerry O’Connell and Natalie Morales on the final episode of ‘The Talk’.CBS

Afterwards, the quintet took time to express their gratitude — not just to the audience at home, but to the over 250,000 people who made upThe Talk’s live studio audience through the course of its run. “[They] taught me what it takes,” O’Connell, 50, boasted.

Speaking about the legacy of the show, Morales, 52, said: “We gave people an opportunity to kind of take a break in their everyday lives at home; whatever they were doing they could stop, watch us, maybe have a littler laughter and forget their problems for an hour. And I hope we at least did that for you at home and for our studio audience. I hope we gave you a little respite and a chance to uplift one another.”

“We love each other here,” she continued. “I think we’ve shared that respect and joy every day, and we hope you’ve felt it as well.”

Amanda Kloots cries on the final episode of ‘The Talk’.CBS

Kloots, 42, discussed the lessons she learned being on the series, crying as she reflected on the power of having daily conversations with her cohosts.

“Coming here every day and being able to talk to four people… about really fun, silly topics to important topics…. I’m so grateful for that,” she said, her eyes welling up. “We can’t forget that. Listen to each other. Talk to one another. Don’t fight with each other. Really appreciate each other’s opinions. Because that’s what we got to do every day and it was so beautiful.”

“That’s what this show has always been about,” she continued. “It’s about talking and not fighting and really being a part of each other’s family. And I hope that’s what you guys took away from it.”

Gbajabiamila had a similar takeaway. “When I started this journey for me, the theme I had in my head it was going to be conversation over confrontation, especially the climate we’re in today, one thing can set everything off,” the former football player, 45, said. “It’s been a great experience. I hope what we’ve modeled here is replicated throughout the world, is that we can have good conversations; be at difference but still have love and respect for each other, even though we disagree.”

The co-hosts of ‘The Talk’ stand to salute Sheryl Underwood on the show’s series finale.CBS

“I got to thank Sheryl Underwood,” said O’Connell. “I went back and watched my first episode… [and] I was jumping out of my seat. … And Sheryl after the show took me aside and was like, ‘Hey man, you’ve been here before, just act like you’ve been here.’ I really want to thank Sheryl. You’ve been a real inspiration.”

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Sheryl Underwood on the final episode of ‘The Talk’.CBS

After playing a clip of highlights from Underwood’s time on the show, she reflected on the day she was hired, noting that she came in for what she thought was a general meeting only to learn later that it was a job interview.

“I didn’t know that a job was to be had,” she said. “I was ignoring the calls but I had to face what God was taking me to; that God was telling me where to go. So I took the call and went to the meeting.”

She also reflected on her fashion evolution over the course of the series. “Now y’all know when I first got here, I wasn’t walking in heels. I can barely do it now. And then I wasn’t wearing a lot of jewelry and things. And you see things happening for me,” she said. “So I really want to thank the world for taking this fashion journey with me — hair and legs!”

“We thank God for 15 amazing seasons,” Underwood said. “We’re very grateful.”

Concluded Morales: “We thank you all for watching and laughing, sometimes even crying with us. We thank everyone for being here with us. Our wonderful crew here with us every day, to the producing team, to our wonderful, loyal audience_ so many of you who have filled the seats day after day, time after time. Our wonderful executive producers, past and present. To the most wonderful people here in daytime, we’re going to miss you all so much.”

“Raise your glasses everyone,” she said. “ToThe Talk!”

CBS announced in April thatThe Talkwould return this fall for a shortened 15th and final season to “celebrate the show and give it the proper sendoff it deserves.”

The series, which premiered in 2010, has seen many hosts over the years, includingJulie Chen Moonves,Sara Gilbert,Holly Robinson Peete,Aisha Tyler,Sharon Osbourne,Leah Remini,Eve,Elaine Welteroth,Carrie Ann InabaandMarie Osmond.

In response to the show’s cancellation, CBS Entertainment president Amy Reisenbach and CBS Studios prexy David Stapf told PEOPLE at the time that they appreciated all the past and present hosts and colleagues “who contributed throughout the seasons.”

“We truly appreciate the skill, creativity, and dedication everyone involved brought to the show every day,” it continued. “And of course, we thank the numerous guests who appeared, and the millions of viewers who tuned in daily.”

Left to Right: Akbar Gbajabiamila, Amanda Kloots, Natalie Morales, Jerry O’Connell and Sheryl Underwood.Sonja Flemming/CBS via Getty

Sonja Flemming/CBS via Getty

During its time on the air,The Talkgarnered massive success, bringing in 56 Daytime Emmy nominations and winning 11.

In September, Gbajabiamila, Kloots, Morales, O’Connell and Underwood kicked off the concluding season with amusical montageset to the tune of Bill Withers’ 1977 chart-topping hit “Lovely Day.”

PEOPLE previously reportedthat the network is considering having a new daytime soap opera take the talk show’s slot —Beyond the Gates. On Tuesday, Dec. 17, it was announced thatthe new show wouldpremiere on Monday, Feb. 24.

source: people.com