THE Talk hosts have been snubbed from Emmy nominations for the first time in seven years, as the staff feels “demoralized” after Sharon Osbourne’s exit.
The Talk did not receive a nomination for Outstanding Entertainment Talk Show Host for the first time in seven years and Outstanding Talk Show Entertainment for the first time in nine years when the 2021 Emmy nominations were announced on Tuesday.
The CBS show did receive nominations for Outstanding Lighting Direction, Outstanding Technical Team, Outstanding Hairstyling and Outstanding Makeup.
The Emmy snub comes after Sharon, 68, quit the show in March over her on-air fight with co-host Sheryl Underwood.
The show currently features hosts Sheryl, Amanda Kloots, Elaine Welteroth and Carrie Ann Inaba, who is on a leave of absence.
A source told The Sun: “The staff feels totally demoralized. Everyone is sad. It’s the first time in nine years the show hasn’t been nominated for outstanding talk show.
“The staff needed their spirits lifted with a nomination to at least feel like they are doing a good job.
“To be the lowest-rated network daytime show and now to be told by industry peers that your show isn’t worth a nomination is a hideous feeling.”
The insider said that staff feels the show has “lost all relevance.”
The source continued: “The bad ratings say the audience doesn’t care, but an Emmy snub means the show isn’t respected in the industry and that hurts.”
The Talk staff “all miss Sharon and the glory days of the show when they felt proud.”
As The Sun previously reported, Jerry O’Connell is in final negotiations to join The Talk, as the series has become the lowest-rated network daytime show.
The source added: “The execs think Jerry O’Connell will save the day, but the ratings are still so low. He’s had a month to prove himself and if he’s not improving the numbers by now he won’t in the future.
“Emmy nominations would have given some credibility to the show, but that’s gone.”
The cast shakeup started when Sharon addressed her decision to stand by her longtime friend Piers Morgan’s criticism of Meghan Markle, resulting in an on-air fight with Sheryl, 57, on the March 10 episode.
Sharon felt Sheryl was insinuating she is racist because of her decision to support her friend.
The show took a month-long hiatus to conduct an internal review.
CBS then announced Sharon had quit the show in March.
In April, Carrie Ann, 53, was out for two weeks because of side effects from her various autoimmune conditions.
She then announced she is taking a leave of absence from the CBS show.
The leave of absence comes amid her alleged feud with co-host Sheryl.
A source claimed to The Sun: “Sheryl is thrilled Carrie Ann is gone for now.
“Now Sheryl feels the show can assemble their dream team of cohosts to give The View a run for their money, instead of the slow walk The Talk has been doing.”
The source continued that Sheryl “loves moderating” the show and “being the focal point of every conversation.”
The source added: “She didn’t think Carrie Ann did a good job of leading the show.
“Sheryl feels she is much more capable and has a more dynamic personality for the job.”
Carrie Ann also allegedly felt “stressed” after Sharon left.
A separate source told The Sun at the time: “The hosts on the show get along well. Carrie Ann’s current and past absence only had to do with her autoimmune conditions.”
Jerry, 47, has been co-hosting for The Talk’s Men of May special.
The comedian “is in final negotiations” to replace Sharon.
Sheryl and Elaine are not on board with the new addition, a source previously told The Sun.
The source claimed: “On camera everyone is lovey-dovey and laughing together, but off camera Sheryl and Elaine have raised some serious concerns.
“Sheryl thinks Jerry is fine for the Men of May month producers planned, but beyond that she feels we are telling the audience that women cannot behave themselves and be friends.
“It’s not the narrative Sheryl wants out there and she thinks it would further damage public perception.”
As for Elaine, she wants to focus less on the light-hearted and humorous topics discussed with Jerry on the show.
The source continued: “Elaine wants to use her voice to address important conversations like Black Lives Matter, under representation in the workplace and police brutality, not surface conversations about Katy Perry not shaving her legs.
“Elaine feels she was hired to have deep meaningful conversations and now the show is abandoning that plan to have silly conversations.”
Though Jerry is a big name, the source said: “The truth is that no one can replace Mrs. O. Sharon was the centerpiece of the show.”
A second insider said: “The hosts are enjoying ‘The Talk’s Men of May’ with Jerry and the fun and entertaining discussions they’ve been having on the show.
“The Talk will continue to address important, timely topics as well.”
