Who better to replace Sara Gilbert on CBS’ “The Talk” than ... Marie Osmond?
TMZ is reporting that the network will make the announcement on Tuesday; CBS isn’t commenting.
Sure, both women were teenage TV stars. Osmond was 15 in 1975 (the year Gilbert was born) when she began hosting the ABC variety show “Donny & Marie” with her older brother. Gilbert was 13 when “Roseanne” premiered in 1988; she co-starred as the title character’s daughter, Darlene.
(She continues to play Darlene on spinoff series “The Conners,” which Gilbert also executive produces.)
But Gilbert is a liberal, an activist and a lesbian. And Osmond has, after more than half a century in show business, maintained her squeaky-clean image as a faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Osmond does have daytime experience — she and her brother hosted their own daytime talk show “Donny and Marie” from 1998-2000. And she has made guest appearances as a member of “The Talk” panel, which currently includes Eve, Carrie Ann Inaba, Sharon Osbourne and Sheryl Underwood.
According to TMZ, there was “a little grumbling” among members of “The Talk” panel about Osmond coming on board. “We’re told they feel a better replacement for Sara would have been someone younger and edgier ... not the 59-year-old singer. But, the bosses laid down the law, and Marie is a go,” TMZ reported.
Gilbert’s last day on “The View” will be Aug. 2; CBS is neither confirming a start date for Osmond or that she’s even been hired. The show airs weekdays at 2 p.m. on KUTV-Channel 2.
But should she come on board after Gilbert exits, she’ll be logging a lot of frequent-flier miles. Marie and Donny have announced they’re ending their Las Vegas show — but not until November.