News
Daytime Talk Shows Eroding Landscape: Budgets, Audience, and Video Podcasts, Could Spell Its End
- With The Kelly Clarkson Show, Sherri canceled, and The Jennifer Hudson Show on the bubble, daytime talk show formats longevity is in question.
- Video podcasts such as Call Me Daddy, Good Hang with Amy Poehler, and IMO with Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson and more, are bringing A-list celebrity guests and topics to a broader streaming audience for less cost.
- Daytime Talk Show production costs have sky-rocketed with a decline in viewership overall.
Daytime programming is currently going under yet another shift, similar to how the soap operas began to get canned from 2009-2011, resulting in four shows (Guiding Light, As the World Turns, All My Children and One Life to Live) leaving the daytime TV block, being replaced by how-to shows that eventually fizzled. Now in 2026, the daytime talk show is the next in the cycle to be undergoing a significant change.
As previously reported, The Kelly Clarkson Show is ending its run after its current 7th season comes to a close, and the same can be said for Sherri Shepherd’s talker Sherri which was canceled by its distributor and producer Debmar-Mercury after its current 4th season. Meanwhile, there have been conflicting reports that The Jennifer Hudson Show will survive and be renewed for a 5th season.
So what gives? Are audiences just sick of the format? Not necessarily so, but just like soap opera budgets became too big, the talk shows are now not cheap to producer with skyrocketing production costs. Add that to the fact there is a huge boom in video podcasts that publicists book their A-list clients on, and often prefer to do that, where the exposure on You Tube and other streaming platforms is huge as opposed to cable or syndication.

Photo: Spotify
According to the Hollywood Reporter, “Back-to-back cancellations of talk show staples like The Kelly Clarkson Show and Sherri have heightened fears that video podcasts are coming for traditional TV. Podcasts have already been taking a greater share in the media space, as the shows are able to land the same high-profile guests (take Michelle Obama on Call Her Daddy or Leonardo DiCaprio on New Heights). At the same time, they command a broad reach on YouTube, and now on platforms like Netflix.”
In addition, they share, “TV executives, producers and talent note that video podcasts produce a product that is familiar to talk show and news viewers at a fraction of the price.” They also offer a longer-form interview with their guests, that can be cut up into many viral shorts.
Speaking of cost, talk shows have been a heavily unionized operation. The Jennifer Hudson Show has WGA writers on staff, IATSE crew members a DGA stage manager who oversees rehearsals and tapings. The report added, “With some exceptions, those union jobs are threatened by the rise of lo-fi programming made for digital platforms that in many cases are not beholden to union contracts.”
Video podcasts that are extremely popular with celebrity guests or health and wellness topics include: Amy Poehler’s Emmy-winning, Good Hang, Alex Cooper’s Call Her Daddy, The Joe Rogan Experience, IMO hosted by Michelle Obama and her brother, Craig Robinson, Let’s Talk Off Camera with Kelly Ripa, or Gwyneth Paltrow’s Goop Podcast to name but a few popular ones.
So, do you watch video podcasts more and more as your ‘talk show’ fare or do you still tune-in to your traditional TV daytime talk shows? Do you think come 2027 there may only be a few or none on daytime programming? How would you feel about it? Share your thoughts via the comment section below.
I love the Young and the Restless !
With social media, there isn’t a mystique to celebrities appearing on talk shows. If you see someone promoting a movie, it is safe to say they will appear on the morning shows and then on a talk show, basically saying the same thing. Plus, we can see everything we want on their social media pages.
I like Kelly, but only in small doses. It is funny that two of the best voices in music (Kelly and Jennifer) spend the majority of their time hosting talk shows, while most music artists spend their time writing, recording and touring.
I’m not sure what the budgets are for game shows. Obviously, with “The Price Is Right” still being the number one daytime show, and “Wheel of Fortune” and “Jeopardy” being number one in syndication, here is an audience for game shows. I would love to see “Password” (minus the silliness of the Kiki Palmer version) and “Concentration” come back, as well as “All My Children.”
I want All My Children back, even if the show was only a 30 minute daily episode! I also think that Days of our Lives deserves to be back on NBC.
Doubt we’ll ever see another 30- minute soap launched again. B&B only works because of its international distribution.
NBC gave DAYS slot back to its affiliates. Prior to moving to Peacock, the show was only averaging 1.5 million viewers a day. BTG is pulling in numbers above that in its first year.
General Hospital
Alley Mills Returns to ‘General Hospital’ as Heather Webber

Heather Webber, one of the all-time villains in General Hospital history is on her way back to the canvas, when two-time Daytime Emmy winner, Alley Mills reprises the role beginning on the Thursday, November 5 episode.
TV Insider revealed the comeback news today. Mills began playing the role of Heather back in October of 2002. The previous Heathers included: Robin Mattson, Mary O’Brien and the very first Heather, who was none other than Georganne LaPiere (the half-sister of Cher).
As for Mills, she actually took home the Daytime Emmy last year at the 52nd annual Daytime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Guest Performance in a Daytime Drama Series. She won in the same category back in 2022.

Photo: ABC
FROM THE WONDERS YEARS TO THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL TO GENERAL HOSPITAL
Alley Mills assumed the role of Heather Webber in October 2022 and had ended her initial run in 2023 and then was back again in 2024. Soap fans also know that Mills had played Pam Douglas on the The Bold and the Beautiful since 2006 and appeared on the series through 2019, and made appearance in story in 2021 and 2022.
On B&B, Alley was a part of the memorable storyline which saw Pam and Stephanie’s (Susan Flannery) mother, Ann Douglas (the late Betty White) pass away. In addition to GH and B&B. primetime fans know Alley as Norma Arnold, the mom of the ABC’s hit late 80s and early 90s series, The Wonder Years.
When GH viewers last saw Heather and her crime spree as The Hook, she had taken the life of Brando Corbin (the late Johnny Wactor) and what was believed at the time to be the life of Britt Westbourne (Kelly Thiebaud), although a few years later, Britt showed up alive.
Heather wound up in the slammer at Pentonville, but got released in 2024, when it was revealed that she had a bad hip replacement which resulted in cobalt poisoning which was said to be the root cause of her erratic behavior.
WHAT BRINGS HEATHER WEBBER BACK INTO THE STORY?
Eventually, Heather’s son, Steven Lars (Scott Reeves) returned to Port Charles to retrieve his mother, and to make sure she was taken care for out of town. Now the question becomes, why is Heather back on the GH canvas in 2026?
One theory! Could Heather be revealed as the person stalking Trina Robinson (Tabyana Ali)? After all, Heather is the mother to the late Esme Prince (Avery Pohl). Perhaps, she wants retribution for her daughter, and this is her twisted way of doing it? Or, is something else at play here? Stay tuned!
Take a look at our conversation with Alley from the 2025 Daytime Emmy Awards immediately following her second Emmy win below.
Now let us know, excited to know Alley Mills is returning as Heather? What do you think will be her storyline this time around? Weigh-in via the comment section.
General Hospital
THIS FRIDAY: ‘General Hospital’s’ Tabyana Ali to Drop Music Video for Her Single ‘Pray’

General Hospital’s Tabyana Ali (Trina Robinson) is following up the September 1st premiere and drop of her new single Pray, with the release of the music video for it this Friday, September 25.
Ali made the announcement on Tuesday, September 22 via her Instagram account, which featured snippets from the music video with the date 9.25.26.
The timing couldn’t be better since most of the music industry is all about Sunday night’s September 27 MTV VMAs (Video Music Awards).

Photo: ABC
TRINA TIME
Previiously, Trina and Gio (Giovanni Mazza) performed the song “Pray” at a showcase arranged by music executive Simon (Grady Eldridge), with the looming question of who is Trina’s stalker yet to be revealed.
In more recent episodes of GH, Trina was on the warpath after learning that Brook Lynn (Amanda Setton) was the actual driver of the car involved in the accident with Jordan (Tanisha Harper) and her father, Curtis (Donnell Turner).
Realizing Brook Lynn kept her mouth shut, in the end, Curtis is serving two years of jail time over accosting Isaiah Gannon (Sawani Wilson) believing he was the other driver! When Brook Lynn knew it was her all along. The situation has caused tension between Trina and her music manager.
WHERE TO LISTEN AND FIND TABYANA ALI’S LATEST SINGLE
Pray is based off a poem written by Ali and was turned into a track.
Currently, you can download or stream the song via You Tube Music, Apple Music, Spotify and more.
So, are you looking forward to seeing Tabyana’s music video for her single Pray this Friday? Let us know via the comment section.
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Breaking News
Hayden Panettiere’s Cause of Death Revealed

On Tuesday, September 22, the Greenville, South Carolina Coroner’s office ruled that actress Hayden Panettiere’s death was an accident, attributing the 36-year-old’s passing to be a combination of toxic effects from fentanyl and other drugs that were in her system.
Panettiere was found unresponsive on Sunday, August 16. There have been numerous reports and sources speaking to various outlets about the manner in which the Nashville and Guiding Light alum died, but nothing was certain until now.
The Greenville County Coroner’s office shared that fentanyl, combined with 4-ANPP, Alprazolam (also known as Xanax), Methocarbamol (a muscle relaxant) and Quetiapine (used to treat bipolar disorder and schizophrenia but is sometimes prescribed to treat depression), were all found in Hayden’s system.

Photo: CBS
GUIDING LIGHT ALUM’S DEATH IS STILL UNDER AN ONGOING INVESTIGATION
Meanwhile, the Greenville Police Department shared there is still an ongoing investigation into this case. “Our detectives will continue to follow leads and gather information as we work toward resolving this case,” the department shared.
That is, because despite Panettiere’s death being ruled accidental, authorities continue investigating whether anyone might be criminally responsible for providing the star with a lethal substance. It is being shared that this is “cross-country investigation” stretching from as far as South Carolina to California.
As we previously reported, TMZ shared on September 14 that law enforcement officials believe Hayden’s “long time drug dealer” may have been the person responsible for supplying her with an oxycodone pill laced with fentanyl which she took the morning of her death.
Panettiere “had been temporarily staying” at the apartment in Greenville, the coroner’s office said in August. Authorities did not say whose apartment it was but it was said to later be an Airbnb. It was Hayden’s on-again off-again boyfriend, Brian Hickerson, and his brother Zach who called 911 the afternoon of August 16 to say Panettiere was unresponsive, according to police reports.

Photo: ABC
HAYDEN PANETTIERE IMPRESSED IN EVERY ROLE SHE PLAYED
Soap opera fans still remember Hayden’s as a very young Sarah Roberts on One Life to Live from 1994 until 1997, and then her signature daytime role as Lizzie Spaulding on Guiding Light from 1996-2000.
She later went on to star on the Music City primetime soap opera, Nashville from 2012-2018 on ABC and CMT where she played country and western singer, Juliette Barnes opposite General Hospital alum, Jonathan Jackson (ex-Lucky Spencer), who played her love interest, Avery Barclay.
Over this past weekend, Jackson, Charles Esten (pictured above), Connie Britton, and others from the cast of Nashville gathered for a memorial service in Hayden’s honor to pay their respects for their beloved co-star.
So, what do you think about the ruling in the death of actress Hayden Panettiere that it was an accident involving toxic effects of fentanyl combined with other drugs and medications she was taking at the time? Share your reactions via the comment section below.
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