(Published July 1, PDI-Entertainment)
By Oliver M. Pulumbarit
Contributor
Its five-woman roster meshing nicely after a few seasons
together, “The Talk” has gotten livelier than ever, discussing timely topics
from multiple perspectives. The nearly 3-year-old talk show’s hosts are a
watchable and eclectic group, each with considerable knowledge and experience
amassed through years of work in different fields of show biz.
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| 'The Talk' hosts with Sigourney Weaver |
Created by former “Roseanne” actress Sara Gilbert, “The
Talk” has grown into a more cohesive show after a controversial lineup change
in 2011. Gilbert currently hosts with reality show icon Sharon Osbourne, game
show host Julie Chen, actress Aisha Tyler, and comedienne Sheryl Underwood.
Chen, usually the moderator, presents a chosen subject for a
segment in a very clear and news magazine-esque manner. Chen has cohosted news
programs and the US
version of “Big Brother,” but she can be informal and open in sharing personal
accounts.
Osbourne is often brutally honest but she’s also
surprisingly relatable and tender when sharing thoughts on familial issues.
Gilbert has a milder-mannered tone, but is nevertheless able to present
insightful analyses and ideas to her cohosts.
Tyler and Underwood are valuable additions to the group,
both animated and expressive when giving their two cents worth. Tyler
was hilarious as E!’s “Talk Soup” host years back, and it’s gratifying to see
her make her mark alongside other vocal and intelligent women. The sassy and
self-deprecating Underwood, meanwhile, manages to turn more serious gab fests
into hilarious discussions, often injecting her inimitable wit into
conversations.
Unlike the hosts of “The View” (who’ve had resounding
clashes among themselves), it’s obvious that “The Talk” hosts genuinely like
each other. While not everyone has the same viewpoint, they’re all respectful
enough to listen to each other’s opinion, however diverse.
They’re also supportive of each other; that’s been most
apparent in recent episodes, such as when Gilbert talked about her engagement
to her musician girlfriend Linda Perry. In another episode, the gal-pals
“pressure” Underwood into removing her wig to reveal her gray hair. She
immediately got hugs from Tyler and guest host Donny Osmond (and cheers from
the others) for being a good sport.
The hour-long format allows short segments devoted to
lifestyle expert guests and various beauty products, but the most interesting
and empowering parts will always be the roundtable chats. The group took the
bold step of appearing on the show sans makeup a couple of months ago, and
dissected societal and Hollywood norms pertaining to beauty. And in a more
recent episode, the hosts comically dressed up as stereotypes, which led to a
spirited discourse about gender and cultural identity.
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