Marissa Jaret Winokur Leaves 'The Talk'

By Christine Fenno Posted Jan 15th 2011 09:41AM

Last fall, Marissa Jaret Winokur made the rounds promoting CBS' new morning chatfest, 'The Talk,' along with the panel's other stars: Julie Chen, Sharon Osborurne, Leah Remini, Holly Robinson Peete and Sara Gilbert.

The series was repeatedly described in the press as a knock-off of ABC's 'The View,' and the creators surely hoped Winokur's 'Mom in the Street' interviews would help set it apart.

Now, months after the show's October premiere, the actress is walking away.

"I will not be returning to 'The Talk' this year," Winokur tells People.com, confirming that she prefers to focus on her new clothing line and developing her own cable series.

An executive producer on 'The Talk' says that Winokur's departure is "a mutual decision, based on time, not talent."

The 37-year-old New York native was brought on board to contribute twice-a-week 'Mom in the Street' segments, taking the show out of the studio setting. "But as the show evolved," Winokur says, "there really wasn't room for my segments."

Busy raising a 2-year-old son, the Broadway veteran (who won a 2003 Tony award for 'Hairspray') acknowledges that she's also dealing with a sudden death in the family over the holidays. "I'm still grieving over the loss of my father....I loved my father so much. He was my inspiration....He was the one who told me I could be anything I wanted to be when I was growing up."

Brad Bessey, exec producer on 'The Talk,' said in a statement: "We think the world of Marissa as a creative talent, on-air personality and super mom....The show is trending toward more time with panel conversations and interviews, creating fewer opportunities for the mom-on-the-street segments. We are grateful beyond words to Marissa for her hard work, unrivaled energy and enthusiasm; and the integral role she played in the successful launch of The Talk. We wish her the very best."

Here's a clip of Winokur, before her departure from the series, interviewing men about being Stay-at-Home Dads:

Tags: julie chen, Marissa Jaret Winokur, sharon osbourne, the talk, the view

Comments

(57)

Monday 17 January

By Me

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No you are thinking of the TV movie hairspray. Zack Efron wasnt in the Broadway version.

On Broadway .. Marissa played Tracy Turnblad from Jul 18, 2002-Aug 10, 2003.

Saturday 15 January

By nov2rememberout

NITIN NOV FOR YOU.

By Ted Bundy

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What a cow. Go back to the grazing fields.

By jenne

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Let me guess, you are perfect, Ted Bundy, with no bad habits of your own? Everyone always wants to put down overweight people. Take a look in the mirror and realize that you have your own downfalls.

Sunday 16 January

Never said I was perfect, but at least I'm not a fat slob with no self control like you and this Marissa cow. Thanks to people like you, health care costs are sky high.

By lita

jenne--Don't try to reason with people like this. Ugly, extremely personal shots at someone he knows nothing about? And what has the cost of health care to do with anything? Perhaps he should look into mental health care, given his demeanor... and the fact that he glorifies a serial killer by taking "Ted Bundy" as his screenname says a lot about his mental health issues. Sad, really. (Perhaps if he had a bit more success with women--or men--it might help that borderline personality.)

The whole show stinks, and way too many hosts. Lisa Remi is mouthy and Sara is too quiet. Cancel. Julie, nice to have your husband run where you work.

By Reeta Slayworth

I suppose you meant "Leah Remini"? Nowhere NEAR the correct spelling!

Wednesday 08 June

By no name

I concur!

By icdou007

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Who let you out, go back to jail. Rude Dude.

By lovethetalk

Obviously none of you watch the show lol...your saying all the wrong info and wrong names. Its Leah Remini first off and shes hilarious...and noones going to fire Sarah since the show was her idea and Julie Chen is funny and her husband owns the network so shes not going anywhere either!!

Yeah, some of us have better things to do than watch this crap.

By keyingatmach5

Still Stinks

By Joanne

noones?

By NYC

I don't care who they are, what they do or who they are marries to. The only two worthy are Marissa & Holly Robinson Peete. The others are loud mouths, smug, & not at all interesting. How about some intelligent women who can actually have a normal conversation without yelling or being rude?

By Viewer321

I've never watched The Talk. I have seen these women on other shows and they are all obnoxious, loud control freaks. The View is bad enough, now we have two of them that need to be canceled.

By tantree

The show is horrible. I have tried many different times to watch it thinking it would get better but it hasn't.

By MickeyBlue

This self-important, self-delusional not-so-honest person once claimed in a magazine (when fatter than she is now) that she was a size 8. Oh, puhleeze. If you're fat (or skinny, for that matter) own it. She was (and is?) a size 16 if anything. Or even a plus-size 16. I hate it when individuals lie about their size and/or weight. Makes young girls unable to see themselves with any sense of reality and leads to eating disorders. As a size 8 for the first time in my life, I know what it looks like and how hard it was to get here. For real. Get real, girl, and you'll be much happier. Honest.

By lori walker

Leah is a b*tch. Has little regard for the public Is a jersey girl with the same brains Sharron made a huge mistake going with this group Money It won't last and this Julie woman Very elite and has more money than time Sat at the table with CBS hubby wining she wants to have a show to fill her days And we get this mess The View is bad enough Joy Bher Needs to do us a favor and leave the country for France

By LORENZO

I THOUGHT THE SHOW GOT CANCELED

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