Sara Gilbert of 'Roseanne' to co-host daytime talk show that replaces 'As the World Turns'

07/22/2010 by Corinne Heller

Sara Gilbert, best known as Darlene Conner from the sitcom Roseanne, will host a new daytime talk show on CBS to replace soap opera As the World Turns, along with Sharon Osbourne, Holly Robinson Peete, Leah Remini, Marissa Jaret Winokur and Julie Chen.

Melissa Gilbert, 46, who stared in the series and musical Little House on the Prairie and who is set to undergo surgery to fix a broken back on Thursday, Tweeted her congratulations to her little sister, who developed the talk show and serves as executive producer.

Sara Gilbert, whose biological mother had adopted Melissa before the Roseanne actress was born, also received kudos from Demi Moore and former talk show host Ricki Lake, to which the 35-year-old responded: "Thank you, ricki!! means so much coming from you.xosara."

As the World Turns , which began in 1956 and won three Daytime Emmys last month, will end in September. CBS' new daytime talk show, whose episodes will last one hour, will begin airing in the fall.The co-hosts are set to discuss "topical events and contemporary issues through the eyes of mothers," CBS said.

ABC also airs its own daytime panel-format talk show - The View, made up of Barbara Walters, who recently underwent heart surgery, Whoopi Goldberg, Sherri Shepherd, Joy Behar and Elisabeth Hasselbeck. Goldberg recently made headlines when she appeared "drugged" on the air after taking medication during a recent flight.

Gilbert received two Emmy nominations for her acerbic role on Roseanne, which aired between 1988 and 1997 and starred comedienne Roseanne and John Goodman. Gilbert played Leslie Winkle on several episodes of the CBS sitcom The Big Bang Theory and also appeared on 24, ER and Grey's Anatomy.

"We were looking for a new format that would speak to the core audience but also have the topical and entertainment value to go even broader," said Barbara Bloom, Senior Vice President, Daytime, CBS Entertainment. "This panel is not a bashful bunch; they are outspoken on any issue you put on the table. It promises to be an hour of television with timely discussions, unfiltered opinions and a lot of personality."

Robinson Peete, 45, recently came in second on Celebrity Apprentice, which was won by rocker Bret Michaels, and also had roles in the shows 21 Jump Street with Johnny Depp and Hangin' With Mr. Cooper. Sharon Osbourne, 57, won an Emmy for her reality series The Osbournes, which starred her husband Ozzy and children Kelly and Jack. She now serves as a judge on America's Got Talent.

Remini, 40, starred in the comedy series The King of Queens alongside Kevin James between 1998 and 2007. Winokur, 37, won a Tony for playing Tracy Turnblad in the Broadway musical Hairspray. Chen is a host on CBS' The Early Show and reality Big Brother.