Daytime Talk Show ‘The Real’ Is Reportedly Naming This Actress as Its New Co-Host
After three seasons of having just four hosts, it looks like the daytime talk show The Real is getting a new addition. The show is reportedly set to announce it has hired actress and comedian Amanda Seales as its newest co-host. The show is in its fifth season, and Seales is said to be joining in 2020. It’s said that production chose Seales due to her ability to stir up controversy.
Why ‘The Real’ is looking for a new co-host
The Real first premiered in 2012 during a summer trial run in major cities across the U.S. It was marketed as a fresh panel-style, round table talk show featuring young hosts of all backgrounds to dish on current trends in lifestyle and entertainment. The show consisted of five hosts: singer and reality star Tamar Braxton, comedian Loni Love, actress Tamera Mowry-Housely, singer Adrienne Bailon, and style expert and host Jeannie Mai.
The show was picked up for the fall 2013 season. Following the second season, Braxton was asked not to return, starting major speculation around why. She took to social media and spoke in interviews alleging that her co-hosts played a part in her firing. They denied that they had anything to do with her being let go and claimed they had no idea she was on the chopping block.
It was later revealed that behind the scenes research contributed to Braxton’s firing. Blogger Love B Scott reported that she wasn’t reading well with the audience, and sales executives for the show didn’t find her to be a good fit with advertisers.
It was also alleged that production found her too difficult to deal with. The Daily Mail added to the claim that Braxton was difficult to work with, citing on-set tantrums and issues with her and her then-husband, Vincent Herbert, serving as executive producers on the show while the other co-hosts were not.
The fifth seat has been empty since Braxton’s exit, using guest co-hosts from time to time.
‘The Real’ is reportedly making Amanda Seales a new co-host
Seales has been a guest co-host a number of times over the past few seasons, and according to the network, viewers loved her. The Jasmine Brand exclusively reported on Dec. 20 that Seales will be the official co-host beginning in 2020.
Sources told the site, “She [Seales] guest co-hosted on the show for a while and they loved her, she really connected with the audience!” Insiders also noted that the ratings for the show continued to increase and that Seales will add diversity to the panel with her wide range of knowledge on culture, politics, and entertainment.
Seales considers herself to be a thought leader in the industry and has become notorious for giving her unsolicited opinion on things that affect black culture. Her most recent credits include HBO’s Insecure. She also hosts her own popular podcast, Small Doses.
Current co-hosts of The Real are said to be excited about having Seales on board. The show is picked up for at least two additional seasons, which will run through 2022.
