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Julie Chen relinquishing daily anchor role on “The Early Show” to appear on new CBS daytime talk show

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CBS plans to launch a new one-hour daily talk show in October to replace the soap opera “As the World Turns,” which ends its 54-year run in September.

Among the program’s six celebrity co-hosts will be a face familiar to CBS viewers: “Big Brother” host Julie Chen, who also co-anchors the network’s morning newscast “The Early Show” and is married to CBS Chief Executive Leslie Moonves. The news of the pickup was first reported by the website Deadline Hollywood.

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Because of her new role on the daytime talk show, Chen will no longer serve as a daily anchor on “The Early Show,” though she will continue to appear on the newscast, according to a person familiar with the arrangements.

The as-yet-untitled show, which resembles the popular ABC gabfest “The View,” will focus on topical entertainment and news stories through the eyes of mothers. Chen and Moonves had a baby boy, Charlie, in September, and she returned from maternity leave in May.

CBS spokesman Chris Ender said Moonves was not involved in the decision to pick up the show, which was decided by Nina Tassler, the network’s entertainment president.

“The pilot definitely stood out, screening and testing very well,” Ender said. “It’s a show with a familiar form but with big personalities and a distinct point of view. It broadens our slate of daytime shows and we think it has the potential to stand out and make some noise.”

The other five panelists will be “Roseanne” actress Sara Gilbert, who is also an executive producer, “21 Jump Street’s” Holly Robinson Peete, “America’s Got Talent” judge Sharon Osbourne, “The King of Queens” star Leah Remini and Broadway actress Marissa Jaret Winokur.

The talk show beat out three other pilots in contention for the “As The World Turns” slot: a remake of “Pyramid” hosted by Andy Richter, a cooking competition fronted by chef Emeril Lagasse and another talk show featuring Valerie Bertinelli.

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-- Matea Gold

twitter.com/mateagold

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