‘The Talk’ Ends Its 15-Year Run With Boisterous, Emotional Sign-off: ‘We Hope We Gave You a Little Respite From the World’s Problems’

With ten minutes to go before “The Talk” signed off for good, the champagne was already flowing on set. “The Talk” ended its 15-year run on Friday with one final live episode, and the show’s producers ended the show’s run by gathering its cast and crew on stage for a final, celebratory toast.

The crowd hit the stage to celebrate alongside hosts Akbar Gbajabiamila, Amanda Kloots, Natalie Morales, Jerry O’Connell and Sheryl Underwood, as they gave their last farewell.

“We thank you all for watching and laughing, sometimes even crying along with us,” Morales said. “We thank everyone for being here with us. Our wonderful crew here with us every day, to the producing team, to our wonderful, loyal audience. So many of you who have filled these seats day after day, time after time. Our wonderful executive producers past and present. To the most wonderful people here in daytime, we’re going to miss you all so much.”

Added Underwood: “We thank God for 15 amazing seasons. We’re very grateful.”

“The Talk” finale opened with a lengthy standing ovation by the studio audience for the hosts, who were quickly brought to tears. “I just wanted to know why everyone’s being so nice today,” quipped O’Connell.

O’Connell singled out Underwood, the show’s longest-tenured host, for integrating him into “The Talk”: “I went back and watched my first episode. I mean, you guys aren’t gonna believe this, but I was jumping out of my seat. And Sheryl, after the show, took me aside and was just like, ‘hey, man, you’ve been here before. Just act like you’ve been here. And I really want to thank Sheryl.”

Said Morales: “For me, the legacy of the show is the joy that we brought people. We gave people an opportunity to take a break in their everyday lives. Whatever they were doing, they could just stop and watch us, maybe have a little laughter, and forget their problems for an hour. And I hope we at least did that for you at home, for our studio audience. I hope we gave you just a little respite from some of the world’s problems. We love each other here. I think we’ve shared that respect and joy every day, and we hope you felt it as well.”

For Kloots, “I live with a child, so coming here every day and being able to talk to people… about really fun, silly topics to important topics, I’m so grateful for that. We don’t fight with each other, we really appreciate each other’s opinions.”

Gbajabiamila credited “a great work environment. To come here every single day and enjoying being here at work. No matter what corner of the building I was in, it was always just good energy, good people. When I started this journey, the theme that I had in my head was it was going to be conversation over confrontation. Especially the climate that we’re in today.”

The final episode featured a pre-taped package looking back at Underwood’s tenure on the show, having been there the longest (joining for Season 2 in 2011), as well as a compilation of clips from some of the wildest moments from 15 years of “The Talk.”

Underwood shared the story of when she first auditioned to join “The Talk,” and first met original hosts Sarah Gilbert (who originated the series) and Julie Chen Moonves. “I said, the girl from ‘Big Brother’ and girl from ‘Roseanne’? Sure. I don’t think I have a job. I think I’m just going to meet them. So I meet them, and then I go to breakfast at the Polo Lounge with Sharon Osbourne. And she vomits on me at the Polo Lounge. This is a true story.”

Underwood said she kept the Sharon Osbourne vomit story a secret until Osbourne shared it. “She tells the end of the story that she got in her car and she vomited all of her car,” Underwood said. “She had a stomach bug. I’m so glad I didn’t offer her a ride home.”

The finale’s one guest was Howie Mandel, who had made regular appearances on “The Talk” and visited one more time to pay tribute to the hosts via awards dubbed “The Talkies.”

“This show has been a real second home for me over the years,” Mandel said. “So today I’m here to do something special for my friends. Nikki Glaser gets the Golden Globes. I get this.”

The Talkie for “best competitor” went to Morales. Gbajabiamila was named “most likely to crash a cooking segment.” Kloots was given the award for “pillow prizefighter.” O’Connell was handed the Talkie for “best performance by a topless host.” Underwood was given the honor for “best 1-800 shout out.”

Underwood thanked the show’s director “who saved my life. When I first came here, we sat at a table and I thought they were only filming me from the waist up. But I didn’t know they could see all the shots. And he whispers in my ear, ‘close your legs.’ And I would also like to apologize to camera five.”

“The Talk” ended appropriately with a lengthy credits sequence, featuring clips of all the crew who worked on the show.