EXCLUSIVE: Actor Jerry O'Connell and model wife Rebecca Romijn take their union to TV in a new daytime talk show
- Actor Jerry O'Connell caught the eye of CBS when he was a guest co-host on The View last year
- He's been tapped to do his own talk show that will go up against Live with Kelly and Michael next season
- O'Connell insisted that his wife be his sidekick on the show
- Actress Garcelle Beauvais will be the third wheel
Jerry O'Connell has landed a lucrative deal with CBS to star in a daytime talk show - and his sidekick will be none other than his actress wife Rebecca Romijn.
O'Connell, who has starred in such films as Jerry Maguire and Scream 2 and in the TV series Sliders, was tapped for the new job following a string of guest co-host turns on The View last year,
'He was terrific,' said a CBS insider. 'Funny, sharp-witted and congenial.'
Scroll down for video
Make 'em laugh: Jerry O'Donnell was a hit when he was a guest co-host on The View several times last year with Sherri Shepherd and Barbara Walters
Love match: Jerry and Rebecca have been married for seven years and he insisted she be on the show. They will be joined by Garcelle Beauvais
CBS is said to be really high on him and the new not-yet-titled show, which is being primed as a possible replacement for Queen Latifah's daytime talk show.
Although CBS has vehemently denied that Latifah will be canceled, well paced sources tell MailOnline they believe CBS will likely end Queen Latifah's show after this season.
Jerry will go up against the ratings winner Kelly and Michael on ABC, starring perennial favorite Kelly Ripa and Michael Strahan.
'They believe Jerry has what it takes to contend with the 'Live with Kelly & Michael' audience. They've put a lot of money into his talk show and believe it will be a breakout success when it launches next season,' a source told MailOnline.
What remains to be seen, say sources, is whether or not the on-air chemistry between Jerry and his wife Rebecca Romijn is as good as it is in real life. The 40-year-old actor was adamant the network hire his wife to be one of his sidekicks on the show.
The couple, who married in 2007, have twin 5-year-old daughters Dolly Rebecca Rose and Charlie Tamara Tulip. Rebecca, 41, is a former runway model who also appeared in the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue, was the host of MTV's House of Style and a regular player in the TV series Ugly Betty.
Family fun: Jerry and Rebecca on holiday with twin daughters Charlie and Dolly - and Cinderella - at The Walt Disney World Resort
Kiss kiss: Insides say it remains to be seen if the personal chemistry between the couple translates to the small screen
'CBS saw a who's who of Hollywood talent and every female in the business wanted a chance at this gig. But in the end, Jerry wanted to work with his wife and the network gave in,' the source explained.
CBS executives took weeks to audition various Hollywood talents and do screen tests opposite O'Connell. The network auditioned everyone from Food Network chef Sunny Anderson and Raising Whitley star Kym E. Whitley to actress Melissa Joan Hart and comedienne Michelle Buteau.
O'Connell will have two co-hosts on the talk show, so joining him and his wife will be actress Garcelle Beauvais.
'It's a strange third wheel concept and producers are worried about how it will translate. How will Garcelle fit into the scope of conversation with this couple is yet to be determined,' the source elaborated.
Most watched News videos
- Russian soldiers catch 'Ukrainian spy' on motorbike near airbase
- Helicopters collide in Malaysia in shocking scenes killing ten
- Shocking moment passengers throw punches in Turkey airplane brawl
- Shocking moment woman is abducted by man in Oregon
- Moment escaped Household Cavalry horses rampage through London
- Mother attempts to pay with savings account card which got declined
- Suspected migrant boat leaves France's coast and heads to the UK
- Brazen thief raids Greggs and walks out of store with sandwiches
- Five migrants have been killed after attempting to cross the Channel
- Vacay gone astray! Shocking moment cruise ship crashes into port
- MMA fighter catches gator on Florida street with his bare hands
- New AI-based Putin biopic shows the president soiling his nappy