DWTS Judge Carrie Ann Inaba Takes Julie Chen's Place On The Talk

Carrie Ann Inaba has officially replaced Julie Chen on the CBS daytime talk show The Talk.

On Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2019, the ladies of The Talk welcomed viewers and audience members into the new year — and they also announced their show's brand new co-host, Dancing With the Stars judge Carrie Ann Inaba.

After her introduction on the show — one that included confetti cannons and the audience chanting, "Carrie" — Inaba shared, "I'm just so excited to be here. It's been such an honor the last year kind of coming in and guest co-hosting and learning so much from all of you."

She continued, "I feel so fortunate to be able to sit at a table with such dynamic, strong, beautiful, unique women and learn from you and it's such a safe space and you've given me a place to share some of my stuff and you've helped me and you've healed me and I look forward to many more deep conversations."

So, how will Inaba handle working on both The Talk and Dancing With the Stars? Well, she told Entertainment Tonight that she'll have some time to get used to her new position on The Talk before starting the new season of DWTS. "Well, what's great is, I have the spring to get used to this schedule, coming into work every day," she told the publication. "I've never had a job where I've come in every day in my entire life! And I think Dancing With the Stars, what's great is, because it's live and we just judge, I show up after The Talk. It works out perfectly! I couldn't have asked for a more ideal situation."

As fans of The Talk will remember, Julie Chen, who'd been with the show since its start in 2010, left the series in September 2018. Her leave followed allegations of sexual misconduct against her husband, Les Moonves, and his exit from CBS, where he'd served as CEO. "Right now, I need to spend more time at home with my husband and our young son," Chen said in her goodbye video, adding, "I know this show, and the sisterhood it stands for, will live on for many, many, many more years to come."

She also supported the idea of Inaba replacing her, telling the then-guest co-host in her video message, "In my opinion, you look awful good sitting in that chair, my Asian sister."