Tyler in the 'Talk' swim
Comedian to juggle 'Soup,' 'Fifth' hosting duties
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Following a months-long, wide-net search for a new host of "Talk Soup," E! Entertainment Television has hired Tyler as the show's permanent emcee.
Hal Sparks ankled the show in early 2000, and guest hosts, including Tyler, have appeared on the show since.
Tyler also hosts "The Fifth Wheel," Universal's syndie follow-up to "Blind Date," which is being sold to stations this week at NATPE.
She'll start appearing on "Talk Soup," one of E!'s signature and longest-running series, beginning Friday.
In joining the short list of "Soupers," the first being Greg Kinnear, followed by John Henson and Sparks, she's the first woman and African-American to host.
"I'm thrilled she's a woman, and I'm pleased she's African-American, but I'm most happy about the fact that she's a smart, funny person who will bring a lot to the show," says E! Networks prexy/CEO Mindy Herman, who adds that she has been aware of Tyler for about three years, dating back to Herman's tenure as exec VP of Fox TV Studios.
"She was a person who a number of senior creative execs were extremely high on, based on her background as a standup," Herman says. "When she came in for 'Talk Soup' unbeknownest to me, I couldn't believe the good fortune."
Herman and Tyler both say they foresee no problems with Tyler juggling production of "Talk Soup" and "Fifth Wheel."
"I'm that rarity in the comedy world, which is that I'm somebody who likes to go to work," Tyler says.
