She today informed her staff about her departure when her contract expires at the end of the month after 8 years with the network. (Statements below.) Immediately, there was Internet chatter that Barbara Bloom had clashed with Julie Chen, wife of Les Moonves and a host of the new daytime The Talk show, over Bloom’s supposed attempt to “micromanage” it. But I can tell you that’s not true. “Bloom had never done a talk show before and was totally in over her head. She didn’t have the skill set,” my source says about the exec who specialized in soap operas at ABC and CBS, one of which CBS cancelled in 2009 and the other in 2010. “Julie Chen did not cause this firing. Julie is just not that person. I’d love to tell you tales about how she manipulates Les and whatever, but she just doesn’t.” I hear that, with CBS’ soaps The Young And The Restless and The Bold And The Beautiful just signing long-term renewals (which Deadline’s TV Editor Nellie Andreeva scooped), and game shows The Price Is Right and Let’s Make A Deal, in good shape, and The Talk attracting its largest audience to date for the week ending January 7th and expected to surpass that when the new weekly ratings come out Thursday, “there was not much for her to do,” another source tells me. First news of Bloom’s exit was reported by Daytime Confidential. Here’s the CBS announcement:
Barbara Bloom, Senior Vice President, Daytime, CBS Entertainment, will leave the Network when her contract expires at the end of the month.
“I’ve had the great fortune to work with an extraordinary group of executives, producers and talent who make CBS #1 in daytime,” said Bloom. “With CBS Daytime teed up for success and stability for many years ahead, the timing feels right for me to make a change now and seek something different. The dramas have multi-year renewals, ‘The Price is Right’ has great momentum with Drew, ‘Let’s Make Deal’ with Wayne Brady is firmly established and ‘The Talk’ is a growing franchise. I’ve been a writer, a producer and a programming executive, and now I’m excited to see what the next chapter has to offer.”
“Barbara artfully led CBS through several key transitions in her eight years here,” said Nina Tassler, President, CBS Entertainment. “She helped usher in a new era on ‘The Price is Right’ with Drew Carey and guided delicate programming changes from two daytime dramas to successful game and talk shows while maintaining CBS’s leadership position in the daypart. All of these efforts have positioned CBS very well for the future. Daytime is successful, profitable, refreshed creatively and has more variety of programming for our audience. We wish Barbara tremendous success wherever her talents take her.”
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