Turn on your TV and what do you see? "Daytime Chicago"?! "Chicago NOW"?! "Spotlight Chicago"?! "WGN Take Two"?!

For the record, WGN 9 airs "Daytime Chicago" at 10A (CT), "Spotlight Chicago" at 1P (CT) & "WGN Take Two" at 2P (CT) weekdays, while FOX 32 airs "Chicago NOW" at 10A (CT) Monday-Friday.

If you're wondering why you're seeing more live, local news-related programming and fewer daytime talk shows, you're not alone. It's part of a growing trend in daytime television.

Apparently, it's no longer cheap to produce a daytime talk show anymore, thanks in large part to the business of television and the changing economics.

It comes on the heels of 2 syndicated talk shows announcing that they're ceasing production at the end of the current TV season.

"The Kelly Clarkson Show", which has been on the air for 7 seasons, will end production for personal reasons. The NBC Universal-distributed show currently airs at 3P (CT) weekdays on NBC 5.

The changing economic landscape forced Debmar-Mercury to cancel Sherri Shepherd's syndicated talk show after 4 seasons. It currently airs locally at 1P (CT) weekdays on FOX 32.

So what will replace these shows? Could more live, local news end up filling these scheduling voids? Could video versions of popular podcasts be the next big thing?

Comments from longtime broadcast syndicator Ed Wilson as well as Frank Cicha, Head of Programming for FOX Television Stations, regarding what appears to be the demise of daytime talk TV can be found here:

https://variety.com/2026/tv/news/kelly-clarkson-sherri-stations-daytime-talk-shows-1236660487/