Ellen's replacement confirmed
Kelly Clarkson is set to benefit from Ellen DeGeneres' plans to end her show after the 2021-22 season, with NBC confirming that Clarkson's syndicated talk show will move into DeGeneres' prime afternoon time periods by next year.
In New York, Los Angeles and Chicago, the country's three largest markets, will push the Kelly Clarkson Show up to the 3 pm slot, a lucrative time that leads into local newscasts.
Clarkson and DeGeneres might swap time slots in some markets before Degeneres finishes up her show next year.
At the moment, Clarkson's show airs at 2 pm in the top three.
The boost for Clarkson's show doesn't come as a surprise. NBCUniversal owns the talk show that been a bright spot in an otherwise weak period for new daytime TV entrants.
Kelly Clarkson Show, now wrapping its second season, nabbed six Daytime Emmy nominations this week. Clarkson is the reigning Emmy champ for talk show host after winning for the show's freshman year.
"The Kelly Clarkson Show is one of the most optimistic success stories in first-run syndication," said Tracie Wilson, executive VP of NBCUniversal Syndication Studios. "It is a treasured part of NBCUniversal Syndication Studios offering and we are proud to partner with the NBC Owned Television Stations group to continue the show's success. Kelly and our entire production team put their heart, intent and incredible passion into making a show that resonates with people of all ages, cultures and backgrounds. We're working on some big plans for Season 3 and are looking forward to becoming the premier show in daytime for years to come."
NBCUniversal said on Wednesday that Clarkson's show would move into "leading time periods" on its 200-plus affiliate stations by 2022.