Kristen Bell Aiming to Be 'Next Major Talk Show Host' (EXCLUSIVE)
Kristen Bell has always been super popular in Hollywood circles, and in the wake of her being tapped to host Netflix’s presentation of the SAG Awards in January, there’s growing talk that she’s being primed as a budding talk show queen – with the potential to become the new, untainted version of Ellen DeGeneres, a source exclusively tells Life & Style.
“Being real here, acting is not exactly Kristen’s first love,” the insider says of the 44-year-old Michigan native. “She’s good at it, and she had a hit this year with Nobody Wants This, which will continue on Netflix with more episodes, but Kirsten’s gift is connecting with people on a real level, as herself, and getting them to trust her.”
The Veronica Mars alum has been building up her hosting credentials for a while, in addition to starring in movies and television after getting her start on Broadway. Having hosted the Screen Actors Guild awards one before in 2018, she’ll be reprising her duties for the 31st annual SAG Awards, which are set for February 23 in Los Angeles and have recently found a new home on Netflix since the streaming giant acquired the rights to the production in 2023.
“Thrilled to be hosting the SAG Awards again this year,” Kristen said in a press release. “I’m honored to be asked back and can’t wait to share the evening with my fellow actors, doing what we do best … celebrating ourselves.”
As the insider says more people are expected to watch the SAG awards on Netflix and the Oscars on ABC this year, it comes as no surprise people are talking about Kristen taking on a more serious and permanent hosting gig in addition to her acting work. “Hosting the SAGs is a giant message to the town, and to her bosses at Netflix, that she can be a better ‘New Oprah‘ or ‘New Ellen’ than Drew Barrymore or Kelly Clarkson,” says the source. “Even before Ellen DeGeneres got ‘cancelled,’ Kristen was somebody who was seen and seriously scouted as a potential daytime talk queen, and that ambition hasn’t left her.”
With Ellen, 66, ditching California for the U.K. and leaving show business behind, there’s room once again at the top of the talk-T.V. food chain. As it happens, The Frozen voice actress is actually something of a disciple of Ellen’s. Kristen’s webseries, Momsplaining with Kristen Bell, has been hosted on the comedian’s video platform, Ellentube, since 2018. The series, aimed at new and expecting mothers, gives useful tips about motherhood and become a proving ground for the actress’ future hope.
“When the time is right, Kirsten can dominate daytime ‘mom’ T.V., and she and her team know it,” the insider adds.
“She is committed to making more Nobody Wants This for the time being, but she’s sending a very loud and clear message by hosting the SAG awards that she wants to be the next major talk show host that women gravitate around and worship.”
“She was born for this kind of assignment.”