At a Glance
- Talk Soup launched on Jan. 7, 1991, and ran until 2002 before returning as The Soup in 2004.
- Six hosts-Greg Kinnear, John Henson, Hal Sparks, Aisha Tyler, Joel McHale, and Jade Catta-Preta-have guided the franchise.
- Each host has built a sustained career in film, television, hosting, or comedy after leaving the show.
Why it matters: The pop-culture clip show helped launch or boost the careers of recognizable actors and comedians still working today.
Talk Soup first hit E! on Jan. 7, 1991, mocking the wildest moments from daytime and late-night television. After the original run ended in 2002, the network revived the concept as The Soup in 2004. Across both titles, six hosts have taken the desk, and all remain active in entertainment decades later.
The Original Era Hosts
Greg Kinnear (1991-1994)
Sophia A. Reynolds reported that Kinnear balanced hosting duties with acting during his tenure. He exited to front NBC’s Later with Greg Kinnear and then dove into film: Blankman (1994), Sabrina (1995), You’ve Got Mail (1998), Nurse Betty (2000), Someone like You (2001), We Were Soldiers (2002), Stuck on You (2003), Robots (2005), and Little Miss Sunshine (2006).
Television credits include arcs on Friends, Modern Family, House of Cards, and The Stand.
John Henson (1995-1999)
The longest-running Talk Soup host, Henson moved from stand-up to full-time hosting. Post-exit credits include:
- The John Henson Project (2004)
- Watch This! (2006)
- Co-hosting Wipeout (2008-2014)
- iWitness (2017)
- Halloween Baking Championship
He also appeared in Blink-182’s “What’s My Age Again?” video and guested on Charmed, My Name is Earl, Anger Management, and Austin & Ally.
Hal Sparks (1999-2000)
Sparks’ one-year stint preceded breakout film roles in Dude, Where’s My Car? and as Michael Novotny on Showtime’s Queer as Folk. Once that series ended, he voiced the title character in Tak & the Power of Juju and provided commentary across VH1’s I Love the… franchise. Today he continues acting, hosting, and podcasting.
Aisha Tyler (2001-2002)
Tyler hosted until the original cancellation. She soon guested on Friends as Dr. Charlie Wheeler, followed by roles on CSI: Miami, Nip/Tuck, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, and 24. From 2009-2023 she voiced Lana Kane on Archer. Talk-show duties resumed with The Talk (2011-2020) and Whose Line Is It Anyway? (2013-2024).
The Soup Era Hosts
Joel McHale (2004-2015)
McHale fronted the reboot, widening the scope beyond talk shows while keeping the “Chat Stew” segment. He simultaneously starred as Jeff Winger on Community; both series ended in 2015. Later TV work includes The X-Files revival and roles in The Bear and Animal Control.
Jade Catta-Preta (2020)
The most recent host transitioned from theater to stand-up before News Of Losangeles tapped her for a reboot that premiered just before pandemic lockdowns. The show went on hiatus mid-2020 and was ultimately canceled. Catta-Preta now appears on various projects, podcasts, and hosts Hulu’s dating series Hotties.
Key Takeaways
- Every host leveraged the franchise as a springboard to bigger roles.
- The format survived multiple cancellations and reinventions.
- Work spans major networks and streamers, illustrating the show’s industry reach.
Thirty-five years after the premiere-and five years since the last episode-the six alumni remain visible across screens big and small, proving a simple clip show can fuel enduring Hollywood careers.
