Another new feature of season five involves Niecy Nash. When host Nick Cannon tested positive for COVID-19, Nash stepped in as guest host. Cannon will rejoin the show in the second half of the season, Breen revealed, but had nothing but good things to say about Nash’s turn as emcee.
“Niecy just stepped in—and it was pretty last minute—and immediately had her own chemistry with the panelists,” he said. “She was just a producer’s dream. Absolutely fantastic.”
Nash was equally thrilled with the gig.
“I have never felt so welcome. You know, it’s not like we all started together or we you know what I mean. I just walked in the door, and every single person supported me, it was so kind.”
The production team even had a surprise for their new guest host, which she shared during the TCA panel.
“They gave me such a beautiful surprise,” she said. “I’m recently married, and…they gave me a beautiful video message from my new wife, and I wanted to cry my eyelashes off.”