Natalie Morales leaves NBC News for “The Talk”

Natalie Morales is leaving NBC News to join the beleaguered CBS show “The Talk,” an insider told Page Six.

Morales emailed NBC staff members on Friday announcing that she would be leaving the network “for an exciting new opportunity” after more than two decades at the Peacock Network.

“How do you start to say thank you for 22 amazing years? I’m struggling to find the right words and there are far too many people I have to thank for a wonderful career at NBC News, ”Morales said in the email, obtained by Page Six.

“I think back to my beginnings by cutting my teeth at [NBC-owned local network] WVIT in Hartford, Connecticut then made the huge – and at the time – petrifying leap to MSNBC and alas – by winning gold tickets to the “Today Show” and the “Dateline”. Never in a million years had I imagined this when I dreamed of what I wanted to be when I grew up, ”she wrote.

The Daily Mail first reported the news of Morales’ appearance on “The Talk”.

Morales has been mixed for years at 30 Rock – most notably landing at the gig as the presenter of the “Today” show during the Matt Lauer years. In 2016, she left “Today” and traveled to the West Coast to present the network’s news magazine “Access Hollywood”. Former “Extra” host Mario Lopez eventually replaced her on “Access,” but she remained on NBC as the West Coast presenter of “Today” and “Dateline” correspondent.

“To my ‘Dateline’ and ‘Today’ families, it’s very hard to say goodbye… and we all know in this area it’s never goodbye, but see you later. I am eternally grateful for the support and the deep friendships that will remain no matter where our paths lead. I have so much to be grateful for for and for each of you who have helped me get here… muchísimas gracias mis amigos, ”she said in the email.

She will continue to appear on “Dateline” until the end of the year, and “Today” will give her a “good bye on air” in the weeks to come, we are told.

Meanwhile, her new home, the hit CBS talk show “Talk”, was left in motion after an on-air run led to the ousting of co-host Sharon Osbourne and another star, Elaine Welteroth, has also announced her release.