Oprah Winfrey's soon-to-be-vacated studio will be the new home of Rosie O'Donnell's latest television effort, AP reports. The announcement ends speculation about what will become of Winfrey's Harpo Studios when "The Oprah Winfrey Show" finishes taping in the spring.
O'Donnell's one-hour talk show will be featured on OWN, Winfrey's new cable network. The network ordered 130 episodes of O'Donnell's new show, which is set to air sometime this fall.
"I can't wait to do my show from Chicago," O'Donnell told
AP. "It's a dream come true ... beyond the beyond."
Winfrey told the New York post, "I'm delighted to welcome Rosie to the studio I've called home for so many years. Speaking from experience, she will be working with the best team in television in one of the greatest cities in the world."
O'Donnell previously hosted "The Rosie O'Donnell Show" from 1996 to 2002, earning six daytime Emmy awards. O'Donnell also spent time on "The View." She currently hosts a two-hour radio show, "Rosie Radio," on Sirius XM Radio.
Harpo Studios presidents Erik Logan and Sheri Salata called the announcement "an exciting new chapter" for the company, as reported by AP.
Besides producing "The Oprah Winfrey Show," Harpo Studios helped develop the programs "Dr. Phil" and "Rachael Ray." The studio also produces "The Dr. Oz Show" and "The Nate Berkus Show."
A new set will be built for O'Donnell while some elements of Winfrey's stage will go to the Smithsonian Institution, the studio told Reuters.
The final original episode of Winfrey's show, which has been on the air for 25 years, is scheduled to air May 25. After the final episode, Winfrey plans place her focus on her OWN cable television network, which debuted January 1 in approximately 80 million homes.