Chen to take a new turn?

CBS is developing several new daytime offerings to take the place of the long-running soap “As the World Turns,” including a “View”-style talk show fronted by “Early Show” co-anchor and “Big Brother” host Julie Chen.

Chen – who has been on maternity leave since she and her husband, CBS Chief Executive Leslie Moonves, had a son in September – will tape a pilot for the talk show in early May, according to a person familiar with the discussions.

Other possible hosts for the show, which is being conceived of as a mom-oriented take on topical subjects, are actresses Sara Gilbert and Lisa Rinna, and Bethenny Frankel of “Real Housewives of New York City.”

It’s unclear how the talk show would affect Chen’s post on “The Early Show,” which she has co-hosted since 2002.

Bend it like Letterman?

Speaking of the daytime talk show circuit, soccer star David Beckham will join the ladies of “The View” on Monday, two months after a co-host appearance by his wife, singer-model-businesswoman Victoria Beckham.

And David Letterman drops in next Friday on “Live with Regis and Kelly” – his first visit since Regis Philbin’s return to the air after heart surgery in April 2007, when they swapped bypass stories and compared scars.

Not much heart, either

Larry David will be back for more comedy and angst when HBO’s “Curb Your Enthusiasm” returns next year.

David says the decision to do an eighth season followed “much soul-searching – and by the way, it was nowhere to be found.”

The birthday bunch

Actress Shirley MacLaine is 76. Actress-singer-director Barbra Streisand is 68. Actor Eric Bogosian is 57. Actor-comedian Cedric the Entertainer is 46. Actor Djimon Hounsou is 46. Actress Melinda Clarke (“The O.C.”) is 41. Actor Eric Balfour is 33. Singer Kelly Clarkson is 28.