Wendy Williams has not been on her present since July 2021, because of well being points that she hasn’t detailed.
WASHINGTON — “The Wendy Williams Present” will finish due to Williams’ extended health-related absence and get replaced this fall with a present hosted by Sherri Shepherd, the producer of each TV packages mentioned Tuesday.
The brand new daytime present, crisply titled “Sherri,” will “inherit” the time slots on Fox owned-and-operated stations which have been the spine of Williams’ nationwide syndication since 2008, producer and distributor Debmar-Mercury mentioned.
“Since Wendy continues to be not obtainable to host the present as she continues on her highway to restoration, we imagine it’s best for our followers, stations and promoting companions to begin making this transition now,” firm co-presidents Mort Marcus and Ira Bernstein mentioned in an announcement.
“We hope to have the ability to work with Wendy once more sooner or later, and proceed to want her a speedy and full restoration,” the executives mentioned. Additionally they expressed their “nice love and affinity for Wendy” and admiration for her success.
The corporate declined to remark additional on her current well being points, which Williams herself has not mentioned aside from in generalities. Howard Bragman, a spokesman for Williams, mentioned he had nothing so as to add to the announcement.
Given the continued uncertainty concerning Williams, Debmar-Mercy’s change to Shepherd represents stability — particularly essential as adjustments in daytime TV close to. Ellen DeGeneres’ long-running discuss present ends this season, leaving its viewers in the hunt for options. The sphere already consists of Drew Barrymore and Kelly Clarkson-hosted reveals, with one led by Jennifer Hudson reportedly set for fall.
“OMG! I’m so excited to have my dream come true and debut my very personal discuss present” in New York, actor-comedian Shepherd, a former co-host of “The View,” mentioned in an announcement. “Sherri” will mix her love of “popular culture, discuss, leisure and comedy,” she mentioned.
“The Wendy Williams Present” has relied on a string of visitor hosts, Shepherd amongst them, for the reason that begin of its thirteenth 12 months final fall. Constructed on Williams’ reputation as a brash radio host, the present has been a hit for Lionsgate-owned Debmar-Mercury.
Shepherd proved the preferred sub for Williams, Debmar-Mercury mentioned, and the present’s rankings held up throughout her appearances. Manufacturing will proceed on “The Wendy Williams Present” via the present season, with rotating fill-in hosts, together with Shepherd.
She is the “excellent alternative” for her personal present and has already confirmed her enchantment to the Fox viewers, mentioned Frank Cicha, an govt vp with Fox Tv Stations. He thanked Debmar-Mercury for navigating “an especially attempting state of affairs.”
Shepherd, who appeared on “The View” earlier than becoming a member of as a co-host from 2007-14, will stay as a co-host with the Fox TV stations’ “Dish Nation.” She’s acted from the beginning of her leisure profession, with credit together with “The Jamie Foxx Present,” “Everyone Loves Raymond,” “30 Rock” and, lately, “The Intercourse Lives of Faculty Ladies.” She’s additionally had roles in films: “Magnificence Store″ and the 2007 movie “Who’s Your Caddy?”
She is an govt producer for “Sherri,” alongside along with her producing companion Jawn Murray and David Perler, the latter having labored as govt producer for all however one season of “The Wendy Williams Present.”
Williams final taped her present in July 2021, when season 12 wrapped. Manufacturing on the present season was delayed final September as a result of she had a “breakthrough” case of COVID-19, the present mentioned on the time. Causes for her persevering with absence weren’t subsequently detailed.
Williams’ well being didn’t intrude on her TV work till 2017, when she fainted throughout the present and took a three-week depart. Williams mentioned in 2018 that she had been identified years earlier than with Graves’ illness, an autoimmune situation that impacts the thyroid.
She has been blunt about her life, saying her longtime cocaine use that started in faculty made her a “functioning addict” earlier than kicking the drug. Nevertheless, on a March 2019 episode of her present, a tearful Williams mentioned that she was dwelling “in a sober home” and had a round the clock sobriety coach. She didn’t specify why.
In a video posted final week, Williams is seen strolling on a Florida seashore as an off-screen questioner, whom she identifies as her son, Kevin Hunter Jr., asks about her actions — together with plans to go to the health club — and the way she’s doing.
Whereas she’s taking a “break from New York,” the place the present tapes, she will likely be going again “stronger,” Williams replies within the video. She additionally alluded vaguely to “issues that occur to you” at about age 40, and “they go on from there.”
A few of Williams’ references within the clip, corresponding to being 56 when she is 57, led to questions on whether or not it was lately made. A spokeswoman mentioned that Williams merely misspoke.
