Sherri, Debmar-Mercury’s new talk strip starring Sherri Shepherd, will premiere in national syndication on Monday, Sept. 12, the Lionsgate-owned company said Tuesday. Sherri is cleared in more than 97% of the U.S. ahead of its debut.

Sherri, which replaces Debmar-Mercury’s Wendy Williams in many time slots across the country, is sold to stations owned by Cox Media Group, Hearst Television, Sinclair Broadcast Group, Nexstar Media Group and others.  Fox is the show’s anchor group with stations in the top three markets: New York, Los Angeles and Chicago.

Shepherd, who served as a panelist on ABC’s The View, has been a popular guest host on Wendy Williams this season after Williams had to sit out due to health problems. It was ultimately determined that Williams would not be able to return and Wendy has concluded after 13 seasons. Repeats of Wendy will air all summer until Sherri debuts this fall. 

“Sept. 12 can't get here fast enough,“ Shepherd said in a statement. “Hosting my own talk show is a dream come true and I'm so excited to take viewers on this joyous journey. My new show will be something truly fun and fresh, a daily hour of entertainment escapism with plenty of laughter, fun and flirtiness as I give my take on pop culture. And I'm so glad to have such an awesome senior production team helping to make this magic a reality.” 

Sherri will be shot in front of a live studio audience at New York’s Chelsea Studios and be executive-produced by David Perler, who also executive-produced Wendy. Other executive producers include Shepherd and her producing partner Jawn Murray with Suzanne Bass, Joelle Dawson and Fernita Wynn joining as co-executive producers. 

“Sherri is a great fit for the daytime audience because she relates to people in such a natural way,“ Perler said. ”Having worn so many hats over the years between her career, motherhood, her fitness journey and other accomplishments, Sherri brings a mix of fun, laughter and valuable, authentic advice to viewers.” 

Warner Bros.’s Jennifer Hudson, which has Fox as its anchor group as well, is also debuting on Sept. 12. ■

Talk show host Wendy Williams’ long running syndicated show will soon come to an end, 14 years after its debut. 

Williams, who hasn’t hosted the The Wendy Williams Show this season due to ongoing health issues, will be replaced this fall in the time slot by Sherri Shepherd, who will host her own talk show Sherri, according to syndication company Debmar-Mercury. Shepard has been one of several rotating hosts for The Wendy Williams Show in Williams’ absence.  

Also: Sherri Shephard’s ‘Sherri’ To Replace ‘Wendy Williams’  

According to CNN, Williams – who launched The Wendy Williams show in 2008 – said in a statement that she “understands why this decision was made from a business point of view and she has been assured by Debmar-Mercury that should her health get to a point where she can host again and should her desire be that she hosts again that she would be back on TV at that time.”

In a 2014 interview with Multichannel News, Williams talked about her initial decision to move from radio to television and what The Wendy Williams Show represented to her from a personal and business perspective. 

The Wendy Williams Show had to replace one scheduled guest host with another as Sherri Shepherd was rushed to the hospital for an emergency appendectomy on Sunday. Comedian and actor Michael Rapoport, who is starring in Hulu’s upcoming comedy Life & Beth, stepped in at the last minute.

The show announced the switch Monday morning when viewers tuned in, possibly expecting Shepherd, only to find Rapaport. Shepherd had been scheduled to guest host all week. Shepherd also is slated to guest host the last week of January.

Debmar-Mercury’s Wendy Williams has been emceed by guest hosts all season long due to Williams’ extended medical absence due to complications from Grave’s disease, according to the show. Wendy Williams’ season-13 premiere was delayed by one month and finally returned on Oct. 18.

In the two months that the show has been back on the air in originals, Shepherd, Rapaport, Whitney Cummings, Leah Remini and Michelle Visage, Jerry Springer and Steve Wilkos, Bill Bellamy, the hip-hop duo of Fat Joe and Remy Ma, and more have sat in for Williams. In January, Kym Whitley and Finesse Mitchell will take a stint with Rapaport and Shepherd returning.

Also: ‘Wendy Williams’ Slates Full Month of Guest Host for January

Wendy Williams is on holiday hiatus from Dec. 20 - Dec. 31, returning with live, original episodes guest-hosted by Fat Joe and Remy Ma on Monday, Jan. 3. In the Thanksgiving week ended Nov. 28, Wendy Williams averaged a 0.7 live plus same day national household rating, down 13% from the prior week.◾

The Wendy Williams Show will stick with guest hosts when the syndicated daytime talker returns with new episodes in the new year, said executive producer David Perler on Wednesday. 

The Debmar-Mercury-produced talker delayed its season-13 premiere for a month while its titular host was out on extended medical leave, however, Williams has not been able to come back so far this season. She was recently seen leaving a wellness center in Miami.

The Wendy Williams Show will be on hiatus from Dec. 20 - Dec. 31 over the Christmas holidays.

“We’re looking forward to producing new and exciting shows in 2022 and we can’t wait to return in the new year with all of our guest hosts,” said Perler in a statement. “Each of the outstanding guest hosts brings a unique and distinctive style to the successful Wendy format with their individual personalities while also making sure that Wendy’s show remains consistent for the loyal Wendy watchers.”

Also: Sherri Shepherd Returns to Guest Host 'Wendy Williams'

Hip-hop duo Fat Joe and Remy Ma, who just hosted over Thanksgiving week, will kick off the first week of the year. 

That’s followed by the return of actor and comedian Michael Rapaport, who guest hosts from Jan. 10-14 after previously hosting October. 

Comedians and actors Kym Whitley, who appeared on The Parkers and other TV shows, and Finesse Mitchell, formerly of Saturday Night Live, take the reins Jan. 17-21. 

And former View panelist and current Dish Nation host Sherri Shepherd, who hosted in October and again in December, returns to close out the month from Jan. 24-28. ■

Sherri Shepherd, host of Fox’s Dish Nation and former panelist on ABC’s The View, is returning to guest host Debmar-Mercury’s The Wendy Williams Show from Monday, Dec. 13 through Friday, Dec. 17, the Lionsgate-owned company said Tuesday. The following week the show will go on a planned holiday hiatus.

During Shepherd’s previous stint as guest host in the week ended Nov. 7, the show’s ratings climbed 13% to a 0.9 live plus same day national household rating, according to Nielsen Media Research, tying Warner Bros.’ Ellen DeGeneres and NBCUniversal’s Kelly Clarkson for third place among daytime syndicated talk shows. 

“Sherri is a great fit for the show and she engages with our viewers with her relatable conversations and unique point of view on the hottest topics,” Executive Producer David Perler said in a statement.  “We’re very happy to welcome her back and can’t wait to see what she’ll bring to our viewers and station partners this time around!” 

“I had so much fun the first time around, I can’t wait to come back to play again,” Shepherd said, also in a statement. “I was thrilled to learn that my hosting week in November was so well received by the loyal viewers of this show. It’s not easy to do what Wendy has successfully done for so many years.  I am grateful to Wendy, the entire Wendy Williams team and Wendy’s fans for trusting me to host for another week. It’s been a dream come true, and I can’t wait to bring back my brand of flirty-fun, fabulous guests and feel-good excitement when I return in December.”

Also: Leah Remini, Michelle Visage to Co-Host ‘Wendy Williams’ for Two Weeks

Wendy Williams has been hosted by an array of guest hosts since the show returned for its season-13 premiere on Oct. 18 without the show’s host, who remains out on extended medical leave. These hosts have included Leah Remini and Michelle Visage, who return next week and co-host through Dec. 10, comedian Whitney Cummings, and this holiday week’s hosts, hip-hop duo of Fat Joe and Remy Ma. ■

Leah Remini and Michelle Visage are returning to guest co-host Debmar-Mercury’s The Wendy Williams Show for two weeks, starting Nov. 29 and running through Friday, Dec. 10. 

Williams remains out on extended medical leave after delaying the premiere of the show’s 13th season for a month. The show finally started its new season on Monday, Oct. 18 and since then an array of guest panels and hosts have been filling in. Remini and Visage did their first stint on Williams’ purple couch in the show’s first week back on the air.

“Leah and Michelle's girlfriend relationship is authentic and a joy to watch,” said Wendy Williams executive producer David Perler in a statement. “We are thrilled to be able to give our viewers another two weeks with them co-hosting Wendy as viewers will feel like they are sitting at the kitchen table with their best girlfriends having their morning coffee.  Leah worked very hard to respect what Wendy has built and also brings a special style of her own to Wendy’s audience.”

Also: Fat Joe, Remy Ma to Guest Host ‘Wendy Williams’ Ahead of Thanksgiving

Actress Remini is best known for starring on CBS primetime comedy The King of Queens and for her documentary series, Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath, which aired on A&E for three seasons from 2016 through 2019. Radio DJ and performer Visage has long worked closely with RuPaul and stars on RuPaul’s Drag Race as well as that show’s many spinoffs. 

“Michelle and I couldn’t be more grateful to Wendy, her amazing crew, Debmar-Mercury and most of all, Wendy’s loyal fans for liking us and for trusting us to have us hold it down until Wendy’s return,” said Remini in a statement.

In the week prior to Thanksgiving, Wendy Williams is being guest-hosted by panel including MTV’s The Challenge: Aftermath’s Devyn Simone, media personality Bevy Smith, Variety chief correspondent Elizabeth Wagmeister and comedian Michael Yo on Monday. On Tuesday and Wednesday, hip-hop duo and friends of the show Fat Joe and Remy Ma are taking on hosting duties. 

Wendy Williams has booked a Monday Hot Topics panel as well as hip-hop icons Fat Joe and Remy Ma to guest host the show in the week of Thanksgiving, the show said Monday.

The Hot Topics panel, which includes MTV’s The Challenge: Aftermath’s Devyn Simone, media personality Bevy Smith, Variety chief correspondent Elizabeth Wagmeister and comedian Michael Yo, will take the stage on Monday, Nov. 22. Smith and Wagmeister hosted Fox’s now-defunct syndicated news magazine Page Six TV from 2016-18.

For the remaining two days of that holiday week, hip-hop duo Fat Joe and Remy Ma will take their turn on the purple couch. The pair have appeared on the show several times before with both coming on in 2017 when Remy Ma was feuding with rival rap queen Nicki Minaj.

Wendy Williams, who has hosted the eponymous daytime talker since 2009, has been out all season on extended medical leave after being diagnosed with a breakthrough case of COVID-19 in September. She later was checked in to a hospital for a mental health evaluation. After Lionsgate-owned Debmar-Mercury, which produces the show, delayed its season-13 premiere for a month, Wendy Williams returned with guest hosts on Monday, Oct. 18.

In the week ended Oct. 31, the last week national ratings were available, Wendy Williams was guest-hosted by comedian Whitney Cummings. The show averaged a steady 0.8 in households and tied for fifth place in talk with CBS Media Ventures Rachael Ray and NBCUniversal’s Maury.

Also: Syndication Ratings: ‘Ellen DeGeneres’ Shows Strength in Final Season

The Wendy Williams Show has lined up its next few weeks of guest hosts, with Michael Rapaport, Bill Bellamy, Jerry Springer and Steve Wilkos all filling in on the Debmar-Mercury daytime talker.

Host Wendy Williams is out on an extended medical leave that delayed the premiere of her show’s 13th season for nearly a month. The Wendy Williams Show finally debuted with a panel of guest hosts on Monday, Oct. 18, followed by four days of guest hosting by actress Leah Remini. Over the next two weeks, Whitney Cummings and Sherri Shepherd took over for Williams.

Also: Whitney Cummings, Sherri Shepherd Next Up to Guest Host 'Wendy Williams'

Rapaport — actor, comedian and podcast host, who will be starring in Hulu’s upcoming Life & Beth — guest hosts for the week of Nov. 8. A panel will again take over on Monday, Nov. 15, followed by two days of hosting on Tuesday, Nov. 16 and Wednesday, Nov. 17, by comedian Bellamy, who is starring in A Rich Christmas on BET Plus. 

Springer, the longtime star of NBCUniversal’s Jerry Springer and now of NBCU’s court show Judge Jerry, and Wilkos, Springer’s former bouncer and host of his own NBCU talker, The Steve Wilkos Show, will take over on Thursday, Nov. 18 and Friday, Nov. 19.

Also: 'Wendy Williams' Rises as Season 13 Debuts

The Wendy Williams Show saw a 33% increase to a 0.8 live plus same day national household rating, according to Nielsen, in the week ended Oct. 24, which included the show’s 13th season premiere hosted by a guest panel.

The Wendy Williams Show returned to first-run production with guest hosts in the week ended Oct. 24 and shot up 33% to a nine-week-high 0.8 live plus same day national household rating, according to Nielsen Media Research. Wendy Williams jumped into fifth place among the talkers, up from eighth where it had been tied with two other shows.

Debmar-Mercury’s talker opened season 13 with a panel of guest hosts and then four days of shows led by actress Leah Remini as host Wendy Williams continues to be out on medical leave. Sherri Shepherd and Whitney Cummings took on guest-hosting duties in the following weeks.

Also: Whitney Cummings, Sherri Shepherd Next Up to Guest Host ‘Wendy Williams’

Syndicated shows were mostly flat to down during week, after being hit with preemptions for coverage of the death of former US Secretary of State Colin Powell on Oct. 18 as well as competition from seven baseball playoff games on cable. 

Making matters worse, some shows cleared on Sinclair Broadcast stations faced black outs after signals were knocked out due to a group-wide ransomware attack. 

Disney’s Live with Kelly and Ryan and CBS Media Ventures’ Dr. Phil tied to lead talk for a second straight week with both shows staying at a 1.7. Live has now been first or tied for first 50 times in the last 59 weeks, while Phil has been first or tied for first for the past six weeks straight.

Among daytime’s key demographic of women 25-54, Live and Phil also tied at a 0.6, followed by NBCUniversal’s Kelly Clarkson, Warner Bros.’ Ellen DeGeneres, Wendy Williams and NBCU’s Maury, all at a 0.4. 

Kelly and Ellen also finished ahead of Wendy Williams in households, with both shows steady in third place at a 0.9. Kelly matched its season high while Ellen, in its 19th and final season, has grown 125% over the past 11 weeks. Conflict talker Maury deteriorated 13% to a new series-low 0.7, tying CBS’ Rachael Ray, which also retreated 13%. 

Disney’s Tamron Hall declined 14% to a 0.6 after being preempted in some markets, tying Sony Pictures Television’s Dr. Oz, which was flat for a seventh week.

Also: Quiana Burns Replaces Candi Carter on ‘Tamron Hall’

CBS’ Drew Barrymore stayed at a 0.5, tying NBCU’s Steve Wilkos, which weakened 17%.

Debmar-Mercury’s rookie Nick Cannon, which airs on Fox-owned stations in top markets, was constant at a 0.4 in its fourth week.

Also: Nick Cannon to Host Fox’s ‘Good Day’ in Three Markets

NBCU’s out-of-production syndicated version of Jerry Springer scored a 0.3 for the sixth straight week. Warner Bros.’ The Real receded 33% to a new series-low 0.2, tying CBS’ The Doctors, which stayed put for the 34th straight week.

In its first full week without popular player Matt Amodio, CBS’ Jeopardy! dipped 2% to a 5.6, but that was still good enough to keep the access game in the syndication lead. Jeopardy! was buoyed by Jonathan Fisher’s second week of wins. Fisher amassed $246,000 in winnings over an 11-day span before finally losing on Monday, Oct. 25.

Debmar-Mercury’s Family Feud, which is often the game and syndication leader, fell 4% to a second-place 5.3, thanks in large part to the Sinclair black outs. 

CBS’ Wheel of Fortune, which is paired with Jeopardy! in many large markets, faded 2% to a 5.0 and third place overall in games and in syndication.

Fox’s rookie You Bet Your Life, with host Jay Leno, rolled a fourth consecutive 0.7, tying Fox’s 25 Words or Less, which stayed put for the sixth straight week. Entertainment Studios’ Funny You Should Ask dropped 25% to a new series-low 0.3. 

Disney’s internet video show RightThisMinute maintained a 0.6 for the 11th consecutive week.

CBS’ Inside Edition continued to hold an edge over the magazines, exposing a 2.2 for the third week in a row. CBS’ Entertainment Tonight eased 5% to a 2.0. NBCU’s Access Hollywood was the only magazine show to move up, improving 14% to a 0.8 and equalling its season high. Fox’s TMZ corralled a 0.7 for an eighth straight week. 

Warner Bros.’ Extra lost its primary run in six of the top seven markets due to Thursday Night Football on Oct. 21 but retained its season-high 0.6. CBS’ DailyMailTV delivered a 0.5 for the seventh time in eight weeks. Fox’s Dish Nation held at a 0.2 for the fourth straight week. 

CBS’ Judge Judy led the courts with a steady 4.6, and despite being in repeats, ranked as syndication’s fourth-highest ranked show. CBS’ Hot Bench gave back 6% to a 1.5. Warner Bros.’ People’s Court climbed 14% to a 0.8. Warner Bros.’ Judge Mathis marshalled a 0.6 for the sixth straight week. Fox’s Divorce Court settled for an unchanged 0.4, tying NBCU’s Judge Jerry, which sustained a series-low 0.4 for the sixth consecutive week. Wrigley Media’s rookie Relative Justice decreased 25% to a 0.3 in its second week on the Nielsen national chart. 

Also: ‘Relative Justice’ to Premiere Monday, Sept. 13, in Syndication

Sitcoms were no laughing matter with most of them down or steady. Warner Bros.’ The Big Bang Theory fell to a new series low, losing 5% to a 2.0. Disney’s Last Man Standing stumbled 8% to a new season-low 1.2. Warner Bros.’ rookie Young Sheldon showed up at a 0.8 for the fourth straight week, tying Sony’s The Goldbergs, which was steady for a third consecutive week. Disney’s Family Guy and Modern Family both fell back 13% to a 0.7 tying Warner Bros.’ Two and a Half Men, which was stable at its series low, and Sony’s Seinfeld. Finally, 2 Broke Girls depreciated 17% to a new series low 0.5, tying Disney’s Black-ish, which stayed put. 

Whitney Cummings and Sherri Shepherd will guest host Debmar-Mercury’s The Wendy Williams Show in the weeks of Oct. 25 and Nov. 1, respectively, the show said Tuesday. 

Williams is out on extended medical leave as she deals with complications of her Graves disease, the show said. She also tested positive with a breakthrough case of COVID-19 last month.

Also Read: ‘The Wendy Williams Show’ Will Return for Season 13 With Guest Hosts

Actress, comedian, podcaster and writer Cummings will sit on Williams’ couch the week of Oct. 25 - 29, while Shepherd, current host of Dish Nation and former host of The View, will host Nov. 1 - 5. 

“In my opinion, nobody is more entertaining or authentic than Wendy Williams. As an avid fan, it is surreal to sit in for Wendy, but as someone who has been a guest on the show so many times, I feel confident that my relentless habit of speaking candidly, often to the point of self-sabotage, may go over well with her fans,” said Cummings in a statement. 

“There are few places I’d feel as safe to be as unhinged and opinionated as on Wendy’s show and I am looking forward to burning many a bridge. Each episode I do will be in celebration of her fearlessness, and the lessons I’ve learned from her fearless feedback and advice.  I’d like to do whatever I can to make her life easier while she recovers so she can come back stronger and more powerful than ever.” 

"I'm so excited to return to the Wendy Williams Show to host for a full week!” said Shepherd in a statement. “I had such a great time when I hosted the show in 2019 and I'm flattered that Wendy and the producers put their trust in me to fill in again. I'm sending my love and well wishes out to her.” 

Wendy Williams was supposed to debut its new season on Monday, Sept. 20 but has kept pushing the premiere with Williams unable to return. It finally launched season 13 on Monday, Oct. 18, with a panel of guest hosts, including Devyn Simone, host of MTV’s The Challenge: Aftermath, author/actor/media personality Bevy Smith, Variety senior correspondent Elizabeth Wagmeister and comedian and actor Michael Yo. Smith and Wagmeister previously hosted Fox’s syndicated Page Six talk show together.

Remini then took over hosting duties Tuesday through Friday.

No date has yet been set for Williams’ return.

The Wendy Williams Show will fill its season-13 premiere week with guest hosts as its titular host recovers from complications from Graves' disease and thyroid issues, producers of the Debmar-Mercury-produced show said via Instagram. Williams also tested positive with a breakthrough case of COVID-19 last month.

“Wendy continues to be under medical supervision and meets with her medical team on a daily basis. She is making progress but is experiencing serious complications as a direct result of Graves’ disease and her thyroid condition,“ the show‘s social team posted on its Instagram feed. “It has been determined that more time is needed before she is able to return to her live hosting duties.

“Wendy is a valued and stalwart member of the Debmar-Mercury family and has been so for 12 years. We want her health to be her top priority. As soon as she's ready, she will be back in her treasured purple chair.”

On Monday, Oct. 18, Wendy Williams’ season premiere, the show will be hosted by a “Hot Talk” panel including Devyn Simone, host of MTV’s The Challenge: Aftermath, author/actor/media personality Bevy Smith, Variety senior correspondent Elizabeth Wagmeister and comedian and actor Michael Yo. Smith and Wagmeister previously hosted Fox’s syndicated Page Six talk show together.

Actress Leah Remini will guest host the program for the rest of the week, marking the first time the actress has sat in the show’s host chair. 

“Wendy’s shoes are hard to fill, so we needed to find the right fit. Leah will bring a lot of fun and energy to our viewers with a few surprises along the way,” said Executive Producer David Perler in a statement.

Wendy Williams had been scheduled to premiere its new season on Monday, Sept. 20, but pushed that date back after Williams' positive COVID test.

Actress, author and Emmy-nominated television talk show host Wendy Williams is one of the most successful and recognizable personalities on daytime television today. 

Yet in this 2014 interview, Williams says that she did not foresee a successful run on television for herself after a remarkable, nearly two-decade radio career that earned her an induction into the National Radio Hall Of Fame in 2009.