Sherri Shepherd is said to be closing a deal to become the permanent guest co-host of “The Wendy Williams Show,” which could also lead to her being named as a permanent replacement for health stricken Wendy Williams as producers mull renaming the show altogether effective September.
According to TMZ, which first reported the news, “Sherri Shepherd will take the reigns of the show beginning in September. Our sources say the deal is almost locked, and everyone involved expects it will be inked in the very near future.” The outlet also noted, “The folks who produce the show will be monitoring Wendy’s progress between now and September. If Wendy gets better, there’s an open door for her to return. If, however, it appears she is unable to return, then they would change the name of the show as early as September … which will mark the 15th season of the show.”
Meanwhile, Deadline shares that Shepherd’s deal is for the permanent host gig, and not just the “permanent guest host” position TMZ reported. “The position she is closing in for is a permanent host, I hear,” Deadline’s Nellie Andreeva says.
No stranger to daytime talk shows, Shepherd is best known for her stint co-hosting “The View.” She’s currently a featured talker on “Dish Nation.”
Williams last hosted the talk show in July 2021 when it wrapped its 12th season. The expectation was the show would return with all-new episodes on September 20, 2021, but following news that the embattled talk show host had contracted COVID-19, production was pushed back. Since then it’s been said she had been dealing with “serious complications” from Graves Disease and a thyroid condition which she’s discussed on the show in the past. The season premiere kept getting pushed back until finally a roster of guest co-hosts was mapped out to keep the show going and the show’s staff employed.
In addition to Shepherd, guest co-hosts have included the likes of Michael Rapaport, Leah Remini, Bill Bellamy, and Whitney Cummings, among others.
For the season, “The Wendy Williams Show” ranks among the top 5 talk shows in daytime syndication.
Debmar-Mercury has not responded to requests for comment.