Sherri Shepherd Praises Wendy Williams' Legacy As She Takes Over Show
By Fiyin Olowokandi on February 24, 2022 at 9:00 PM EST
It is no news that Sherri Shepherd will be taking over Wendy Williams on the popular TV show “The Wendy Williams Show.” The show’s name will also be changed to “SHERRI.”
Williams has suffered a series of health conditions, leading to the comedian’s occasional substitution of her. Moreover, the show will conclude at the end of this season.
In a recorded version of “Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen” on YouTube, Shepherd talked about her respect for Williams and the significance of the TV personality’s legacy.
Sherri Shepherd Says Wendy Williams’ Unique Brand Cannot Be Recreated
The show began with the host commending Shepherd for being one of the most consistent funny guests on the show, and he was excited that the comedian would get to be on TV for a long time.
As the program progressed, the actress talked about her past experiences as an entertainer, with eight years of being on “The View” and the numerous times she filled in for Williams on “The Wendy Williams Show.”
Shepherd appreciated Williams on the show for allowing her to take her place as a guest host. Being a guest-host-turned-main-host on her upcoming show meant a lot to the TV personality.
In a report by ET, the star further reflected on her past when she used to entertain her teddy bears with a toilet paper roll as a microphone. She was five years old at the time.
Cohen admitted to the celeb that it was a tough job to handle a show for an hour. He then asked what William’s legacy meant to her.
The 54-year-old stated that William’s unique creation could not be recreated. She said, “She [Williams] made her own path. What Wendy does, nobody can recreate, none of the guest hosts.”
Shepherd further expressed her love for the former host’s fearlessness which she wanted to reproduce to keep the show going.
The talented star further said, “She [Williams] opened up a lot of doors, and she’s up there with the greats.”
On Tuesday’s episode of “The Wendy Williams Show,” Shepherd revealed what her show would be like after announcing the show’s commencement will be in September.
She said the show would look and feel different, and there would be so much fun, laughs, and joy. The actress noted that she would not be impersonating Williams as no one could imitate the veteran’s unique brand.
Producers Of “The Wendy Williams Show” React To The Comedian’s Take Over
The Blast previously reported how “The Wendy Williams Show” producers felt about Shepherd taking over Williams.
They said it was a bitter-sweet moment because of their love for the previous host. Nevertheless, they were excited to collaborate with Shepherd, who has proven to be a natural in hosting duties. The co-presidents of the production company noted:
“Like our viewers, we have been impressed by the unique comedic twist Sherri puts on our daily ‘Hot Topics’ segment, her creativity, and interactions with our guests.”
Williams is unavailable to go on with the show because of her recovery process. However, the company was willing to work with her again in the future.
Several staff members of the former show have moved on to the new show, and they were confident about Shepherd fitting well into her new role.
The Favored Media Personality Gets Higher Ranking For Show With Engaging Performance
Last December, The Blast reported that Shepherd hosted an episode of “The Wendy Williams Show” earlier in November and her performance gained a 13% increase in the ratings.
The increase in ratings made the show eligible enough to be compared to high-ranking shows like “Kelly Clarkson Show” and “The Ellen DeGeneres Show.”
David Perler, the show’s executive producer, remarked on the TV show host’s performance, saying she was the perfect host for the show.
He further stated that Shepherd was good with engaging the viewers with relatable talks and unique opinions on the hottest topics. The team was also excited about her performance and anticipated more from her.
Shepherd and Williams are both skilled hosts, but with the health condition of the broadcaster, she will not be returning as the host of “The Wendy Williams Show.”
Instead, the comedian will be taking over and has been set to be part of the list of guest hosts for the remainder of the season.
The replacement was not officially permanent last December, but supporters of Shepherd were delighted and showered her with positive comments.
