Sherri Shepherd Names Wendy Williams In Dream Guest List For New Show

Sherri Shepherd's new talk show will replace "The Wendy Williams Show" when it premiers this Fall, and the host is already putting together her wishlist of guests.

Shepherd, who replaced Wendy Williams as a fill-in host amid her medical debacle, won viewers' hearts and gained the title permanently.

Now that the former host's show is getting scrapped, the "Plan D" author would love to have her as a guest on her new program.

As the September premiere of Shepherd's new show draws near, she got candid about her gratitude to Williams for allowing her to take the reins from her amid her health debacle.

In an interview with Deadline while at Hollywood's AAFCA Awards on Wednesday, March 2, the "Sherri" star said she is so thankful to the former host for allowing her to fill in the gap and support her.

Shepherd acknowledged that if the "Think Like A Man" actress had not allowed her to come on the program, as she did to other co-hosts, she would not have had the recognition she has. She said:

"I’m thankful because if it wasn’t for Wendy, the eyes wouldn’t have been on me. I’m so thankful to her. We’re all praying for her."

Despite the "Imperfect High" actress's praise for Williams, she has yet to communicate with her on a personal level, and they are co-workers rather than friends. In her words:

"No, [I have not spoken to Wendy personally]. It’s not like everybody thinks that in Hollywood, we all have each other’s phone numbers. Wendy knows me because I’ve sat in as a guest, and I guest hosted for her two years ago."

Shepherd explained that the two of them are not friends, but they know each other. She is also happy that the former host trusted her ability to handle her eponymous talk show.

Williams is not the only person Shepherd wishes to have on her upcoming show. Her star-studded list includes a famous cast member on the "Bridgeton" series and a former First Lady. She said:

"For the first week, I am wondering what Oprah is doing? I want to know what Idris Elba is doing and if his wife could part with him for one hot minute, Come on, Regé-Jean Page. Hey, Method Man! I want him to come on. ‘Michelle Obama, we’re both from Chicago. Are you and your husband doing anything that week?'"

Shepherd has a history of being vocal about her adoration for Williams, such as when she became the permanent host of her eponymous talk show.

In February, The Blast disclosed that the 54-year-old got candid about how the original host of "The Wendy Williams Show" has a legacy that co-hosts cannot recreate. 

Shepherd expressed her views on a recorded episode of "Watch What Happens Live" with Andy Cohen. The episode began with Cohen praising Willaims for being one of the consistently amusing hosts on the show.

Cohen admitted to the comedian that hosting a show for an hour was a formidable job and asked her what the original host's legacy meant to her.

Shepherd replied that "The Wendy Williams' Show" was the star's unique program that nobody can copy. She explained, "She [Williams] made her path. What Wendy does, nobody can recreate, none of the guest hosts."

The guest spoke of her love for Williams' fearlessness when addressing topics on her show and hoped to give the same energy while hosting.

The author of "Permission Slips: Every Woman's Guide to Giving Herself a Break" said, "She [Williams] opened up a lot of doors, and she's up there with the greats."

Shepherd reportedly boosted the ratings on "The Wendy Williams Show" by a whopping 13% when she became the host last November.

This boost in scores made the show eligible to be compared to other notable programs, including the "Kelly Clarkson Show" and "The Ellen DeGeneres Show."

The program's executive producer David Perler remarked on Shepherd's performance, saying it made her a perfect fit for the show.

Perler continued that the "Until Sherri Shepherd" author was good at keeping viewers engaged with her unique thoughts on the hottest topics. He also noted that the team anticipated more of her stellar performances.