Blackvoices.com has learned that 'The Wendy Williams Show' has been picked up for a full run next year, following its successful six-week preview that brought the bawdy radio shock jock to viewers across the country in markets such as New York, Los Angeles, Dallas and Detroit since July 14.
The Fox Television Stations group will officially launch the show for a mid-2009 start, a rep confirmed today.
Through Aug. 13, the program had posted rating increases in key demographics versus the May sweeps, including every key demo in New York and Los Angeles.
Big win for Williams, a 'New York Times' best-selling author who, for the past fifteen years, has virtually transformed New York City's urban radio scene with her brash brew of commentary and signature style of gossip.
"Everything about the Wendy preview clicked for our stations, from conception to promotion to hitting the air, Fox senior vice president of programming Frank Cicha said. "It completely broke the mold. The show is now a proven winner, and we can't wait to see it debut across the country next year."
Williams, herself, seemed to wonder about the fate of the show being picked up – even frequently expressing it during the live broadcast and on her syndicated afternoon radio show, 'The Wendy Williams Experience.'
With today's announcement, the 44-year-old Oceans Township, New Jersey native is head over heels.
"Doing the daily show for the past six weeks has really been one of the most exciting times in my life," she said "It has given me the chance to be myself while living out my dream and connecting with my fans on a whole new level."
"I am incredibly excited about coming back next year," she added, describing the show – which featured celebrity guests such as Vanessa Williams, Rev. Run, Nas, Kim Kardashian, Daisy Fuentes, Fonzworth Bentley, Ray-J, Omarosa Manigult-Stalworth, Coolio, Michelle Williams, Carson Kressley, and Margaret Cho – as "a true phenomenon this summer."
The Fox Television Stations is one of the nation's largest owned-and-operated network broadcast groups, comprising 27 stations in 18 markets and covering nearly 37.34% of television homes in the U.S. This includes top 10 markets such as New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas, Washington, D.C. and Houston, as well as Minneapolis, Phoenix and Orlando.
2008 BET Awards
LOS ANGELES, CA - JUNE 24: Humanitarian Award Recipient Quincy Jones poses in the press room at the 2008 BET Awards held at the Shrine Auditorium on June 24, 2008 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
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LOS ANGELES, CA - JUNE 24: Rapper Nelly poses in the press room at the 2008 BET Awards held at the Shrine Auditorium on June 24, 2008 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
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LOS ANGELES, CA - JUNE 24: Singer Anthony Hamilton poses in the press room at the 2008 BET Awards held at the Shrine Auditorium on June 24, 2008 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
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LOS ANGELES, CA - JUNE 24: Singer Ashanti poses in the press room at the 2008 BET Awards held at the Shrine Auditorium on June 24, 2008 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
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LOS ANGELES, CA - JUNE 24: Rapper Nelly (L) and singer Ashanti pose in the press room at the 2008 BET Awards held at the Shrine Auditorium on June 24, 2008 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
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LOS ANGELES, CA - JUNE 24: Rapper Nelly (L) and singer Ashanti pose in the press room at the 2008 BET Awards held at the Shrine Auditorium on June 24, 2008 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
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LOS ANGELES, CA - JUNE 24: Rapper Nelly (L) and singer Ashanti poses in the press room at the 2008 BET Awards held at the Shrine Auditorium on June 24, 2008 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
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LOS ANGELES, CA - JUNE 24: Singer Ashanti poses in the press room at the 2008 BET Awards held at the Shrine Auditorium on June 24, 2008 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
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LOS ANGELES, CA - JUNE 24: Singer Ashanti poses in the press room at the 2008 BET Awards held at the Shrine Auditorium on June 24, 2008 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
Getty Images
LOS ANGELES, CA - JUNE 24: Singer Ashanti poses in the press room at the 2008 BET Awards held at the Shrine Auditorium on June 24, 2008 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
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Comments: (187)
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By: marian on 8/18/2008 3:37PM
This is terrible news. I think this woman is the absolute worse representation of black womanhood. She's crass and rude, and she looks and acts like a man. Yuck!
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By: Big Apple, Esq. on 8/18/2008 4:29PM
HOORAY! Congrats Wendy.. Your style has 'grown up' indeed.. It's a more sophisticated brand of 'can we talk' ala Joan Rivers. Marian- please! Give it a rest with the 'representation of black womanhood'.. If Brittney Spears or Amy Winehouse does some fool mess is that a 'representation of white womanhood' or just two women who are representing THEMSELVES??? Can black woman PLEASE not pigeon hole themselves and then blame the general media when they do the same to us... Wendy expresses herself how WENDY expresses herself. She is an ENTERTAINER not a "model citizen" on how to live your life or on how all black women should be. Damn let the woman live- because she truly entertains me and I LOVES IT. As Wendy says "everything is not for everybody" so keep it moving, Marian. Thanks!
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By: Tiffany on 8/18/2008 4:47PM
Congrats Wendy I love the show!
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By: Stephanie on 8/18/2008 5:30PM
WENDY! I am so happy for you. I listen to your show on the radio everyday while I am at work and I know how bad you wanted this. You are truly a "friend in my head." Congrats!!
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By: Da'vi on 8/18/2008 5:15PM
SWEET. WELL DESERVED. CONGRATS WENDY WILLIAMS. A SURE HIT!
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By: denise bell on 8/18/2008 10:13PM
thank u BIG APPLE, I LOVE THE SHOW ALSO.BIG UP'S TO WENDY
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By: May on 8/18/2008 5:44PM
God! oh God! Why hath thou forsaken me? This is a blow to EVERY black woman in the world. To have a dog like wendy on TV does us an injustice. What else can we expect from fox? They canceled a show that portrayed us in a positive light (Living Single) and now, they renew this trash!!!! Blacks NEED to boycott this show!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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By: May on 8/18/2008 5:48PM
God! Oh God, Why hath thou forsaken me? This is an ignorant, arrogant person. I am not surprised though. They cancelled "Living Single" because it projected us in a positive light, and renew her because she is trash personified, just the way they like to portray us. wendy, don't pat yourself on the back, all you did was be yourself, which is ugly and ignorant, just like they like.
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By: Big Bea on 8/18/2008 5:53PM
Everyone needs to work or have a career, Good for Wendy, If they are paying you, do your thing.
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By: Sen on 8/19/2008 8:14AM
I'm so happy for Wendy!!! She is doing big things and will only continue. She fills a void that day time tv has been missing for a long time!!!!!!
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