Syndicated radio personality Wendy Williams turns 45 in a few days, but she has more reason than that to celebrate.
The former self-professed cocaine addict is now a happily married mother, a best-selling author (with five books to her credit) and one of daytime television's newest sensations.
With her eponymous daily chat fest hitting TV stations this week (airing several times a day in some cities), all eyes are on the statuesque Northeastern University alum with a notorious gift of gab that has earned her a loyal legion of radio listeners for the past 20 years.
Ask Williams who she is, and she'll tell you modestly that she's "just a woman with a microphone and a show, from New Jersey." But she has lofty goals "to be America's new sweetheart."At the rate she's going, she just may just achieve her dream. During a media blitz with several outlets over the past few weeks, the self-described "Queen of All Media" let it rip on a number of subjects. Below is a sampling of what Wendy Williams had to say on a range of topics, including herself.
On shaping her look for television ...
"I know now that my right side is my best side, that I look terrible in red and that I need a regular dose of Botox. Without it, my eyes sort of bug out on television -- not a good look."
On how she has been home scoping out her talk show competition ...
"I watch them as a fan. My primary job, up until this point, was radio. Four days a week, I worked from 2 to 6 p.m. My mornings were at home with a cup of Sanka looking at Rachael Ray. What is she cooking today? Listening to Dr. Phil. Look at his wife, Robin, ...I wonder how their sex is like. You ever wonder that? You don't watch people and think about how their sex is? I mean Joy and Regis [Philbin]...it has been over for years. But Joy is still a sexual creature. She's getting it from some place. So, do I watch the shows? Yes. I'm going to fit in between Tyra, Rachel, Oprah, Jerry and Steve. Everybody forgets about Steve Wilco!"
On how her height helped her meet Oprah ...
"Once, but she doesn't remember. She was speaking to a group of women, like a women's symposium, and I was working at the station that sponsored it. When it was over, I already had a strategy about how I was going to meet her. I was going to work the heels to make me 6-foot-5. I think autographs are so corny. Nobody likes to sign a blank piece of white paper. So guess what I had her sign? I was all prepared. [I had] the cover of Vogue, where she is sprawled back all skinny-minnie and proud to sign it. I was taller than all those other bitches, and nobody else got an autograph. Maybe she does remember it. Maybe it haunts her in her dreams. 'There was this giant woman chasing me.'"
On wanting to talk to First Lady Michelle Obama ...
"I'd love to talk to Michelle and just kick around what it's like to be 45 these days. We have families, we're smart, we're sassy, we're sexy."
On how the recession and high unemployment should work to her advantage ...
''This is such a great time for talk, especially with the economy still being so bad. Talk is cheap. Talk is free! This is such a great opportunity for all of us who have talk shows. There are now people home during daytime who normally would never have been home to catch any of the daytime talk shows. I'm very sorry that those people are out of work or working less hours, but it does mean there are now millions of eyes out there able to catch me and everyone else doing talk shows."
Mel B Pictures
In this photo provided by Kraft Foods, Spice Girl "Mel B" poses for a photo wearing a T-shirt she designed based on the classic pink ribbon used for breast cancer awareness, after a fashion show and launch of "Pose for the Cure" web site to help Kraft Foods raise money for the 'Susan G. Komen for the Cure' fight against breast cancer in New York, Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2008. The shirt is for sale on the web site and the net proceeds will benefit the foundation. (AP Photo/Kraft Foods, Ray Stubblebine) **NO SALES**
AP
In this photo provided by Kraft Foods, Spice Girl "Mel B" poses for a photo wearing a T-shirt she designed based on the classic pink ribbon used for breast cancer awareness, after a fashion show and launch of "Pose for the Cure" web site to help Kraft Foods raise money for the 'Susan G. Komen for the Cure' fight against breast cancer in New York, Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2008. The shirt is for sale on the web site and the net proceeds will benefit the foundation. (AP Photo/Kraft Foods, Ray Stubblebine) **NO SALES**
AP
In this undated image released by Oxfam Tuesday Sept. 23, 2008, British singer Mel B participates in the 'In My Name' global campaign calling for action against poverty and demanding world leaders keep their promises on millennium development goals. (AP Photo/Oxfam, HO) ** NO SALES **
AP
In this photo provided by Kraft Foods, Spice Girl Mel B, left, serves as the emcee at a fashion show and launch of "Pose for the Cure" web site to help Kraft Foods raise money for the 'Susan G. Komen for the Cure' fight against breast cancer in New York, Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2008. Mel B wears a T-shirt she designed based on the classic pink ribbon used for breast cancer awareness. The shirt is for sale on the web site and the net proceeds will benefit the foundation. The woman at right is unidentified. (AP Photo/Kraft Foods, Ray Stubblebine) **NO SALES**
AP
NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 09: TV personality and designer Khloe Kardashian and Olympic-level swimmer and model Amanda Beard (R) pose backstage at the Mel B With Ultimo Spring 2009 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at the Metropolitan Pavilion on September 9, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images )
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NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 09: Ultimo Scottish designer lingerie brand founder Michelle Mone (L) and pop singer Melanie Brown pose backstage at the Mel B With Ultimo Spring 2009 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at the Metropolitan Pavilion on September 9, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images )
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NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 09: Pop singer Melanie Brown poses backstage at the Mel B With Ultimo Spring 2009 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at the Metropolitan Pavilion on September 9, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images )
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NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 09: Pop singer Melanie Brown and Olympic-level swimmer and model Amanda Beard (R) pose backstage at the Mel B With Ultimo Spring 2009 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at the Metropolitan Pavilion on September 9, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images )
Getty Images
NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 09: Pop singer Melanie Brown and singer Aubrey O'Day (R) poses backstage at the Mel B With Ultimo Spring 2009 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at the Metropolitan Pavilion on September 9, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images )
Getty Images
NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 09: Pop singer Melanie Brown, Olympic-level swimmer and model Amanda Beard, singer Aubrey O'Day and TV personality and designer Khloe Kardashian pose backstage at the Mel B With Ultimo Spring 2009 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at the Metropolitan Pavilion on September 9, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images )
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On what she wants to ask Jennifer Aniston ...
"Jennifer Aniston made a temporary maxi pad. She was on a photo shoot and she didn't feel like taking a break or asking anybody. And she opens her legs a little too wide. I swear to God, it's there. Me and Aniston, we're gonna talk about that pad when I meet her. And eventually, hopefully, I will meet her, and she'll come on the show...I'll tell her that if you have to go panty-less, then you shouldn't make the pad. You'll stuff it, you know, but not the whole thing...you know there is a way of doing this."
On her headline-grabbing live dust-up with Omarosa last summer ..."I think Omarosa came on wanting to have her moment by attacking me, and that is not what I do on my TV show. I really wanted to have a friendly chat."
On never being scared to chat with pop diva Whitney Houston, with whom she had an infamous run-in ...
"Are you kidding? I've been dying to do a girlfriend talk with Whitney when she was in her right mind. We would have a blast talking about fools and hair -- synthetic or real."
On what type of talk show she's aiming to show the world ...
"People will quickly understand this is not 'Jerry Springer' or 'Maury' or the 'Larry King' show. I'm discussing the hot topics in the news and, of course, celebrity interviews. I hope when people come to town, whether it's George Clooney or George Lopez, that they would not just stop at '[David] Letterman' or 'Regis and Kelly,' but also stop by 'The Wendy Williams Show.'
On comparisons to other popular TV talk show hostesses ...
"Look, really none of that is on my radar. Don't get me wrong, I'm honored to be in the company of those people -- Oprah, Tyra, Ellen and the rest -- but I'm thinking something else."
On her husband's messy sexual harassment scandal ...
"It was difficult, and I was a good sport. There was a time I was on that side not doing the interviewing, but being a victim. It was hard to see the horrible lies. However, for us, it made our relationship that more tighter. He's an executive producer on the show, so we were busy during that time and stayed focused on the prize, which is our 11-year marriage, my 23-year career and how we are going to make it bigger and better than ever, and our 8-year-old son. I don't think I could do this if he weren't in the trenches with me. We live hard and laugh often."
On celebrity endorsement deals ...
"I like Gwen Stefani's LAMB line, and believe it or not, I also like the House of Dereon, though I know Tina Knowles gets flack. I see a lot of successful women on daytime, like Tyra Banks and Kelly Ripa, and all of their endorsements. Rachael Ray has Dunkin' Donuts. When I see them, it makes me want to get it, too. I want it all."
On why she wants to make her own line of wigs and shoes ...
"Wigs and shoes are two things I'm passionate about, and I would love to oversee a wig line and women's shoes sizes up to 13. It's personal, because I have thin hair, so I wear wigs for necessity. I wear a big shoe size, and I like a slender stilt, which are difficult to find in our size."
On what her son thinks is cool ...
"He wants me to interview Fred, the character from YouTube. He'll tell me, 'Tyra had Fred on. Tyra's cool.' And all I can say is, 'Well, maybe someday I'll be cool, too.' "
On embracing her gay following ...
"I am not a gay woman, and I don't do anything intentionally to attract a gay audience or a heterosexual audience for that matter. But if I might state the obvious, gay men love it when I become 6-foot-5," she says as she pulls a five-inch red heel out of her black leather Hermes bag. "And they love the cinched waist and exaggerated figure."
On why now she is ready to be a celebrity figure ...
"Celebrity is wasted on young people. It needs to be on middle-age people. Once you've done a few things, fallen down, made your own mistakes, had too many martinis, been in the gutter too many times -- hello."
Mel B Pictures
In this photo provided by Kraft Foods, Spice Girl "Mel B" poses for a photo wearing a T-shirt she designed based on the classic pink ribbon used for breast cancer awareness, after a fashion show and launch of "Pose for the Cure" web site to help Kraft Foods raise money for the 'Susan G. Komen for the Cure' fight against breast cancer in New York, Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2008. The shirt is for sale on the web site and the net proceeds will benefit the foundation. (AP Photo/Kraft Foods, Ray Stubblebine) **NO SALES**
AP
In this photo provided by Kraft Foods, Spice Girl "Mel B" poses for a photo wearing a T-shirt she designed based on the classic pink ribbon used for breast cancer awareness, after a fashion show and launch of "Pose for the Cure" web site to help Kraft Foods raise money for the 'Susan G. Komen for the Cure' fight against breast cancer in New York, Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2008. The shirt is for sale on the web site and the net proceeds will benefit the foundation. (AP Photo/Kraft Foods, Ray Stubblebine) **NO SALES**
AP
In this undated image released by Oxfam Tuesday Sept. 23, 2008, British singer Mel B participates in the 'In My Name' global campaign calling for action against poverty and demanding world leaders keep their promises on millennium development goals. (AP Photo/Oxfam, HO) ** NO SALES **
AP
In this photo provided by Kraft Foods, Spice Girl Mel B, left, serves as the emcee at a fashion show and launch of "Pose for the Cure" web site to help Kraft Foods raise money for the 'Susan G. Komen for the Cure' fight against breast cancer in New York, Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2008. Mel B wears a T-shirt she designed based on the classic pink ribbon used for breast cancer awareness. The shirt is for sale on the web site and the net proceeds will benefit the foundation. The woman at right is unidentified. (AP Photo/Kraft Foods, Ray Stubblebine) **NO SALES**
AP
NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 09: TV personality and designer Khloe Kardashian and Olympic-level swimmer and model Amanda Beard (R) pose backstage at the Mel B With Ultimo Spring 2009 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at the Metropolitan Pavilion on September 9, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images )
Getty Images
NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 09: Ultimo Scottish designer lingerie brand founder Michelle Mone (L) and pop singer Melanie Brown pose backstage at the Mel B With Ultimo Spring 2009 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at the Metropolitan Pavilion on September 9, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images )
Getty Images
NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 09: Pop singer Melanie Brown poses backstage at the Mel B With Ultimo Spring 2009 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at the Metropolitan Pavilion on September 9, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images )
Getty Images
NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 09: Pop singer Melanie Brown and Olympic-level swimmer and model Amanda Beard (R) pose backstage at the Mel B With Ultimo Spring 2009 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at the Metropolitan Pavilion on September 9, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images )
Getty Images
NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 09: Pop singer Melanie Brown and singer Aubrey O'Day (R) poses backstage at the Mel B With Ultimo Spring 2009 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at the Metropolitan Pavilion on September 9, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images )
Getty Images
NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 09: Pop singer Melanie Brown, Olympic-level swimmer and model Amanda Beard, singer Aubrey O'Day and TV personality and designer Khloe Kardashian pose backstage at the Mel B With Ultimo Spring 2009 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at the Metropolitan Pavilion on September 9, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images )
Getty Images
Comments: (178)
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By: JNez on 7/15/2009 8:58PM
i've followed wendy william's radio career in new york city since she dished entertainment gossip on 98.7 kiss way back in 1991. she ruled the 90's with her evening spot on kiss and then the infamous afternoon drive on hot 97 that led to her dismissal in 1997. i welcomed her back to nyc's wbls station with open arms in 2001. i don't listen often to the radio show anymore (or radio for that matter) but in spite of the controversy she generates, she is a skilled broadcaster and air personality. sometimes i feel i can do without the excess but wendy is wendy. to me she'll always be an excellent broadcaster before anything else. i wish her luck with television and will tune in!
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By: Sheryl on 7/15/2009 11:21PM
45??? DAYUM... I thought she was wayyyy older than that, I was thinking mid-50's. She must have had a hard life.
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By: Sparky Smith on 7/16/2009 12:01PM
TRASH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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By: Luci on 7/17/2009 3:05PM
I agree! Television programming needs a lot of improvement.
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By: Mike on 7/17/2009 6:02PM
Yeah, I won't watch either. I love her candor and personality but she's way too much. She's honest and opinionated to the point of being totally insensitive, nasty and a drama queen (and I have no doubt that this pulls in ratings, at least maybe until she pulls some really stupid stunt and gets pulled from the air), how she's never worked on Comedy Central I'll never know. And she gives terrible advice.
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By: bbrowne2 on 7/20/2009 9:27PM
I agree. This is one of the worst programming errors that a station could make. There are many more qualified broadcasters who could fill this slot. I hope that this garbage is short lived.
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By: "DimePiece" on 7/16/2009 12:42PM
Her show aired the other day where I live at 11 o'clock and I TURNT IT OFF! She is a HOT GHETTO MESS"! She is just ALL OVER THE PLACE and ALL IN YOUR FACE. She really has the nerve to say, she would love to interview First Lady Michelle Obama one day? Does Wendy really think that First Lady will come on her show? HELL NAW! Her show is an embarrassment to black people. All I can say is GHETTO, GHETTO, GHETTO!!!
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By: Sheryl on 7/16/2009 1:44PM
In her previous life, she was either a camel, a Llama, or a man... and that's giving the camel and the Llama wayyyyyyy too much credit!
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By: jen on 7/21/2009 11:02PM
You took the words right out of my mouth, damn!!
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By: PRenee on 7/16/2009 2:41PM
Love it! Love it! Love it! Ms. Wendy....
Much love and success to you
Accomplish Everything Without Fear:
False Expectations Appearing Real
And to all the haters - peep this...
JERSEY GIRLS - BEST IN THE WORLD!
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