Episodes of Jerry O'Connell's new 3-week American talk show tryout won't be replacing The Wendy Williams Show on BET (DStv 129).
The Wendy Williams Show, broadcast on BET at 17:00 in South Africa and across Africa concluded its 10th season in the United States on Friday with talk show host Wendy Williams going on an American summer vacation until the debut of the 11th season sometime in September 2019.
During this time, Wendy Williams has given her New York studio and production facilities to Jerry O'Connell who will get a 3-week tryout to possibly launch a permanent new TV talk show, depending on whether he can get sizeable enough ratings.
Jerry O'Connell was one of the guest hosts on The Wendy Williams Show earlier this year while Wendy Williams was hospitalised and received treatment for a fractured shoulder and substance addiction while going through personal problems including separation from her husband.
At the end of new episodes of a season, BET usually goes into repeats and rebroadcasts of The Wendy Williams Show, similar to what happens in the United States and with other American TV talk shows.
In this case, Viacom Africa and BET won't be replacing The Wendy Williams Show repeats on DStv with new Jerry O'Connell episodes and will show Wendy Williams Show rebroadcasts of the 10th season in the same timeslot until the 11th season starts.
"On 1 August Jerry O'Connell appeared on The Wendy Williams show to announce his new talk show to be aired on the FOX network later this month. Jerry is a close friend of Wendy’s and stood in as a guest host on The Wendy Williams Show during her time off," Monde Twala, vice president for youth, music and BET at Viacom International Media Networks Africa (VIMN Africa) told TVwithThinus in response to a media enquiry asking about whether The Jerry O Show might replace it during repeats.
" While they will be using the same set, their shows, network and target audiences are quite different," said Monde Twala.
Similar to The Wendy Williams Show, The Jerry O Show is also produced by Liongate's Debmar-Mercury.
"We are big believers in trying new concepts and excited to once again be collaborating with our friends at Fox," said Ira Bernstein and Mort Marcus, Debmar-Mercury co-presidents, in a statement.
"We have come to know Jerry as a true talent whose infectious charisma and authenticity have made him a favourite of many daytime talk show fans, and we are so glad to provide him with this opportunity to shine."
"I love daytime. I love watching it and have fallen in love with guest-hosting it," Jerry O'Connell said.
"Whether asking people to 'Cash Me Outside' or asking them 'How You Doin'?' daytime is a big part of my life. I am thrilled to work with my friends at Debmar-Mercury. I have been collaborating with them for years and am so excited to bring a little bit of the traditional - and something brand-new - to the audience. This is going to be a fun, fun time".
