Cancelled Wendy Williams Show to end in June, replaced by Sherri Shepherd.

by Thinus Ferreira

The Wendy Williams Show is reportedly getting cancelled and will end in June with the same staff hired to work on the new Sherri talk show that will debut later in 2022.

SEE UPDATE BELOW.

According to American reports, the producers told staff working on The Wendy Williams Show that it was getting cancelled at the end of June, and immediately "rehired" everyone to work on the new talk show for Sherri Shepherd who has been a fill-in host.

After numerous announcements of when the latest 13th season of The Wendy Williams Show - seen in South Africa and across the rest of sub-Saharan Africa on BET (DStv 129), would start - and multiple postponements citing Wendy's ongoing health issues and ill health, the producers and Lionsgate distributor Debmar-Mercury who have a responsibility to deliver a show and new episodes, eventually decided to keep Wendy sidelined and to schedule a revolving roster of guest hosts. 

Earlier this week Wendy Williams, who has left New York and has been seen cavorting in Miami, suddenly appeared in a new account on Instagram as she's trying to claw back some form of control after she lost control and access of the official WendyShow Instagram account.

The loss of her official Instagram account follows after the American bank Wells Fargo also froze all of her bank accounts after her own financial advisor said Wendy is "not of sound mind" with Wendy now defaulting on payments as well.

According to insiders, Wendy Williams had become "unbearable, having tantrums and throwing things at people. Basically the consensus among the crew is that she didn't want to be there anymore. Her illness may have exacerbated that feeling".

RadarOnline cites sources connected to the show, that the producers and Debmar-Mercury are on the verge of announcing that Sherri Shepherd is taking over from Wendy Williams on a permanent basis, with the talk show that will be refashioned after a new talk show host.

According to reports, the show's producers were still on the fence about whether to wait for Wendy Williams to get better and return to the show following her absence during the current 13th season, but that her latest Instagram video "sent them off the edge" in which she updated fans as she walked down the beach.

Wendy Williams told viewers that she planned on returning to The Wendy Williams Show and would be in better shape than ever.

This angered the production staff who have been trying to get her to film a short video for over a month as an update.

"Producers had been begging Wendy for months to address her fans on social media to explain in her own words what was going on. They were willing to send a team of social media professionals from the show to Florida to film and edit a short video that could be posted over all the Wendy show accounts, but Wendy wouldn't return their calls," a source told RadarOnline.

In September 2021 Wendy Williams was taken to a New York hospital for psychiatric evaluation.

UPDATE Tuesday 22 February 17:00:

Debmar-Mercury officially announced on Tuesday that The Wendy Williams Show will end with Sherri Shepherd taking over as the new talk show host later in 2022.

Sherri will be distributed by Lionsgate's Debmar-Mercury with showrunner David Perler remaining in the same position on Sherri, executive producing alongside Sherri Shepherd and her producer partner Jawn Murray.

"Sherri is a natural who proved her hosting skills for many years as a panellist on The View, on Fox's Dish Nation and again this season as a popular guest host of Wendy," Debmar-Mercury co-presidents Mort Marcus and Ira Bernstein say in a statement.

"Like our viewers, we have been impressed by the unique comedic twist Sherri puts on our daily live 'Hot Topics' segment, her creativity and interactions with our guests. Her love for the content and daytime fans is obvious, and we are excited to partner with her to create another long-term talk franchise."

"This is also a bitter-sweet moment for us and our partners at Fox. We all have a great love and affinity for Wendy, who grew into a true icon during her 12 incredible seasons as the solo host of a live, daily talk show dishing on 'Hot Topics' and interviewing celebrities."

"Since Wendy is still not available to host the show as she continues on her road to recovery, we believe it is best for our fans, stations and advertising partners to start making this transition now. We hope to be able to work with Wendy again in the future, and continue to wish her a speedy and full recovery."

ALSO READ: Wendy Williams says she doesn't have mental health issues after the bank takes her account away.

Wendy Williams says she doesn't have mental health issues after the bank takes her account away.

by Thinus Ferreira

The troubled talk show host Wendy Williams who hasn't been back and won't be for the remainder of the current American talk show season says she's not suffering from mental health problems - after Wells Fargo froze all of her bank accounts after her own financial advisor said Wendy is "not of sound mind" with Wendy now defaulting on payments.

After 2021's "Lifetime" movie and documentary of Wendy Williams, it seems the project was premature with the next tumultuous chapter of Wendy Williams' life playing out in 2022.

After numerous announcements of when the latest 13th season of The Wendy Williams Show - seen in South Africa and across the rest of sub-Saharan Africa on BET (DStv 129), would start - and multiple postponements citing Wendy's ongoing health issues and ill health, the producers and Lionsgate distributor Debmar-Mercury who have a responsibility to deliver a show and new episodes, eventually decided to keep Wendy sidelined and to schedule a revolving roster of guest hosts. 

With Wendy Williams battling ongoing health issues, including the autoimmune disorder Graves' disease, American trade publications revealed that Sherri Sheperd is likely to sign a contract to take over as the "permanent guest host" of The Wendy Williams Show. 

In September 2021 Wendy Williams was taken to a New York hospital for psychiatric evaluation.

The news that Sherri Sheperd is being lined up to replace Wendy barely broke when it was followed by a next wave: The American bank Wells Fargo freezing Wendy's bank accounts and demanding a New York court hearing to determine if Wendy should be placed under guardianship the way that Britney Spears was and if Wendy is an "incapacitated person".

Wendy Williams' publicist Shawn Zanotti in a statement on Monday said that "Wendy wants the world to know that she strenuously denies all allegations about her mental health and well-being", with her attorney claiming that Wendy is being exploited by those around her. 

"During this hiatus from the show, Wendy has employed holistic health professionals to help her reach optimal health during her treatment of Graves' disease and thyroid concerns."

Wendy told the court in a filed affidavit that "For more than two weeks, Wells Fargo has repeatedly denied my requests to access my financial assets, which total over several million dollars. I have submitted multiple written requests to Wells Fargo and I have visited various Wells Fargo branches in the South Florida area in an effort to resolve this matter outside of the courtroom."

"To date, I have submitted and made over a dozen requests, regarding the financial damages resulting from Wells Fargo’s decision to unlawfully deny me access to my accounts."

"As a result of my inability to access my financial assets, I have defaulted and I am at risk of defaulting on several billing and financial obligations, including, but not limited to, mortgage payments and employee payroll."

Wells Fargo in a statement to American media said that "Wells Fargo's priority is the financial well-being of Wendy Williams and the preservation of her privacy. As we have expressed to the court, Wells Fargo is open to working with Wendy Williams’ counsel to release funds directly to her creditors for bills historically and regularly paid from her accounts."

Wells Fargo froze Wendy Williams out of her own bank accounts, with the Daily Mail reporting that Wendy Williams' former financial advisor, Lori Schiller, claims that Wendy is "of unsound mind". That claim led Wells Fargo to freeze Wendy's bank accounts in mid-January.

The New York Post's Page Six that obtained the court documents, reports that Wells Fargo told the court that it is "concerned about Wendy Williams' situation. It is our hope that the Guardianship Part will imminently appoint a temporary guardian or evaluator to review the situation and ensure that Wendy Williams' affairs are being properly handled".

American talk shows and late night hosts including Trevor Noah shun studio audiences as coronavirus fears grow.

by Thinus Ferreira

South African and African viewers will soon notice the start of the absence of live studio audiences in several American shows which are doing away with in-studio audiences for an unspecified period as coronavirus cases worldwide and in the United States and fears of in-person transmission increase.

In South Africa, where the number of coronavirus cases is increasing, the TV industry has not yet implemented any changes in terms of in-studio audiences for local talk shows, game shows, youth shows and other programming which are filmed before rows of seats filled with people from across the country.

Producers of The Wendy Williams Show carried on ViacomCBS Networks Africa's BET (DStv 129) is immediately doing away with the New York in-studio audience that Wendy Williams often refers to as her "co-hosts".

"Wendy values her co-hosts and their daily participation but in light of the current health climate, The Wendy Williams Show will not have a live studio audience until further notice. We will continue to produce a daily live talk show and look forward to welcoming the studio audience back when the time is right," the show says in a statement.

The Ellen DeGeneres Show carried on M-Net's VUZU (DStv 116) says that "With the rapidly changing nature of the Covid-19 outbreak and out of concern for our audience attending The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Telepictures will suspend audience attendance during tapings effective Monday 16March," Telepictures says in a statement.

The Real shown on BET - also produced by Warner Bros from the same Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank in Los Angeles as Ellen will however start to screen people before allowing them to sit as in-studio audience members.

"We are asking all guests to confirm that neither they nor any member of their household have traveled within the past 3 weeks to or through a location that has been deemed Level 3 by the Centre for Disease Control, currently China, Italy, Iran and South Korea," says Warner Bros. in a statement.

"These new and temporary precautionary measures have been put in place out of an abundance of caution and out of concern for the health and safety of our guests and staff."

No longer seen in South Africa, Dr. Phil is also axing the in-studio audience for now. "The health of our audience members, staff and crew are the priority," says Carla Pennington, the show's executive producer in a statement

The Late Late Show with James Corden done from Los Angeles and seen on M-Net (DStv 101) will continue with a live in-studio audience. The Talk seen on 1Magic (DStv 103) and done from The CBS Studio Centre in Los Angeles is also still taking audience members during late March and early-April.

The Daily Show with Trevor Noah carried on ViacomCBS Networks Africa's Comedy Central (DStv 122) and that records episodes in New York is currently still making tickets available for audience members this week but will get rid of the audience from next week.

"Our top priority is the safety of our guests and staff. Beginning Monday 16 March The Daily Show with Trevor Noah will film without a live, in-studio audience," says Comedy Central in a statement.

"This move is being made out of an abundance of caution and concern regarding the spread of the Covid-19 virus and per guidance from New York City officials to take appropriate actions. There have been no developments at The Daily Show’s studio to cause concern for audience members who have plans to attend the show tonight or tomorrow."

"Measures have been taken to protect everyone who enters and works in the office and studio with enhanced cleaning and sanitizing procedures."

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert shown on e.tv and also recording in New York from inside the Ed Sullivan Theatre is also stopping letting people in.

"Beginning Monday 16 March The Late Show with Stephen Colbert will film without a live, in-studio audience," says CBS in a statement. "This move is being made out of an abundance of caution regarding the spread of the Covid-19 virus and the uncertainty of the situation for future weeks."

"Per guidance from New York City officials, CBS and The Late Show are doing their part to help decrease the potential rate of transmission in our communities. There have not been any specific developments at The Ed Sullivan Theater to cause concern for audiences."

Last Week Tonight with John Oliver seen on M-Net (DStv 101) is also removing the in-studio in New York.

"As of this coming Sunday 15 March Last Week Tonight With John Oliver will film without a live, in-studio audience," says HBO in a statement. "We are taking this precaution in accordance with best practices as outlined by New York City officials. We will continue to monitor the situation."

The Wendy Williams Show seen on Viacom Africa's BET renewed for another 2 seasons until 2022.

The Wendy Williams Show, seen in South Africa and across sub-Saharan Africa on Viacom Africa's BET (DStv 129) has been renewed for a further two seasons until 2022.

The 11th season of the weekday American talk show kicked off on Monday in the United States with Liongate's Debmar-Mercury announcing that Wendy has been renewed for another two seasons.

The 11th season follows after the tumultuous on-again, off-again 10th season that saw Wendy Williams take several extended breaks since January 2019 dealing with health issues and chronic disease complications, addiction and a divorce from her husband Kevin Hunter who was also axed as executive producer after 8 years after allegedly fathering a child following his years-long extra-marital affair with another woman.

"I'm so excited to launch our 11th year by letting the world know I will continue to do what I love to do so much - and for a very long time," Wendy Williams said in a press release announcing the renewal.

Wendy said the talk show "will never stop working very hard to bring our dedicated Wendy Watchers and audience 'co-hosts' the freshest national daytime television!".

Debmar-Mercury co-presidents Ira Bernstein and Mort Marcus said "Wendy's enduring demo strength is matched only by its unwavering support among our valued station partners".

Viacom Africa says that Jerry O'Connell and his new talk show, The Jerry O Show, won't be replacing The Wendy Williams Show on BET during reruns.

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".

Wendy Williams' husband Kevin Hunter fired as executive producer of The Wendy Williams Show seen on BET.

Kevin Hunter, the husband of Wendy Williams has been fired as executive producer of The Wendy Williams Show, seen on Viacom Africa's BET (DStv 129) channel.

It comes after Wendy Williams announced that she is filing from divorce from Kevin Hunter who she has been married to for 20 years. Kevin Hunter has served as Wendy Williams' manager and an executive producer on her show.

Meanwhile The Daily Mail reports that Kevin Hunter has been given 48 hours to get out of the house, while the expensive, brand-new gold Ferrari Portofino that he bought for his mistress has been repossessed and towed away.

Wendy Williams returned to host her show on 4 March last month after taking extended time off.

She had been living in a sober house to deal with alcoholism as she struggled to regain control of her life and talk show while her personal life continued to spiral out of control, plagued by rumours about her failing health and crumbling marriage.

Wendy Williams started her latest struggle with addiction after her right shoulder injury in December when she said she fell and took an extended break from her show.

Wendy Williams relapsed and got drunk after Sharina Hudson, who has been having an extra-marital affair with Kevin Hunter, gave birth in Philadelphia last month to their child.

When she returned to her show Wendy Williams told viewers "I'm still very much in love with my husband and anyone who's been married. Marriages have ebbs and flows, marriage isn't easy. And don't ask me about mine until you see this gone. And it ain't going anywhere, not in this lifetime."

Now she has filed for divorce citing in court documents "irreconcilable differences between the parties which have caused the breakdown of the marriage for a period of six months," and that there is "no reasonable prospect of reconciliation."

Kevin Hunter has now also been fired as executive producer and been locked out of the show's production office with passcodes changed, according to Entertainment Tonight.

It's not yet clear whether he would be continuing in his role as Wendy Williams' manager, although multiple sources have told American media outlets that he will soon be fired from this role as well.

"Kevin Hunter is no longer an executive producer on The Wendy Williams Show," Debmar-Mercury wishes him well in his future endeavours," Debmar-Mercury that produces the weekday talk show, confirmed on Thursday in a statement.

Kevin Hunter in a statement said "I am not proud of my recent actions and take full accountability and apologize to my wife, my family and her amazing fans. I am going through a time of self-reflection and am trying to right some wrongs."

Did a 'captive' and frail Wendy Williams drop hints to her BET talk show audience as she says 'what kind of man beats a woman?' and 'long week' before she goes off the air again for yet another week?

Did the struggling and frail Wendy Williams (54) drop hints to her BET (DStv 129) talk show audience this week as to what's really going on in her life, saying "what kind of man beats a woman?" and "long week" before she's off the air yet again for another week?

Fans are wondering and speculating as to what's really happening with Wendy Williams and why she's not addressing the biggest "hot topic" on her show - herself.

American media this past week reported more lurid details about her private life as Wendy Williams desperately struggles to regain control of her life and talk show as her personal life continues to spiral out of control - plagued by growing rumours about her failing health and crumbling marriage.

The Daily Mail last month reported that Wendy Williams is now living in a "sober living house" in New York with other people struggling with addiction problems, only leaving to go and do her weekday talk show.

The Daily Mail this week reported that Wendy Williams was hospitalised on Monday after she relapsed and was found drunk - but after being given intravenous fluids, she was still rushed to the set of her show to record Monday's episode.

Wendy Williams only revealed that she's living in a sober living facility in Queens after The Daily Mail made a media enquiry and was about to report it when she teary-eyed told her talk show audience that she's been getting help for addiction to alcohol and pills for weeks.

Wendy Williams started her latest struggle with addiction after her right shoulder injury in December when she said she fell, and took an extended break from her show.

The New York Post's Page Six reported this week that Wendy Williams relapsed and got drunk after Sharina Hudson, who is having an extra-marital affair with Wendy's husband Kevin Hunter, gave birth in Philadelphia on Sunday night.

Kevin is reported to allegedly be the father of his mistress' newborn, although there's no proof of that. He is also the one who put Wendy Williams in the sober living house and monitors her every move at the talk show where he is one of the producers as well as her business manager.

Fans now think a "captive" Wendy Williams is silently trying to signal the public and crying out for help.

Twenty minutes into Wednesday's episode of The Wendy Williams Show things suddenly became extremely awkward when Wendy Williams, after a "hot topics" discussion about how Dr Dre physically assaulted the journalist Dee Barnes some years ago, suddenly looked at her audience and asked: "What kind of man beats a woman?"

She then did a long stare in silence, then made a sideway-down glance to her right shoulder with a knowing smile, and then said: "And what kind of men stand around and see this happen and not break it up?"

Is Wendy Williams trying to signal that she is herself a victim of domestic abuse? That was followed by yet another long, awkward glance and Wendy saying "hmmm".

On Friday's show it looked as if Wendy Williams dropped another "clue" about her life, saying "sorry; long week" as she dropped a throat lozenge into her tea.

An on-set source told Page Six that Wendy Williams is "so frail and vulnerable. It's frightening just how completely under Kevin's control Wendy is. But she won't hear a word against him".

"Those close to her are terrified something awful is going to happen. She comes to the set looking terrible."

Now The Wendy Williams Show is once again going into reruns for next week with Wendy Williams that on Friday said in her show that "we are on vacation for 7 days. We will be back the following Monday. Sorry".

"The Wendy Williams Show is taking a previously scheduled spring break hiatus and airing repeat episodes during the week of 1 April. The show will return with original episodes on 8 April," the talk show said in a written statement.

The latest break comes after Wendy Williams returned on 4 March after 2 months away from the show during which American presenters stood in for her, followed by repeat episodes.

Wendy Williams set to return to The Wendy Williams Show seen on BET on 4 March, announces distributor and producer Debmar-Mercury.

Debmar-Mercury producing The Wendy Williams Show seen on Viacom Africa's BET (DStv 129) announced that talk show host Wendy Williams (54) will be returning after a long absence on 4 March.

"Wendy Williams is an incredible talent with the most unique voice in daytime," says Debmar-Mercury, the distributor and producer of the show, in a statement.

"We can't wait to welcome her back to her iconic purple chair on the set of her show on Monday, 4 March. We so appreciate all of the guest hosts and panellists who filled in for Wendy during this time."

"These people are, and always will be, true family to the show. And we want to thank all of the loyal and supportive fans who have been with us for 10 years now. And of course, we thank our station and business partners, who stepped up in such a supportive way."

Wendy Williams in a statement says "Salute to Debmar-Mercury for believing from the start and thanks to my staff for tirelessly holding it down for me."

The Wendy Williams Show has been making use of a variety of revolving hosts, including Nick Cannon, Sherri Shepherd, Michael Rapaport and Jerry O'Connell.

Wendy Williams fractured her shoulder in December 2018 and was supposed to be back on 14 January.

Her talk show return was then abruptly pushed out to 21 January, with the show then abruptly postponed again for a third time, saying Wendy Williams is taking an extended break to focus on her health, that will include hospitalisation.

Wendy Williams suffers from Graves' disease affecting her thyroid.

Staffers on The Wendy Williams Show has reportedly "moved on like she doesn't exist" and are furious with Wendy for not communicating about what's wrong with her and what's going on.

BREAKING. Wendy Williams hospitalised; talk return abruptly postponed for a third time as Wendy asks for privacy during an extended and this time significant absence.

Wendy Williams (54) has been hospitalised with her talk show return that has been abruptly postponed for a third time, with the American talk show host who will not be back on TV soon and who will now spend "significant time" in hospital as her health situation kept deteriorating.

Wendy Williams, always discussing and dissecting the gossipy lives of celebrities in front of her live studio audience "spilling the tea" is now asking for privacy.

After pushing out her return to the 10th season of her weekday talk show seen on Viacom Africa's BET (DStv 129) to 14 January due to "less than stellar episodes", and then again to 21 January, Wendy Williams has now been hospitalised with her comeback postponed indefinitely due to complications from her Graves' Disease in addition to dealing with a shoulder fracture she fractured in mid-December.

After the show's return was postponed from 14 to 21 January, The Wendy Williams Show returned this past week with a rotating daily panel of substitute panelists who talked about various topics similar to The View and The Talk.

In a new statement Wendy Williams now says she will be an extended absence from the show that will now go into repeat episodes from this coming Monday. Next week producers will once again scramble to find fill-in hosts who will start to present the show from 28 January for the time being.

"As Wendy Williams Hunter previously shared, she fractured her shoulder and has been on the mend. Over the past few days, Wendy has experienced complications regarding her Graves' Disease that will require treatment," Wendy Williams said in a statement.

"Wendy will be under the strict supervision of her physicians, and as part of her care, there will be significant time spent in the hospital. Despite her strong desire to return, she is taking a necessary, extended break from her show to focus on her personal and physical well-being."

"Wendy thanks everyone in advance for their well-wishes and for respecting her and The Hunter Family’s privacy during this time."

The talk show's American producer and distributor Debmar-Mercury says in a statement that "For over ten years, Wendy has been a vital part of the Debmar-Mercury family. We wholeheartedly support Wendy in this decision to take the time she needs and we will welcome her back with open arms the moment she is ready."

In December, Wendy Williams who suffers from hyperthyroidism and Graves' disease that caused her to take some medical leave in February 2018, fell and suffered a hairline fracture in her right arm, forcing her to wear a sling.

The talk show ended in 2018 on 20 December following episodes with Wendy slurring her words, looking disconnected and disinterested in interviews with celebrities like Martha Stewart, barely standing, preferring to sit during segments during the last week on air, and no longer doing her customary side-door walk-in entrance.

On the last episode of 20 December Wendy Williams wrote on Instagram that "I sincerely apologize if you feel that today's show was less than stellar. I'm on your TV screens every day wanting to spread laughter, entertainment and cheer. As I reported earlier in the week, I have a hairline fracture on my upper arm, which hurts like hell".

Wendy Williams said "I've never taken a pain medication in my life (except when I got snatched over 20 years ago) until this week. I did that to power through and try to deliver a great show for you, against the better judgement of the many people around me who genuinely care for my well-being".

"I promise you a better Wendy in 2019. I will get some much-needed rest and healing over these next couple of weeks."

TV NEWS ROUND-UP. Today's interesting TV stories to read from TVwithThinus - 11 January 2019.

Here's the latest news about TV that I read and that you should read too:

■ The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) admits it has underpaid thousands of temporary staffers for years.
"This error should not have occurred, and we apologise to any casual employee who has been underpaid."

■ MultiChoice's DStv Now is broken - and things don't look good.
Problems in Kenya and MultiChoice tells a customer: "We do not have the turnaround time yet for when the services will be back on."

■ Netflix interested in opening a production hub in Toronto, Canada.

■ People from Cameroon picket outside the SABC in Cape Town.

■ British pay-TV customers actually pay a "loyalty penalty" for staying with one company too long instead of switching.

■ German viewers are different: They continue to pay for traditional pay-TV while the country is also seeing massive growth in the use of video streaming services.
Germany also has one of the highest levels of smart TV ownership in Europe.

■ As Anson Mount takes over as Captain Pike and hopefully brings more stability to Star Trek: Discovery's second season, his command style will hopefully mark a return to classic Trek storytelling.


■ Mozambique arrests another journalist.
Amade Abubacar, working for the state-owned Radio e Televisao Comunitaria Nacedje de Macomia in Mozambique's northern Cabo Delgado province, was grabbed by police at a bus stop while conducting interviews.


■ A 1950s TV show had a fear-mongering conman named Trump who wanted to build a wall.

■ A fishing boat from Deadliest Catch on Discovery Channel (DStv 121) capsizes, killing 3 in notoriously violent waters.

■ Turkey in shock as horrifying family secrets unfold on live television - ending with the police showing up and arresting an entire family as the audience and presenter applause.

■ Has Netflix won the battle for your TV screen?

■ The abusive has-been Jeremy Clarkson formerly of Top Gear on the BBC, slams the BBC for "suffocating the life out of everything".
Forgetting that he tried to suffocate the life out of the Top Gear producer Oisin Tymon who he physically and verbally attacked in 2015.

■ beIN resumes transmission in Egypt two days after the pay-TV operator started a blackout over a carriage dispute with Egypt's CNE over the commercial terms of providing sports content.

■ Kevin Hunter, husband of Wendy of The Wendy Williams Show on BET (DStv 129) tore into talk show's staffers blaming them for the stories about his alleged philandering.
Staffers thought he was going to give them an update about Wendy's bad health. Instead Kevin ranted for almost an hour about the leaks coming out of the show to the press.

■ A shirtless AJ Kapa and Cole Sprouse of Riverdale seen on M-Net (DStv 101) get wet and wild during a male bonding vacation in New Zealand as they frolick in Lake Wakatipu.

■ The best future-focused science fiction film and TV coming in 2019.

■ Kit Harington of Game of Thrones seen on M-Net (DStv 101) tells GQ Australia that "everyone was broken" by the time filming on the upcoming 8th and final season wrapped.

■ The Sopranos at 20: Television learned the wrong lessons from The Sopranos.

■ Surviving R. Kelly and the unstoppable power of true-crime documentaries.

■ The Bachelor's focus on Colton Underwood's virginity shows a bigger problem.
This season highlights the strange lens through which we as a society view sex.

■ 11 bizarre reality shows that weren't too weird for TV.
From Sperm Race to Splash, to a 23-year old naked man confined to a tiny apartment.

■ New American drama series, The Passage, is decent, at a time when decent might not be enough.

■ IMDb, the film and TV website owned by Amazon, is launching a free streaming video channel, IMDb Freedive, that will be available in the United States on its website.

■ Showmax slows everything down to 60fps for a derivative looking teaser trailer for its local drama series The Girl from St Agnes, copying MTV's Teen Wolf and Netflix's Elite with someone running through the woods and swimming in the school's pool.

Wendy Williams postpones her talk show return again; temporary panelists to now fill in from Monday.

Wendy Williams has postponed her return to her daytime talk show for a second time after pushing it out last week, and will now only appear on 21 January, although The Wendy Williams Show will start on Monday 14 January but with a panel of substitute presenters.

Last week Wendy Williams announced that instead of 7 January, The Wendy Williams Show, seen in South Africa and Africa on BET (DStv 129) will now only start on 14 January.

Now Wendy Williams' return has been postponed again by another week, although the show that contractually must deliver a certain number of episodes per season as well as for its current 10th season, will keep to the new 14 January 2019 date but without Wendy Williams.

Wendy Williams abruptly postponed her return date last Friday, apologising for "less than stellar episodes" before Christmas due to a shoulder injury and the pain she's been suffering.

"After fracturing her shoulder, Wendy is on the mend and wants to return pain-free and be 200%, delivering the best show that millions of viewers tune-in to watch," the show said on Saturday.

"3 days until I'm back. New year means new shows. Make sure you tune-in on Monday," said Wendy - but now her absence will be yet another week longer.

According to the distributor and producer, Debmar-Mercury, The Wendy Williams Show will be done from Monday 14 January by a panel of "Hot Talkers" instead of Wendy.

"As she has for the past 10 years, Wendy delivers an incomparable live talk show day in and day out and we want to give her the best opportunity to heal and recover," says Debmar-Mercury co-presidents Mort Marcus and Ira Bernstein in a statement.

"Wendy has our complete and unwavering support and we look forward to her return to the iconic purple chair."

Wendy Williams abruptly postpones her 2019 talk show return after 'less than stellar' Wendy Williams Show episodes and suffering pain from shoulder fracture.

The return of The Wendy Williams Show has been postponed with talk show host Wendy Williams announcing on Saturday that she won't be back on Monday 7 January but will instead return only a week later than planned on Monday 14 January due to "less than stellar" episodes before Christmas due to a shoulder injury and the pain she's been suffering.

"Wendy Williams will be returning with all-new episodes of The Wendy Williams Show on Monday 14 January 2019," Wendy Williams said in a post on her Instagram social media account on Saturday.

"After fracturing her shoulder, Wendy is on the mend and wants to return pain-free and be 200%, delivering the best show that millions of viewers tune-in to watch."

The decision was made late-Friday or Saturday, since a day earlier, on Friday 4 January in a now-deleted Instagram post, Wendy Williams still said "3 days until I'm back. New year means new shows. Make sure you tune-in on Monday."

In December, Wendy Williams who suffers from hyperthyroidism and Graves' disease that caused her to take some medical leave in February 2018, fell and suffered a hairline fracture in her right arm, forcing her to wear a sling.

The Wendy Williams Show is seen in South Africa and across Africa on BET (DStv 129) run by Viacom International Media Networks Africa (VIMN Africa).

The talk show ended in 2018 on 20 December following episodes with Wendy slurring her words, looking disconnected and disinterested in interviews with celebrities like Martha Stewart, barely standing, preferring to sit during segments during the last week on air, and no longer doing her customary side-door walk-in entrance.

On the last episode of 20 December Wendy Williams wrote on Instagram that "I sincerely apologize if you feel that today's show was less than stellar. I'm on your TV screens every day wanting to spread laughter, entertainment and cheer. As I reported earlier in the week, I have a hairline fracture on my upper arm, which hurts like hell".

Wendy Williams said "I've never taken a pain medication in my life (except when I got snatched over 20 years ago) until this week. I did that to power through and try to deliver a great show for you, against the better judgement of the many people around me who genuinely care for my well-being".

"I promise you a better Wendy in 2019. I will get some much-needed rest and healing over these next couple of weeks."

HOW YOU DOIN? Jerry O'Connell stepping in as guest host for The Wendy Williams Show from next week; talk show host says she'll return 19 March.

The American talk show host Wendy Williams (53) has announced that she will be back from 19 March from her 3 week holiday to deal with medical issues and is also announcing that Jerry O'Connell will be stepping in as her guest host from next week.

After telling her studio audience that she would never allow a guest host on her weekday talk show on BET (DStv 129), Wendy Williams, currently in repeats, have had a change of heart.

On 21 February Wendy Williams abruptly ended her talk show, telling viewers she's taking time off to get her existing medicine out of her system before being put on new medication for her hyperthyroidism and Grave's disease.

In a new statement Wendy Williams says she will return on 19 March and that her show will have its first guest host ever. "Jerry has been such a good friend to me and to the show. We're happy to welcome him as a guest host while I’m out getting much needed rest. Can’t wait to get back in my purple chair!"

Jerry O'Connell (44) in the statement says "I'm excited to help out and fill in. We all know nobody can fill the purple chair like Wendy, but I am honoured to sit with her co-hosts and to bring the many fans all the Hot topics they love. Like Wendy tells us, 'I am going to Say It Like I Mean It".

Wendy Williams abruptly ends her BET talk show for a 3 week vacation after Graves' disease diagnosis; tells women to 'stop putting everyone else first'.

Wendy Williams (53) is abruptly taking a 3 week holiday from her The Wendy Williams Show talk show on BET (DStv 129) after last week's sick leave due to flue, with the weekday talk show show that will go into reruns as she deals with her diagnosis of Graves' disease.

In a "special message" on Wednesday, Wendy Williams told her audience that the talk show is stopping production for a 3 week break after she has been diagnosed with the autoimmune disease, Graves' disease, in addition to her hyperthyroidism that she was aware of previously.

"My doctor has prescribed ... are you ready? As of today, three weeks of vacation," said Wendy Williams. "What? Who are you? I was pissed."

Wendy Williams suddenly cancelled her show last week from Wednesday to Friday due to flu but now her talk show will again be going into repeats for a longer period.

Wendy Williams however promised that she might be back sooner, saying she could maybe return "in two weeks. I’m not an heiress. Who is going to pay my bills? Are you serious? I’m just saying, I come from working class."

"Graves’ disease squeezes the muscles behind the eyeballs,” Wendy explained, saying that it has made her eyeballs twitch.

Wendy said she also had a message for women. "What I want to say to women, more than men, is stop putting everyone else first because if we're not good, they're not good."

In a statement The Wendy Williams Show says "Wendy is a true champion and has never missed a day of work. But her health and well-being must be put before all else".

"Wendy has been openly dealing with her Graves’ Disease for many years in addition to hyperthyroidism. Yesterday, Wendy’s doctor prescribed a necessary three weeks of rest to get her levels and medication in sync. The show will be in repeats during this unplanned hiatus. A live show was produced today so that Wendy could speak directly to her fans and explain her condition."

Talk show host Wendy Williams faints, takes a fall on live television as she suffers heat exhaustion on The Wendy Williams Show.

In a shocking scene on live television, the American talk show host Wendy Williams (53) in her Statue of Liberty Halloween costume fainted and fell on the set of The Wendy Williams Show.

The shocked studio audience of The Wendy Williams Show didn't know how to react as some started screaming when Wendy Williams, looked dazed and confused, slurred words and struggled to speak, after which she collapsed on set.

For the latest episode, that South African viewers will be able to see on BET (DStv 129) on Wednesday, Wendy Williams was dressed in a Statue of Liberty costume, designed by Ceasar Galindo,complete with a green wig, a sparkly gown, green copper heels and a sequined dress.

In past years Wendy Williams always said she hated to dress up for Halloween and doesn't like the American holiday.

At the beginning of a new segment about 48 minutes through the hour long episode, Wendy Williams started to look unsure on her feet, wobbled and didn't seem to know what to say as she stood behind a plastic podium and was ready for the "How You Doin’ Halloween Costume Contest" segment.

"We do it every year. It's always a lot of fun. Let's get started. Our first caress…."

That's when Wendy Williams, slurring her words, got a dazed look in the eyes, before stepping back and collapsing as production crew were seen rushing to her aid and audience members scream.

After another abrupt break Wendy said "That was not a stunt. I overheated and did pass out, but I'm a champ and I'm back."

In a statement Wendy Williams Show producers say, "Wendy is feeling much better. She overheated because of her heavy costume, makeup, and lights.  She was able to finish the show in true Wendy spirit. She will address the incident on tomorrow’s show."

Here is the scary live TV moment:

Wendy Williams passed out during a live broadcast of her show after getting overheated in her costume #WendyWilliams pic.twitter.com/wPKU2Gwmsv

— 24/7 Pop Culture (@247PopCulture) October 31, 2017

DAILY TV NEWS ROUND-UP. Today's interesting TV stories to read from TVwithThinus - 3 October 2017.

Here's the latest news about TV that I read and that you should read too:

■ How the SABC's Bessie Tugwana allegedly tried to bulldoze in her "friend" over a senior producer.
The SABC's latest acting COO is the last of two appointments by Hlaudi Motsoeneng. Bessie Tugwana allegedly tried to get rid of Nompumelelo Phasha in favour of her "friend" Marcia Mahlalela.
Bessie Tugwana were warned that what she is doing will lead to irregular expenditure at the SABC.


■ Wendy Williams' husband Kevin Hunter has been having an affair with a young massage therapist. Allegedly.
Cheated on Wendy Williams in 2001 and has been living with "Sharina" for years with his mistress living just 9 miles down the road. Brave Wendy flashes an engagement ring to try and prove the love is strong, making sure the left hand is easily visible. She tells her Wendy Williams Show audience on BET (DStv 129)  "You can believe what you want,", says in a statement "there is not 'there' there".
- Rival talk show The Talk trashes in fake-seriously reporting the breathlessness as the audience goes "ooh, aah" - watch.


■ Still with talk, and the failing Megyn Kelly in her new talk show asks Jane Fonda about her plastic surgery - the rest of the interview is a wash-out.
"You really want to talk about that now?" is Jane Fonda's curt reply.

■ End of the TV remote control?
New TV technology changes the channel using body gestures.

■ Siesta Key episode order upped from 10 to 18.
First season of the new MTV reality show increased, will start on MTV (DStv 130) in South Africa and Africa in November.

■ Jason Isaacs talks about his new role as Captain Gabriel Lorca of the USS Discovery in Star Trek: Discovery.
"I deliberately concentrated on not giving a f- ".
And in another interview he says "you don't want to be asking about things that get revealed during the show".
And in another interview "I'm dealing with idiots left, right and centre".

- Executive producer Akiva Goldsman, who directed the 3rd episode talk about Star Trek: Discovery's bigger story and then there's the bastardisation of string theory but with space spores.
 - And Star Trek The Next Generation has just turned 30 years old.

■ Piers Morgan interviews Mariah Carey, sprawled out on a couch in front of a Christmas tree, about the Las Vegas gun massacre.
Because Mimi isn't used enough insightful analyses as an expert on America's gun violence.


■ Hilariously misguided and uninformed Nigerians are mocking DStv as TStv launches.
Clueless that new pay-TV operator TStv isn't an improvement.
- Idiotic Nigerians don't realise the cost doesn't include installation - the "secret" terms and conditions of TStv that consumers are not aware of. Although some Nigerians are catching on, are cautious and are realising the true facts.
- MultiChoice Nigeria is giving GOtv subscribers in Nigeria one month free subscription in October as part of the new GOtv Max bouquet launch.
- Even more idiotic is Nigeria's minister of information and culture, Lai Mohammed uttering trash statements at the launch event like "TStv will totally redefine the televison industry in Nigeria". It won't.
- At least Lai Mohammed admits a massive problem Nigeria has with its TV industry at the TStv launch event: The lack of a proper TV audience ratings system in Nigeria that is damaging and holding back Nigeria's TV biz.
- Images from the TStv launch event. Of course no press release or basic press statement but at least the satellite dishes come with potted plants.


■ MultiChoice Namibia held a TV content workshop
for Namibian content producers to explain how to pitch content to TV channels for their shows to appear on DStv. VIA (DStv 147) says it's willing to put Namibian content on the channel. People’s Weather (DStv 180) says it's willing to create a "Namibian block" on its channel.

■ OnseTV on StarSat doesn't have a channel head yet after its launch last week.
Or very clear answers to a lot of questions.

■ "Mulder and Scully are swapping places."
Some teasies about the second season of the revived The X-Files that will be broadcast in 2018.

COME CLOSER. The Wendy Williams Show on BET set to return on 18 September for its 9th season.

The trash-talking American talk show host Wendy Williams' The Wendy Williams Show is set to return on 18 September for her show's 9th season.

The Wendy Williams Show is seen in South Africa and across Africa on Viacom International Media Networks Africa's (VIMN Africa) African channel feed for the BET (DStv 129) channel on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV platform

"We do our show from the heart. How can we make it bigger, better and more entertaining for you," says the "say it like you mean it" talk show host in a show-tease for the upcoming season.

The Wendy Williams Show has already been renewed until 2019-2020 for an 11th season.

After her racist remarks Wendy Williams fires producer Jason 'the white one' and other senior staffers before the start of the 8th season on 19 September.

After her racist and misguided remarks, the American talk show host Wendy Williams held a wrap-party at the end of the 7th season after which she fired staffers who made her look bad, including Jason "the white one".

The Wendy Williams Show will return with its 8th season starting on 19 September on BET (DStv 129) but it will be without one of "her" two Jasons: Jason Gabel.

Jason Gabel was fired after the wrap-party in July together with two other senior producers on the talk show, shocking staff.

After public pressure and sponsors dropping the Debmar-Mercury produced show, Wendy Williams was forced to apologise on-air just before the end of the season for saying, among other things, that she doesn't believe in historically black colleges because there's no "white" equivalent.

Wendy Williams Show staffers then held a wrap-party, only for Wendy Williams to give them the ax the next day, including Jason Gabel who often features together with Jason "the black one".

Jason Gabel has been with The Wendy Williams Show right from the beginning in 2008 and Wendy staffers are reportedly furious that Jason Gabel and others are being scapegoated for Wendy Williams' own misguided opinions.

Wendy Williams on BET decides to help the konfused Bette Midler with a flow chart and everybody else who can't keep up with the Kardashians.

Wendy Williams decided to help and jumped in with a family tree chart for Bette Midler who's konfused - and for everybody else who can't keep up with the Kardashians.

"Bette Midler can't keep up with the Kardashians," Wendy Williams told viewers in the latest episode of her talk show The Wendy Williams Show on BET (DStv 129) and hauled out a flow chart to explain how Rob and Kylie are both 

"Now that Blac Chyna and Rob are engaged, Bette's confused about their family tree," said Wendy.

Bette Midler tweeted earlier, saying: "Rob Kardashian's engaged to the mother of the child of Kylie Jenner's boyfriend? They'll share a stepchild. Somebody send me a chart!"

Wendy Williams showed how Rob and Kylie will be both uncle and aunt, and stepdad and stepmom to Blac Chyna's son, King Cairo, she had with Tyga.

"It's very, very difficult for me to understand either," Wendy told her studio audience.

"Bette, just so that you can keep up with everything going on, we've got your address and I'm mailing this to you."

The Wendy Williams Show on BET goes to the dogs as production values fail on canine training insert with dog whisperer Cesar Millan - dog poop included.

The Wendy Williams Show on BET (DStv 129) has gone to the dogs with a big on-air fail when a badly planned and executed insert with the famous dog whisperer Cesar Millan turned into a mess - dog doo-doo included.

Viewers are wondering whether a producer of The Wendy Williams Show might get fired over the insert that South African and African viewers can see today on BET at 16:30 and 06:00 when the dog whisperer Cesar Millan dropped by the New York studios.

Wendy Williams episodes are shown within hours in South Africa after its broadcast in America.

Talk show host Wendy Williams brought her own dog Shaq, and viewers with their pooches also dropped in - but the show's producers apparently didn't plan anything around the dogs and failed to adequate prepare for man's best friend and what they need.

No treats nor toys were available to show how to teach dogs to behave. A scramble ensued when the first dog pooped on the astroturf.

Suddenly everyone scrambled to try and find something to scoop the poop. Shockingly the dog's owner Erica left Cesar Millan to pick up the poo, while cameramen suddenly tried awkward angles to not show dog doo-doo on TV.

"What a mess," said Wendy Williams.