Wendy Williams Announces Guest Host In Her Absence, Plus Comeback Date

According to Deadline, Wendy Williams has today announced that in her time off from THE WENDY WILLIAMS SHOW, actor Jerry O'Connell will be filling in. Williams is taking some time off on doctors orders to receive treatments for her recently announced Graves disease and hyperthyroidism. O'Connell is the first guest host the show has seen in the nine years since it has been in production. He will be filling in for the week before Williams' return on March 19. Read more about it here from Deadline!

In a statement Williams announced "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!"

O'Connell says, "I am so excited to help out and fill in. We all know nobody can fill the purple chair like Wendy, but I am honored 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."

Referred to as a "breakthrough in daytime" by The New York Times, "The Wendy Williams Show" is a daily one-hour entertainment talk show which features mother, wife and best-selling author Wendy Williams. Broadcast live from New York, the show features Wendy's distinctive personality, accompanied by a mix of celebrity guests and popular segments such as "Ask Wendy," where Wendy offers advice to audience members looking for solutions to problems and "Hot Topics," Wendy's honest and authentically opinionated take on headlines of the day. Prior to hosting this show, Williams enjoyed a successful 23-year career as one of radio's most popular personalities. "The Wendy Williams Show" is produced and distributed by Debmar-Mercury.