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Wendy Williams (photo: nypost.com)
Wendy Williams, the popular radio talk show personality known for celebrity gossip and the catchphrase "How you doin'?," officially premiered her self-titled show (The Wendy Williams Show) to a national audience on Monday after a six week test run last summer.
The results are most certainly mixed.
Those familiar with Williams' flamboyant persona and off-the-cuff style of conversation won't be disappointed. Williams doesn't attempt to be anything she's not, riffing via a stream of celebrity inspired consciousness while also answering questions from her audience. The hot topic from Tuesday's program? Solange Knowles: her love affair with Twitter and the young singer's staunch defense of older sibling Beyonce.
When a female audience member voiced her frustration with Beyonce's overexposure, Williams quickly retorted: "Oooh! You're a hater!"
If you're not already a fan of Williams, you just might be viewed as a hater yourself. Williams' style and approach to her television show requires prior knowledge of her quasi-celebrity. An inability to retain prior knowledge of Williams' personality is akin to a "24" virgin popping in season three of the Jack Bauer powered series--you'd be simultaneously confused and curious, as if you stumbled across a provocative punch line to a inside joke. There's no attempt made to tone down the outrageousness of Williams, nor does she try to hide her extravagant sister-best friend persona.
That's not an entirely bad thing, however. Williams does come across very personable. Though her show is saturated in gossip and rumor, its spin is quite positive. Williams opened the show discussing everyone from Ice T to Jessica Simpson and Alex Rodriguez, yet never attempted to slight or discredit anyone. That's a rarity on television and society at large, where those on top are often torn down by the same people who blessed them with celebrity status.
As a program on its own, The Wendy Williams Show is scattershot. Williams relies on cue cards, oftentimes going several seconds without looking at the camera. That would be unacceptable in a high school video production, and it screams "amateur" on the national stage. Williams also appears a bit hyperactive--stumbling over words and cutting off her own sentences as she attempts to juggle her excitement for pop culture with her equally enthralled audience.
Wendy does shine in one-on-one interviews, if for no other reason than her genuine interest in her guests. Williams also ventures into the audience for a segment called "Ask Wendy," where she doles out sage gems like: "Nothing helps getting over the other man like getting under the next man."
When her audience erupted in applause, Williams proudly shouted, "Hello America!" and bowed. It's obvious that Wendy's long-time fans adore her, and that feeling is clearly reciprocated by Williams.
How the rest of the nation responds to The Wendy Williams Show is another story, however.
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Here are two popular videos from last summer's six week test run of The Wendy Williams Show, which feature former Apprentice villain Omarosa as Wendy's guest.
Comments
Good looking out on that one! Babe looks like a man with big eyes and always got them gay guys on there to emasculate us even more. That's hip-hop (Helping Ignorant People - Hurt our people) at its best. Didn't like her on the radio in Philly, darn sure can stand looking at her mannish looking behind. We know who's financing that crap.
You are too hard on her Michael - Norman Gentle and Wendy Williams were fabu yesterday! youtube.com/watch?v=PC2q1sBZUKQ
Well, I certainly see the appeal of Williams. She has fun, and I can appreciate the fact that she connects with her audience in a way that I don't even see Oprah do.
I've watched a few episodes since the premiere. I get the draw, though I often feel it's an empty program that's not saying or doing too much. That doesn't mean it cannot be fun for those who are Wendy fans, I just think the show can do a lot more than it does.
I only saw one show, so you know I can't critique it. One was enough, well, too much for me.
Omarosa is a very ignorant woman. Disrespectful on Wendy Williams show big time. It's a shame that a black woman like Omarosa is even on television. Wendy handled her very well.
I didn't get to watch THE APPRENTICE when Omarosa was a contestant. Her inteview with Wendy made me take notice. She made excellant points in standing up for herself and other strong women (especially those of her ethnicty). Now I understand why "some" people love to hate her: she speaks the truth even when it hurts; she does not back down or change her principals to cater to the powers that be; she does not compromise her standards for money (turning down an opportunity to host her own talk show because the producer is one who caters to the lowest form of decency...how many others would do that?); she refuses to accept being negatively labeled (stereotyped) becase she's challenging and competitive when necessary. She can give it and she can take it. Like her or not, she is intelligent, educated, motivated, classy AND FIERCE. She is a great role model for girls, especially those with low self-esteem and those who have no positve role models in their lives.
Good luck Wendy. HYD?
Who watches Wendy Williams? ag shame!!
REALLY thoughtful and thorough article Michael!!!
I love Wendy and her radio show. I do think her daytime show needs something, perhaps a band, less audience participation, the formula is too bland for her..i hope she finds that formula that works.
This women is terrable....should NOT be on TV !!!!
I hope this talk show will be short lived.
Everybody is making fun of her because she can even talk....
I think the wendy williams show is horrible!!! She hardly knows what shes talking about, i cant even bear to watch it for more than 5 minutes...its pointless and she needs to be kicked off the air
As an unbiased television and music lover, The Wendy Williams Show HAS BECOME pretty good. It started off rocky...she IS new to TV. But in recent weeks, she has found her stride. Yes, the formula of tabloid reading, audience interaction, etc. seemed okey at first, and I felt this way, at first, but it seems to be working now.
Wendy is a fan more than a TV host, and that is what makes her , not only fun to watch, but darn good at interviewing and getting the little juicy tidbits that common fans, secretly, really want to know about.
I've seen her conduct at least 10 interviews on this show thus far, and they were all done masterfully. I am a David Letterman fan. Of course, there is no real comparison, but I have a similar respect for Wendy. She asks the questions of these people that no one else does. As a result, she does it like no other has. I wish her continued success.
J-
Wendy's show surprised me big time! Her approach to appeal to a wider audience of not only BLACK people is important and realistic because TV attracts ALL people.
She is maturing as she broadens her horizons. Keep up the good work!
I guess it's a tri-state area thing but I love Wendy. She's awesome and very kind to her fans. I love the gossip and how messy she can be on tv. Well I guess that's the type of guy I am :-)
hey wendy i love your shows but i realy want to come see u but i'm only 10 years old i was born on feb 14,1999 and ilove ur shows so plese raed this note love u.love alicea bartley. p.s. i live at the bronx on 767 add ave.
Wendy Williams is so corny. She's a wanna be star with absolutley no talent at all. What she does is diss African Americans during hot topics and kiss every white persons ass (friends of the show) that she's always interviewing.
may 7,2010
Dear Wendy williams
hello
How are you? I am fine doing a good nice wonderful.
My name is bret. What is your name? I remembered you will meeting with you wonderful perfect. I better you will take a good for enjoy like to enteraiment nice. Maybe will get to you tube or dvd record later. my home is clean al . that will sometime for get to new dress women and pantyhose black the radio for vocie to talk later. Have a fun enjoy good time. laugher ha ha ha ha i will buy new shoes 12 size pretty women
i get to buy new bboobs and wigs long. and then will other for music dance for practrice. i will next 1 week on tv dvd record go to mail later ok laugher ha hah a ha i want to kiss with you done done!!! have a nice day bye
bye sksk
i better you will good news great. maybe will get to new best friend of her cute to wendy williams very pretty cool good.
i will ask you try want to miss drag queens women pretty a cool perect! then will buy a new wigs long and new boobs and pantyhose black for very pretty cool is good time. that will take a radio with cd music a very practrice dance later.
what do you will need of enteraiment wendy williams on tv air on? i think you will take a new you tube.com to wendy willaims are manny,s of very nice. i watch on tv bet 1 at 11 pm 1 hour ok
and yi know you will remind of your home is record dvd your boobs and your sex toys a big penise laugher ha a ha ha . then will get to mail letter to u p s brown delivery later. ok
i love you bye good time bye
HOW YOU DOING
I love it & I love your show. I also wanted to tell you how great you looked yesterday. That white shirt actually made the "ladies" look smaller. When your were advertising your up-coming show..I vowed that I would never watch it; but guess what...I dont miss a show at 10am & I also watch the reruns at 1:00...keep up the good work.
I do not want to comment enless Wendy will actualy answer
imagoyamosha@Yahoo.com
Bruce Nixon
Question How many -2nano seconds does it take too equaell+2multi menuite?
-2x +2x=X well here's a hint mc-2=E+mc+2=E+X=VT LETS SEE WHO CAN GET THE ANSWER
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