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Amid an ongoing health battle, Wendy Williams and her daytime talk show may lose its slot to Nick Cannon.
The 40-year-old Masked Singer host is in talks to take over the ailing host’s time slot with his new talk show, as network executives look towards a ‘backup plan,’ per Page Six insiders.
The 57-year-old Wendy Williams Show host contracted COVID-19 in September, and that same month she was transported to a New York hospital for a ‘mental health check,’ causing her show’s return to be delayed numerous times.
New slot? Nick Cannon is in talks to take over Wendy Williams’ time slot with his new talk show as a ‘backup plan’ as Wendy show’s return continues to be delayed on account of ongoing health issues; pictured January 2020
Getting the boot? Season 13 of the Wendy Williams shows has been delayed numerous times after she contracted a breakthrough case of COVID-19 and was hospitalized for psychiatric issues in September, with her continuing to be ‘under a doctor’s care’
Cannon’s new syndicated talk show — aptly named Nick Cannon Show — premiered on Monday September 27 on a local Fox affiliate.
Per the insider, Debmar-Mercury (which produces both shows) is ‘really pushing to make Nick Cannon’s show a huge success,’ and amid Wendy’s health battle executives have been ‘thinking of a backup plan.’
‘The executives have been talking. They are keeping a close eye on [Williams’] recovery and hoping for the best. But they have pushed back [her] show premiere several times so they are already thinking of a backup plan.’
‘It would not be a far stretch for Nick to take her time slot…,’ the insider added. He already has a major platform, and a huge fanbase, so it is an easy win. So, if Wendy’s show ends up being a no-go, their backup plan is already set.’
Backup plan: ‘It would not be a far stretch for Nick to take her time slot,’ a Page Six insider said adding that producers are ‘really pushing’ to make his daytime show ‘a huge success’; pictured September 12
As both talk shows are syndicated — meaning individual station groups would have to decide to replace Cannon with Williams — the matter is a bit complex.
A source shared that it would be a ‘station to station decision,’ but ‘it’s likely they would make a deal.’
The outspoken host’s talk show was originally slated to return for Season 13 on September 20 before it was delayed to October 4.
Her camp stated on September 30 that the new air date would be October 18 as she continues to be ‘under a doctor’s care.’
‘She has been and continues to be under a doctor’s care and is still not ready to work,’ the statement said in excerpt, adding that though ‘her breakthrough covid case is no longer an issue’ Wendy is ‘still dealing with some ongoing medical issues.’
Worse for wear: The ailing host was pictured wheelchair bound in NYC on September 24, after it was revealed that leading up to her psychiatric hospitalization she had been ‘drinking ever day’
Statement: The Wendy show put out a statement on September 30 saying that as she ‘continues to be under a doctor’s care’ new shows would air on October 18 after it was delayed from September 20 to October 4
‘To be honest with you Wendy is going through a lot right now,’ a source said of her current state.
One day before she was pictured wheelchair bound on September 24, she was said to be ‘on the mend and doing well,’ and that she was ‘ready to get back to work.’
On September 15, the vaccinated host’s COVID-19 diagnosis was revealed and that same day she was also voluntarily hospitalized at NYC’s Beth Israel for psychiatric issues.
In the days leading up to the hospitalization a source told The Sun that she was ‘drinking every day,’ even while filming, and in need of ‘serious help.’
‘Wendy drinks every day. She’s an alcoholic. A bad one. She doesn’t need a talk show, she needs help,’ a source said.
Issues: Leading up the star’s hospitalization she was said to be ‘drinking every day’ even when filming and in need of ‘serious help’; pictured May 25
‘Everyone is an enabler because they don’t want to lose their job. They see it, they know it, they smelled the liquor,’ it was said of staffers, with the source adding they were all ‘worried’ but would not ‘speak up’ in order to retain employment.
Williams had previously confessed on her show in 2020: ‘I’ve been dealing with issues with addiction, alcoholism,’ and she was living in a sober house at the time.
‘Wendy drinks every day and the only time she was sober was when she was at the sober house,’ the insider continued to say.
Williams also revealed in 2018 that she struggles with Graves Disease — an immune system disorder that results in the overproduction of thyroid hormones — which has caused production to be delayed before.
It has been said that her current health struggles could serve as a ratings boost for Season 13, and it is currently set to return on October 18.
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