A three-part documentary about “The Wendy Williams Show” is coming to Peacock in 2027. The working title for the project, which Peacock announced on Monday, is “Clap If You Care: The Wendy Williams Show.”
The series will follow how Wendy Williams started her career as a radio host before becoming a voice that would forever change the daytime talk genre. The series first premiered in 2008 and ran for 13 seasons with Fox’s owned-and-operated stations serving as its primary affiliate base. Williams changed the format by embracing her big personality, blending celebrity gossip with more serious news. Over the course of its run the series was nominated for eleven Daytime Emmy Awards and won a Creative Arts Emmy Award.
But the docuseries also promises to explore the more complicated side of Williams’ career, shining a light on what this meteoric rise cost the TV host. It also promises to answer long-lingering questions about Williams’ exit from her own show. Williams was expected to host Season 13 of her show until she contracted COVID-19. Her return was further delayed due to complications her Graves’ disease and thyroid condition, resulting in a series of guest hosts for the show. One of those guest hosts — Sherri Shepherd — was endorsed by Williams as an interim host. When “The Wendy Williams Show” was finally canceled, the series was replaced by the daytime talk show “Sherri,” hosted by Shepherd, which was also canceled earlier this year.
“Clap If You Care” features interviews from over 20 former “Wendy Williams Show” staffers who share their behind-the-scenes experiences. Suzanne Bass, who served as the executive producer of “The Wendy Williams Show” for 13 seasons, is an executive producer on the documentary.
“Clap If You Care: The Wendy Williams Show” is executive produced by Ian Orefice, Jon Adler, Amanda Spain and Missy Walker for EverWonder Studio. Chris Witherspoon and Vanessa Golembewski also executive produce.
