Leah Remini Steps in for Wendy Williams

Leah Remini will temporarily guest host "The Wendy Williams Show" while Wendy is absent from her show because of ongoing health issues after testing positive for the coronavirus. Remini will step in on the second day of the show's premiere week. The first episode on October 18 will be hosted by a panel of well-known guests who often have been on "The Wendy Williams Show" in the past.

The panel includes Devyn Simone, Bevy Smith, Elizabeth Wagmeister, and Michael Yo. They will focus on current news and share their opinion during the usual hot topic segment. The hour-long episode will still maintain the format viewers have grown accustomed to seeing on the talk show.

About Wendy Williams

The well-known top show host has been dealing with ongoing health issues, and she is not out of the woods yet. She was tested positive for COVID-19, and she was hospitalized for a mental health evaluation.

Wendy was not able to complete the promotional activities for her hit syndicated show. Even so, she was scheduled to return to her purple chair on September 20 to begin her 13th season. However, Wendy was too sick to return as previously advertised, and the premiere was rescheduled several times. It is not clear when she will return.

A statement from the show indicated that "Wendy is making progress, but she is experiencing serious complications as a direct result of Graves’ Disease and her thyroid condition." The statement also informed the public that more time is needed before Wendy is able to return to her live hosting duties.

Wendy's absence seems like déjà vu because this has happened several times before. The 57-year-old talk show host had different health issues, including her battle with Graves's Disease, that caused her show to be put on hold for several weeks in the spring of 2020. During that hiatus, repeated episodes were aired.

Wendy was absent from her show for six weeks in January 2019. It was because she had complications after ongoing surgery for a shoulder fracture. Guest hosts during that time included Jason Biggs, Nick Cannon, Jerry O’Connell, Keke Palmer, Michael Rapaport, and Sherri Shepherd. When Wendy returned to work in March 2019, she told viewers she had been living in a sober house.

In February 2018, Williams was away from her show for three weeks because of hyperthyroidism.

Two things have been predicted because of Williams' several long-term absences from her show.

1. Wendy's show was renewed through 2022. However, one prediction is that her production company Debmar-Mercury could be grooming Nick Cannon, whose show it also produces, as a backup just in case Williams’ show gets canceled.
2. Another prediction is from multiple sources that the constant delays of Williams’ show are beginning to become a serious concern for station affiliates and advertisers.

About Leah Remini

The 51-year-old Emmy Award-winning actress, producer, and author is no stranger to hosting. She was one of the co-hosts of CBS's "The Talk" during its first season. She was a guest host on ABC's "Dancing with the Stars" twice and a guest judge once. Leah is the current host of "People Puzzler" on the Game Show Network. Over the years, the actress and activist has won many awards for her hosting talent.

Executive producer David Perler said in a statement on Thursday, October 14, "Wendy’s shoes are hard to fill, so we needed to find the right fit. Leah will bring a lot of fun and energy to our viewers with a few surprises along the way."

As of now, "The Wendy Williams" show is set to premiere for its 13th season without its permanent host. The season will begin with a panel of guest hosts on Monday, October 18 and with Leah Remini as guest host from Tuesday, October 19 through Friday, October 22, 2021.