'Wendy Williams' Adds Two Months of Originals

New episodes will be produced through July

By Paige Albiniak -- Broadcasting & Cable, 3/18/2013 3:01:59 PM

Debmar-Mercury's Wendy Williams will remain in originals for two months longer than planned, extending production through July, the company said Monday.

Debmar-Mercury has been pleased by Wendy's recent ratings. The show averaged a 1.3 live plus same day national household rating in the February 2013 sweep, up 8% from last February's 1.2. Among women 25-54, Wendy improved 11% to a 1.0 in the February sweep, tied for seventh place among all the talkers with Disney-ABC's Katie and NBCU's Steve Harvey.

"Expanding the number of original episodes will allow us to continue the program's incredible momentum well into the summer, when our core audience grows with younger viewers drawn to Wendy and her unique take on hot topics of the day," said Debmar-Mercury copresidents Ira Bernstein and Mort Marcus in a statement.

Bernstein and Marcus attribute Wendy's ratings growth to the recent expansion in mid-December of the show's "Hot Topics" segment, which features former drive-time dee-jay Williams riffing on the news of the day. In general, Wendy Williams fares better in the syndie ratings race when the show airs brand-new episodes, according to Debmar.