NYC DJ Wendy Williams to Try Her Hand at TV

Debmar-Mercury to Debut Show in New York Next Spring

By Paige Albiniak -- Broadcasting & Cable, 11/29/2007 2:49:00 PM

Independent syndicator Debmar-Mercury will try its hand at a first-run talk show for the first time, creating a show for DJ Wendy Williams that will premiere exclusively in New York.

Williams hosts a syndicated afternoon drive-time program on New York hip-hop and rhythm-and-blues radio station WBLS called The Wendy Williams Experience. She also wrote two best-selling books -- Wendy’s Got the Heat and The Wendy Williams Experience -- and produced a CD of her songs.

The show is slated to premiere this spring, although on which station has yet to be determined. If the show performs in New York, Debmar-Mercury expects to take it nationwide.

The syndicator had great success rolling out Tyler Perry’s House of Payne -- one of the only sitcoms ever to be produced specifically for syndication -- in 10 markets before selling it to TBS and then to stations across the country. The company also distributes Comedy Central’s South Park to TV stations.

“I’m really excited to be a part of this new venture,” Williams said in a statement. “[Debmar-Mercury’s] history with Tyler Perry shows that they understand how to work with talent and their success with South Parktells me that they know how to work with edgy material.”

“Wendy Williams is exactly the type of talent we want to be in business with,” said Mort Marcus, co-president of Debmar-Mercury, in a statement. “She has developed a strong personal brand that connects with a broad-based audience and she knows how to extend that brand through different media.”