Born in Asbury Park, New Jersey on July 18, 1964,
Wendy Joan
Williams burst onto the TV landscape in July 2009 with the launch
of her own nationally-syndicated talk show. Dubbed a "breakthrough in
daytime" by The New York Times, "The Wendy Williams Show" is now in its
third season and airs in 52 countries around the world.
"The Wendy Williams Show" is a reflection of its host; with its vibrant
colors and upbeat soundtrack matching Williams' own personality and
energetic sense of humor. And the show's focus on entertainment reflects her
passion for pop culture.
Wendy Williams - "The Wendy Williams Show" Interview
with Kam Williams
Kam Williams: Hi Wendy, How you doin'?
Wendy Williams: [Laughs] How you doin', Kam? You doing good?
KW: I'm awwwlllright! Ann-Marie Nacchio, a loyal fan of yours from Philly,
told me to start the interview with "How you doin'?" because that would
probably help relax you.
WW: And it did! That's the official greeting of the show.
KW: How did being raised by two educators shape you?
WW: I know firsthand that educators are the most overworked and underpaid
people around. It influenced me in that it was always about family first,
and education was right next to that. There was never any question about
whether I was going to college. And it was important to my parents that I
get my degree in 4 years, because "Money doesn't grow on trees." [LOL] I
will support my son in whatever he wants to do professionally, but he will
go to college, too. My husband and I are in concert on that.
KW: How hard is it juggling your career and being a mom?
WW: It's not easy. He's in the 6th grade.
KW: Attorney Bernadette Beekman says: First of all, how YOU doin'? I have
been a fan since the days of radio and I love your Jersey Girl approach to
life! You have been on radio, TV, film and authored books. Which gives you
the biggest thrill?
WW: TV. It's the best, although radio was my first love.
KW: You were certainly no stranger to controversy when you had the radio
show. Do you think that might have been because you were the first
African-American host to push the envelope in terms of gossip?
WW: Well, there were definitely elements of my rise in radio that had to do
with my being black. But going back as far as Walter Winchell, Army Archerd
and Hedda Hopper, legendary wags would grab a radio microphone and talk
about what Errol Flynn and other stars were up to.
KW: Bernadette would also like to know, what is your favorite charity?
WW: Big Brothers/Big Sisters because I love helping out kids. Anything with
kids.
KW: Alan Gray asks: Have you had any guests who just weren't very talkative?
What do you do to try to get them to talk, and have there been any occasions
where you couldn't?
WW: No. Believe it or not, there are interesting elements in everyone. So,
if I can't talk to everybody for at least 7 to 10 minutes, then I'm in the
wrong profession.
KW: Children's book author Irene Smalls asks: Do you enjoy being a shock
jockette and who are some of the celebrities you most enjoyed interviewing?
WW: That's so funny! I enjoyed being what I was in radio, which some thought
of as a shock jock although, to this day, I still can't figure out what I've
done that's so shocking. [LOL] As to my favorite interviews, I loved having
my mother and father on. I also enjoyed talking to Elmo, who's a puppet. I
found T.I.'s trying to be extra-cool very endearing. Tyra Banks was not the
diva I expected her to be. I loooooved talking to her. And Simon Cowell is a
really nice guy. Yeah! He's my fave, and he's handsome.
KW: Irene also asks: What achievement are you most proud of, and what
mountain do you still want to conquer?
WW: I'm most proud of our son, having suffered several miscarriages before
having him. As for the next mountain, it takes so much to maintain what's
already going on that I don't have time to think about it. But I want some
more seasons of the TV show, I'd like to write another book, and eventually,
I'd like to retire and take vacations with my husband like my mom and dad
do.
KW: Professor/author/documentary filmmaker
Hisani Dubose says: I would like
to know, what was involved in making the transition from radio, where you
aren't seen, to TV, where visibility is so important?
WW: Lipstick, foundation, a strip of lashes, and developing the ability to
edit what I would normally say. I was always able to finish a thought on
radio, because I had 4 hours. A one-hour TV show is only 44 minutes of
programming.
KW: Film director Kevin Williams asks: What was the biggest challenge you
faced in making the move from radio to TV?
WW: Finding the fine line between satisfying a daytime TV audience and an
afternoon radio audience. That involved editing down my delivery to under an
hour. I've been blessed to have great producers and a great staff to achieve
that. I have a small team but they're very efficient.
KW: Jessica Kelly says: I love your wigs Wendy, but I want to hear more
about your eye make-up. It's sooooooo hot!
WW: [Laughs] Merrell Hollis has been doing my makeup since the beginning of
the show. I just close my eyes and let him do his thing. He's a genius!
KW: Aleesha Houston asks: What's the last gift you purchased for yourself?
WW: A wig! [Giggles] I'm picking it up on Monday.
KW: Judyth Piazza asks: If you could change one thing about the
entertainment industry, what would it be?
WW: More Wendy! [Roars]
KW: Teresa Emerson says: "How you doin' Wendy!" Who would you love to
interview that you think may be afraid to come on your show; given your
reputation for hard questions?
WW: I will take that as a rhetorical question.
KW: Lowery Gibson asks: What's the real Wendy like, minus the wigs, makeup
and "How you doin'?" Given that you had a breast endowment, do you recommend
this cosmetic surgery?
WW: The real Wendy is a plain, regular girl with good skin. I do have hair,
if he's wondering about that. I have lots of witnesses to that. [Chuckles]
And I'm a homebody. When I get off the phone with you, Kam, I'm going to the
grocery store, because our power was out for 4 days. As for breast
augmentation, I do recommend it for women over 30 who have a couple of extra
dollars. But it's not for a nutty schoolgirl who might just be doing it for
a guy.
KW: Is there any question no one ever asks you, that you wish someone would?
WW: I have no answer. That's a question I would really have to think about.
KW: The Tasha Smith question: Are you ever afraid?
WW: Yes.
KW: The Columbus Short
question: Are you happy?
WW: Yeaaaaahhhh!
KW: The Teri Emerson question: When was the last time you had a good laugh?
WW: A minute ago. I laugh all the time, loudly, with my mouth wide open, and
all the way up to the tip of my wig. And I love just as hard. I only hope
that people feel the passion when they watch my talk show. It comes from my
soul. Kam, I can't even describe to you what it feels like when I come
through those double doors at 10 AM each morning. Sometimes, the emotions
overwhelm me, and I start to cry.
KW: I heard that you've cried several times on the show.
WW: Please, are you making fun of me? [Laughs] I couldn't tell you how often
I've cried. Wendy Watchers know when it happens. And it could happen over
anything. I could have something sad going on in my life… I could have my
period… Women are emotional. At least I know I am.
KW: The bookworm Troy Johnson question: What was the last book you read?
WW: Oh brother, here you go. If you must know, my son was
reading to me from a children's book called "Mousetrap." The last one I read
myself was "Satan's Sisters," Star Jones' novel about a fictitious talk
show.
KW: The music maven Heather Covington question: What was the last song you
listened to?
WW: "Headlines" by Drake.
KW: What is your favorite dish to cook?
WW: Mexican food is my absolute, #1 favorite food. But all the cutting and
dicing is very time-consuming. I do like to cook a few times a week, but
it's not always that intricate with the shells and the cheese, etcetera.
KW: The Sanaa Lathan question: What excites you?
WW: Doing the show. That 10 AM feeling when the doors open up. Forget about
it! Also, my son coming home with a respectable grade on something that I
know he's worked hard on. And good health excites me, too.
KW: The Uduak Oduok question: Who is your favorite clothes designer?
WW: I love Norma Kamali. I'm wearing Norma Kamali right now as I write my
grocery list while I'm speaking to you. I'm multi-tasking.
KW: Dante Lee, author of "Black Business Secrets", asks: "What was the best
business decision you ever made, and what was the worst?"
WW: I can't narrow either one down to just one thing. I've rolled the dice
and had both success and failure. I can tell you that right now we're on a
roll with the talk show. Everything is good with the TV show.
KW: Were you disappointed about your quick departure from Dancing with the
Stars this season?
WW: I was relieved! I'm not a dancer, and it was very time-consuming. But I
met great people, and it was flattering to be asked to be on. You don't
understand how demanding that show is until you're on the inside. That is
real work. Real work!
KW: When you look in the mirror, what do you see?
WW: Beauty! I'm sitting here looking in the mirror right now pushing my wig
up. Wow! I look really good to be going to the grocery store. I see beauty
today. Tomorrow, it might be something different. [LOL]
KW: If you could have one wish instantly granted, what would that be for?
WW: For my groceries to just appear in the kitchen, so I can do what I love
to do, which is turn on the TV and have myself a snack while watching the 5
O'clock News.
KW: The Ling-Ju Yen question: What is your earliest childhood memory?
WW: Believe it or not, it had to be about 1969. We were living in Asbury
Park and I remember turning the TV channel back to Sesame Street from
Divorce Court when I heard my mother's heels clicking on the steps as she
came down the stairs. I liked both shows.
KW: The Melissa Harris-Perry question: How did your first big heartbreak
impact who you are as a person?
WW: It made me stronger, although I never experienced any devastating
teenage angst. I wasn't that type of girl. I was more nomadic in my younger
years.
KW: Thanks again for the time, Wendy, and best of luck with the show.
WW: Thank you, Kam.
Related Links
Wendy Williams - The Queen of All Media on AALBC.com
http://aalbc.com/authors/wendy_williams.htm