Blackvoices.com has learned that 'The Wendy Williams Show' has been picked up for a full run next year, following its successful six-week preview that brought the bawdy radio shock jock to viewers across the country in markets such as New York, Los Angeles, Dallas and Detroit since July 14.
The Fox Television Stations group will officially launch the show for a mid-2009 start, a rep confirmed today.
Through Aug. 13, the program had posted rating increases in key demographics versus the May sweeps, including every key demo in New York and Los Angeles.
Big win for Williams, a 'New York Times' best-selling author who, for the past fifteen years, has virtually transformed New York City's urban radio scene with her brash brew of commentary and signature style of gossip.
"Everything about the Wendy preview clicked for our stations, from conception to promotion to hitting the air, Fox senior vice president of programming Frank Cicha said. "It completely broke the mold. The show is now a proven winner, and we can't wait to see it debut across the country next year."
Williams, herself, seemed to wonder about the fate of the show being picked up – even frequently expressing it during the live broadcast and on her syndicated afternoon radio show, 'The Wendy Williams Experience.'
With today's announcement, the 44-year-old Oceans Township, New Jersey native is head over heels.
"Doing the daily show for the past six weeks has really been one of the most exciting times in my life," she said "It has given me the chance to be myself while living out my dream and connecting with my fans on a whole new level."
"I am incredibly excited about coming back next year," she added, describing the show – which featured celebrity guests such as Vanessa Williams, Rev. Run, Nas, Kim Kardashian, Daisy Fuentes, Fonzworth Bentley, Ray-J, Omarosa Manigult-Stalworth, Coolio, Michelle Williams, Carson Kressley, and Margaret Cho – as "a true phenomenon this summer."
The Fox Television Stations is one of the nation's largest owned-and-operated network broadcast groups, comprising 27 stations in 18 markets and covering nearly 37.34% of television homes in the U.S. This includes top 10 markets such as New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas, Washington, D.C. and Houston, as well as Minneapolis, Phoenix and Orlando.
2008 BET Awards
LOS ANGELES, CA - JUNE 24: Humanitarian Award Recipient Quincy Jones poses in the press room at the 2008 BET Awards held at the Shrine Auditorium on June 24, 2008 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
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LOS ANGELES, CA - JUNE 24: Rapper Nelly poses in the press room at the 2008 BET Awards held at the Shrine Auditorium on June 24, 2008 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
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LOS ANGELES, CA - JUNE 24: Singer Anthony Hamilton poses in the press room at the 2008 BET Awards held at the Shrine Auditorium on June 24, 2008 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
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LOS ANGELES, CA - JUNE 24: Singer Ashanti poses in the press room at the 2008 BET Awards held at the Shrine Auditorium on June 24, 2008 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
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LOS ANGELES, CA - JUNE 24: Rapper Nelly (L) and singer Ashanti pose in the press room at the 2008 BET Awards held at the Shrine Auditorium on June 24, 2008 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
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LOS ANGELES, CA - JUNE 24: Rapper Nelly (L) and singer Ashanti pose in the press room at the 2008 BET Awards held at the Shrine Auditorium on June 24, 2008 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
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LOS ANGELES, CA - JUNE 24: Rapper Nelly (L) and singer Ashanti poses in the press room at the 2008 BET Awards held at the Shrine Auditorium on June 24, 2008 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
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LOS ANGELES, CA - JUNE 24: Singer Ashanti poses in the press room at the 2008 BET Awards held at the Shrine Auditorium on June 24, 2008 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
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LOS ANGELES, CA - JUNE 24: Singer Ashanti poses in the press room at the 2008 BET Awards held at the Shrine Auditorium on June 24, 2008 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
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LOS ANGELES, CA - JUNE 24: Singer Ashanti poses in the press room at the 2008 BET Awards held at the Shrine Auditorium on June 24, 2008 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
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1. This is terrible news. I think this woman is the absolute worse representation of black womanhood. She's crass and rude, and she looks and acts like a man. Yuck!
marian at 3:37PM on Aug 18th 2008