LIONSGATE’S DEBMAR-MERCURY TO DEBUT SYNDICATED TALKER SHERRI, HOSTED BY SHERRI SHEPHERD, IN FALL 2022 ON FOX TELEVISION STATIONS & BROADCASTERS NATIONWIDE
New York-Based Daily Talk Show with the Actress, Comedian, Best-Selling Author & Daytime Emmy® Award Winner as Longtime Co-Host of ‘The View’ to Inherit the FOX O&O Time Slots Currently Held by Debmar-Mercury’s ‘The Wendy Williams Show’
New York and Los Angeles, February 22, 2022 – Lionsgate’s Debmar-Mercury today announced the fall 2022 syndication debut of SHERRI, hosted by Sherri Shepherd, on the FOX Television Stations and broadcasters’ nationwide.
The new daily talk show from the actress, comedian, best-selling author and TV personality, who throughout her eight seasons from 2007-14 co-hosting ABC’s The View earned a Daytime Emmy® Award and multiple nominations as Outstanding Talk Show Host alongside her castmates, will inherit the FOX O&O time slots of the producer-distributor’s The Wendy Williams Show.
Shepherd, who co-hosts the FOX O&Os’ Dish Nation, will executive produce SHERRI alongside her producing partner, media personality and producer Jawn Murray, and David Perler, who will continue in the executive producer and showrunner role he has held for the past 12 of Wendy’s 13 seasons.
Debmar-Mercury launched Wendy with a successful limited test run on FOX Television Stations in summer 2008, which propelled the successful talker into its longtime national syndication run beginning in fall 2009. It will remain in original production through the remainder of this season with a continuing rotation of fan-favorite guest hosts, including Shepherd, who has landed the highest ratings of the season during her guest weeks.
“Sherri is a natural who proved her hosting skills for many years as a panelist on The View, on FOX’s Dish Nation and again this season as a popular guest host of Wendy,” Debmar-Mercury Co-Presidents Mort Marcus and Ira Bernstein commented. “Like our viewers, we have been impressed by the unique comedic twist Sherri puts on our daily live ‘Hot Topics’ segment, her creativity and interactions with our guests. Her love for the content and daytime fans is obvious, and we are excited to partner with her to create another long-term talk franchise.”
They noted, “This is also a bitter-sweet moment for us and our partners at FOX. We all have a great love and affinity for Wendy, who grew into a true icon during her 12 incredible seasons as the solo host of a live, daily talk show dishing on “Hot Topics” and interviewing celebrities. Since Wendy is still not available to host the show as she continues on her road to recovery, we believe it is best for our fans, stations and advertising partners to start making this transition now. We hope to be able to work with Wendy again in the future, and continue to wish her a speedy and full recovery.”
Added Frank Cicha, EVP, Programming, FOX Television Stations, “First of all, thanks to Debmar-Mercury for navigating through an extremely trying situation and providing stations with first-run programming throughout. Secondly, Sherri is the perfect choice for this. Her appeal to our audience is clear, plus she’s already a member of the FTS family as host of Dish Nation.”
Shepherd said, “OMG! I am so excited to have my dream come true and debut my very own talk show SHERRI in the fall. I can't wait until I return to NY to host the show and merge everything I love...pop culture, talk, entertainment and comedy. I am thankful to Debmar-Mercury and FOX for partnering with me on this show and look forward to this new journey.”
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About Sherri Shepherd
Sherri Shepherd is a renowned actress, comedian, bestselling author and an Emmy® Award-winning former co-host of ABC’s “The View.” Whether on stage or screen, Shepherd’s magnetic personality and hilarious sense of humor never fails to delight audiences. Her multifaceted career includes roles in several acclaimed television and film projects.
Shepherd can currently be seen in the HBO MAX series “Sex Lives of College Girls” and recently co-starred in Lifetime's movie "Imperfect High." She co-starred in the Netflix hit comedy series “Mr. Iglesias;” and as a recurring guest star on ABC’s “Call Your Mother.” She made history portraying the first African-American version of the Evil Stepmother in the Broadway production of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s “Cinderella.”
Through her own production company, Faith Walker, Shepherd launched the NAACP Image Award-nominated podcast “Two Funny Mamas” with fellow actress Kym Whitley. She also joined the FOX syndicated show “Dish Nation” as a daily co-host. A New York Times best-selling author, Shepherd released two books, “Plan D: How to Lose Weight and Beat Diabetes (Even If You Don't Have It),” and “Permission Slips: Every Woman's Guide to Giving Herself a Break."
About Debmar-Mercury
Debmar-Mercury, an innovative leading media company specializing in syndication, network, cable and ancillary markets, produces and distributes The Wendy Williams Show and Nick Cannon talk shows; distributes the top-rated show in national syndication during the 2020-21 season, FremantleMedia’s Steve Harvey-hosted Family Feud; and produces and distributes the Daytime Emmy nominated viral sensation, Caught In Providence.
Additionally, it has U.S. distribution rights to the record-setting Emmy Award-winning and Golden Globe-nominated fan favorite comedy, Schitt’s Creek; U.S. off-Netflix episodes of BoJack Horseman from Michael Eisner’s privately held media and entertainment company, The Tornante Company; as well as the 10/90 sitcoms Debmar-Mercury pioneered including Tyler Perry’s House of Payne and spinoff Meet the Browns; Revolution/CubeVision’s Are We There Yet? (starring Ice Cube); and the Debmar-Mercury / Lionsgate Television comedy Anger Management (starring Charlie Sheen).
Debmar-Mercury is a wholly owned subsidiary of Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF.A, LGF.B), encompassing world-class motion picture and television studio operations aligned with the STARZ premium global subscription platform. They bring a unique and varied portfolio of entertainment to consumers around the world.
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CONTACT:
For Debmar-Mercury:
Jim Benson
The Lippin Group
For FOX Television Stations:
Erica Keane
FOX Television Stations
For Sherri Shepherd:
Simone Smalls | Simone Smalls PR
917-541-6504