Why The View Cohosts Were Berated For Attending The Wendy Williams Show
Sara Haines, Sunny Hostin, Wendy Williams.
Getty images (3)Sara Haines looks back on her experience experiencing the magic of The Wendy Williams Show — but not everyone was enthusiastic about her and Sunny Hostin‘s visit to the famous daytime series.
While they appear on the Behind the table podcast Thursday February 22 The view cohost recalled a visit Wendy Williams‘ talk show as a spectator with Hostin, 55.
“I wanted to go to Wendy, Sunny and me,” she said in a conversation The view executive producer Brian Teta. “We tried to get tickets through all our hair and makeup people. Brian said, “You could ask for tickets, we could probably get the show.” We had tickets and they wanted to put us in the front row.”
Haines, 46, said she wasn’t interested in a camera or a VIP seat. Instead, she just wanted to see Williams’ interview style in person.
Since The View premiered in August 1997, more than two dozen women have had regular roles as cohosts on the ABC morning talk show. Created by Barbara Walters, the series features a multi-generational panel conducting interviews and discussing the news of the day, ranging from politics to entertainment. The original line-up existed […]
But when the opportunity arose, Haines recalled that Teta, 47, was watching the show and wasn’t exactly thrilled.
“We were taking pictures from the front row,” Haines recalls, “and you say, ‘You’re literally on camera in the front row of another show.’”
Teta replied, “I wasn’t happy about it at the time because I was like, it was early in the time you were working here, and you and Sunny were just hanging out, just to be in the audience of another talk show. ”
As time went by, Haines — who has joined The view as permanent cohost during season 20 in 2016 — said she understands Teta’s reaction better. But when it first happened, Haines was surprised by the lack of excitement.
“We couldn’t understand why,” she said. “We were so mad at you. We were like, ‘Why isn’t he celebrating this? We are so excited. ”
The view welcomed Williams’ niece, Alex Finnie, To the table on Thursday, Feb. 22, to reflect on her aunt’s life ahead of Lifetime’s new documentary Where is Wendy Williams? During the interview, moderator Whoopi Goldberg urged viewers to watch the two-part special to better understand Williams’ reality after her talk show ended in 2021.
“She is a friend of the show and many of us have known her for a long time,” Goldberg said. ‘Do yourself a favor. Please check it out.”
Wendy Williams has made headlines for much more than just her brutally honest opinions and on-air feuds with her top interviewees. The talk show host has dealt with numerous personal and health issues, from struggling with cocaine addiction early in her career to more recently battling Graves’ disease, hyperthyroidism and other issues. […]
At the end of the show, Goldberg, 68, warned viewers that Williams, 59, had been diagnosed with both frontotemporal dementia and aphasia. The team of former radio hosts first confirmed the news in a statement to Page Six.
“Receiving a diagnosis has enabled Wendy to receive the medical care she needs,” the statement said. “The decision to share this news was difficult and was made after careful consideration, not only to advocate understanding and compassion for Wendy, but to raise awareness of aphasia and frontotemporal dementia and to support the thousands of others who are in similar circumstances to be in.”
The press release assured fans that the former shock jock “can still do many things for herself” and has retained her “signature sense of humor.”
Where is Wendy Williams? premieres Saturday, February 24 and Sunday, February 25 at 8pm on Lifetime.