Where Is Wendy Williams?
| Where Is Wendy Williams? | |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| No. of episodes | 4 |
| Production | |
| Executive producers |
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| Production companies |
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| Original release | |
| Network | Lifetime |
| Release | February 24 – February 25, 2024 |
Where Is Wendy Williams? is a 2024 American documentary series. It follows Wendy Williams following the cancellation of her talk show.
It premiered on February 24, 2024, on Lifetime.
Premise
[edit]The documentary follows Wendy Williams after the cancellation of her talk show. The series additionally explores Williams suffering mental and physical issues, erratic behavior and declining health, issues with alcohol as well as being placed under a guardianship.[1]
Episodes
[edit]| No. | Title | Original air date | U.S. viewers (millions) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "I'm Not a Crier" | February 24, 2024 | 1.14[2] |
| 2 | "I Really Want to Be Back on Television" | February 24, 2024 | 1.18[2] |
| 3 | "I Love Being Famous" | February 25, 2024 | 0.91[3] |
| 4 | "I Am Gorgeous" | February 25, 2024 | 0.96[3] |
Production
[edit]The documentary series was initially pitched to Lifetime as a documentary following Williams launching a podcast, but as production began, the story changed. Nothing was filmed without permission from Williams or her manager.[4] Williams granted the filmmakers unparalleled access into her life, following the cancellation of The Wendy Williams Show, documenting her life from August 2022 to April 2023, when production stopped due to Williams' health.[5][6][7] Producers attempted to speak with Williams' guardian, Sabrina Morrissey; however, she declined to speak with them.[8]
Lawsuit
[edit]On February 23, 2024, Williams' guardian, Sabrina Morrissey, filed a lawsuit against Lifetime's parent company A&E Networks to prevent its release.[9] That same day, the court ruled the documentary could air as planned.[10][11]
Reception
[edit]Critical reception
[edit]Joel Keller of Decider stated the series was "hard to watch", writing: "If you are at all interested in what’s been going on in her life in the last few years, or have been following the confusing drama around her care, this is a must watch".[12]
Aramide Tinubu of Variety criticized the series as "unsettling and exploitative", writing: "One thing has never been more certain: the cameras should have stopped rolling in Williams’ life the moment she left her show's set for the last time".[13]
References
[edit]- ^ "Lifetime to Debut the Raw and Compelling Documentary "Where Is Wendy Williams?" as a Two-Night Event Debuting February 24 & 25". The Futon Critic. February 2, 2024. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
- ^ a b Pucci, Douglas (February 26, 2024). "Saturday Ratings: Lifetime Premieres Where is Wendy Williams? Documentary". Programming Insider. Retrieved March 23, 2024.
- ^ a b Pucci, Douglas (February 26, 2024). "Sunday Ratings: Tracker on CBS Once Again Improves Upon Lead-In The Equalizer". Programming Insider. Retrieved March 23, 2024.
- ^ Wagmeister, Elizabeth (February 23, 2024). "Wendy Williams documentary will still air this weekend after legal guardian files lawsuit against Lifetime's parent company". CNN. Retrieved February 24, 2024.
- ^ McFarland, Melanie (February 23, 2024). "Wendy Williams won't be silenced yet". Salon.com. Retrieved February 24, 2024.
- ^ Hibbard, James (February 2, 2024). "Wendy Williams Seen for First Time in a Year in Devastating Lifetime Documentary Trailer". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved February 24, 2024.
- ^ Tracy, Brianne (February 24, 2024). "The Biggest Bombshells from Lifetime's Where Is Wendy Williams? Documentary Currently Under Litigation". People. Retrieved February 25, 2024.
- ^ Tracy, Brianne; Rubenstein, Janine; Bacher, Danielle (February 22, 2024). "Inside Wendy Williams' Family's Fight to Free Her from Her Guardianship: 'This System Is Broken' (Exclusive)". People. Retrieved February 24, 2024.
- ^ Blistein, Jon (February 23, 2024). "Wendy Williams Doc 'Will Air This Weekend as Planned', Despite Lawsuit to Block It". Rolling Stone. Retrieved February 24, 2024.
- ^ "Lifetime's Highly Anticipated Documentary "Where Is Wendy Williams?" Will Air This Weekend as Planned". The Futon Critic. February 23, 2024. Retrieved February 24, 2024.
- ^ Johnson, Ted (February 23, 2024). "Lifetime's Wendy Williams Documentary Can Be Aired As Planned, New York Appeals Court Justice Rules". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 24, 2024.
- ^ Keller, Joel (February 25, 2024). "Stream It Or Skip It: 'Where Is Wendy Williams?' On Lifetime, A Docuseries About The Talk Show Host's Decline And The Fight Over Her Care". Decider. Retrieved February 25, 2024.
- ^ Tinubu, Aramide (February 24, 2024). "'Where Is Wendy Williams?' Docuseries Is Unsettling and Exploitative: TV Review". Variety. Retrieved February 25, 2024.