All Of Yesterday's Coverage From The Launch Of ‘The Wendy Williams Show’ After A Long Hiatus Addressed The Hosts Absence During Season 13 Premiere!

All Of Yesterday's Coverage From The Launch Of ‘The Wendy Williams Show’ After A Long Hiatus Addressed The Hosts Absence During Season 13 Premiere!

“The Wendy Williams Show” aired its Season 13 premiere Monday morning without its eponymous host.

The daytime talk show kicked off with a four-person panel that consisted of Bevy Smith, Elizabeth Wagmeister, Michael Yo and Devyn Simone, and right off the bat, they all addressed the audience with Williams’ signature catchphrase, “How you doin’?”

Yo then addressed Williams’ absence.

“Wendy, I know you’re watching right now, and on behalf of myself, our panel, your co-hosts, we love you and can’t wait to have you back in that purple chair,” Yo said.

None of the panel members discussed Williams’ health or her issues keeping her off TV.

Last week, the show announced that Leah Remini would also guest host for a four-day run in Williams’ absence.

“Wendy’s shoes are hard to fill, so we needed to find the right fit,” executive producer David Perler said in a statement obtained by Page Six. “Leah will bring a lot of fun and energy to our viewers with a few surprises along the way.”

Williams, 57, was initially scheduled to start her new season on Sept. 20, but pushed it back several times due to “ongoing health issues,” including testing positive for a breakthrough case of COVID-19. She was later reportedly taken to the hospital for a mental health evaluation." - Pagesix.com