Wendy Williams and FOX going steady through 2017

Howyoudoin? Wendy Williams is the queen of FOX, as the chatter has been renewed until 2017.

Debmar-Mercury has renewed the nationally syndicated The Wendy Williams Show through the 2016-17 television season on FOX Television Stations.

From the press release:

The renewal covering the top TV markets cements the fast-rising talk show's return for its sixth, seventh and eighth seasons, announced Debmar-Mercury Co-Presidents Ira Bernstein and Mort Marcus.

"The Wendy Williams Show has as much momentum as any show on our air right now, both qualitatively and quantitatively," said Frank Cicha, senior VP of programming for the FOX Television Stations.  "Over the last few years, it's evolved into the ideal lead-out to our morning news blocks. Like our news, the show delivers a day/date immediacy that serves as a blueprint for where we want to be the rest of the day."   

The multi-season FOX commitment, which comes on the heels of a previous two-year deal, follows a strong May metered market sweeps performance for Wendy. Airing at 10 a.m. on FOX's WNYW New York, Wendy doubled in rating year-to-year in the key daytime demo of women 25-54 on WNYW New York (1.2 rating/9 share to 2.4/16). Additionally, it rose 58% on FOX's KTTV Los Angeles airing at 11 a.m. and 139% on FOX's WFLD Chicago at 10 a.m.

Wendy also was the only talk show in all of syndication to post year-to-year growth, leaping 43% to reach a 1.2/8 in the demo.

Bernstein and Marcus commented, "FOX's long-term renewal is a testament to the incredible growth the show has experienced this season and the amazing talent of Wendy. Our broadcast partners across the country have taken notice, demonstrating their faith in the staying power of this rapidly growing talk franchise with upgrades. We are particularly gratified that many of those are among the news leaders in their markets and see Wendy as the ideal lead out for their morning newscasts."

Boosted by its surge in ratings, Wendy has been in heavy demand by strong network affiliates. Those acquiring it include WJW Cleveland (Local TV/FOX); KPTV Portland, OR (Meredith/FOX); WSOC Charlotte (Cox/ABC); KUSI San Diego (McKinnon); WCMH Columbus (Media General/NBC); WSPA Greenville-Spartanburg (Media General/CBS); WPTV West Palm Beach (Scripps/NBC); WALA Mobile (Lin/FOX); and WLUK Green Bay (Lin/FOX).

The leap in both local and national ratings for the talk show from the Lionsgate-owned producer-distributor started with the most recent expansion in mid-December of the Wendy fan-favorite "Hot Topics" segment. Debmar-Mercury has ordered more original episodes of the show for the summer.

Williams will star as Matron Mama Morton in the Broadway hit "Chicago" for seven weeks beginning June 25 and her sixth book, titled "Ask Wendy (William Morrow)," went on sale May 7 and is based on her popular, recurring advice segment. She also recently formed Wendy Williams Productions, which will produce reality, game and talk shows.