Nick Cannon's New Talk Show Is Dead On Arrival, Fails To Reach Half A Million Viewers, Ending Rumors He'll Replace Wendy Williams
Oct. 14 2021, Published 5:41 p.m. ET
Nick Cannon's new daytime talk show appears to have failed the assignment.
Debuting at less than half a million viewers and receiving devastating reviews, the perennial television personality's own syndicated program is not likely to take over Wendy Williams' time slot, despite what rumors previously suggested.
The Masked Singer host reportedly brought in a measly 400,000 viewers a day for his first week of broadcast late last month, landing the self-titled series at the bottom of the talk show pack.
"It doesn't appear as if 'Cannon' will be essential viewing for many, although if you are a big fan of Cannon, you will surely like this version of the celebrity, in which he turns his quirks and personality up to an 11," read one review by USA Today.
Showbiz 411 added, "Cannon's recent past supporting Louis Farrakhan and making anti-semitic statements won't find him a large audience. He can't even get ex wife Mariah Carey to be a guest."
The Wendy Williams Show has been on the air for years, and the currently ill firecracker host has a following that rivals few.
Still, producers are reportedly in panic mode over Williams' ongoing health concerns, which have delayed her return for Season 13 several times.
An insider previously told Page Six, "The executives have been talking. They are keeping a close eye on [Williams'] recovery and hoping for the best. But they have pushed back [her] show premiere several times, so they are already thinking of a backup plan."
At the time, the source claimed that Cannon was considered a top choice to replace Williams, should it be required.
"It would not be a far stretch for Nick to take her time slot...Debmar-Mercury [which produces both shows] is really pushing to make Nick Canon's show a huge success," said the insider. "He already has a major platform, and a huge fanbase, so it is an easy win. So, if Wendy's show ends up being a no-go, their backup plan is already set."
The drama with Wendy began in early September.
First, her crew announced that they had to halt all promotional activities ahead of the Season 13 premiere due to her unspecified "health issues" that required "further evaluations."
Days later, they announced that she had tested positive for the coronavirus and called it a "breakthrough case," which would mean Wendy had been fully vaccinated.
The alleged diagnosis prompted the star's people to push the show's premiere date back to Oct. 4.
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Williams was then taken to the hospital for "psychiatric services," with a source later claiming she had checked herself in "voluntarily."
By the end of the month, the premiere date had been pushed back once again to Oct. 18.
Just two days ago, producers announced the show would return on the previously promised date but without Wendy.
Instead, the show will have a group of guest hosts and panels, as Williams "continues to be under medical supervision and meets with her medical team on a daily basis."
