“Wendy Williams Show ”Producer Has Lost Every 'Glimmer of Hope' Star Will Return to TV: 'Very Sad' (Exclusive)
'Wendy Williams Show' producer Suzanne Bass tells PEOPLE it seems "impossible" for Williams to return to the air following her primary progressive aphasia and frontotemporal dementia diagnosis
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Wendy Williams is pictured attending Apple TV+'s 'The Morning Show' world premiere at David Geffen Hall on October 28, 2019 in New York City.The Wendy Williams Show former co-executive producer Suzanne Bass has a somber outlook on Wendy Williams' ability to return to television.
After the former talk show host’s medical team announced she was diagnosed with her primary progressive aphasia and frontotemporal dementia on Thursday, Bass tells PEOPLE that it seems unlikely that Williams will be able to be back on the small screen.
"Since Wendy's been off the air, there's been a huge void in both daytime TV and pop culture,” she says. “I think there's always been a glimmer of hope for a comeback for her, but since this diagnosis, that seems impossible. It makes me very sad."
"I do know it takes time to diagnose conditions like this,” she adds. “I'm saddened by it all. Because people are constantly saying, ‘Wouldn't it be great if Wendy makes a comeback?’”
Related: Wendy Williams’ Family Members Say They Weren’t Told of Her New Dementia Diagnosis (Exclusive)
Most of all, she says, “I'm more sad about her health, not that she can't make a comeback. To have this sort of diagnosis, there's some finality to it.”
Bass recalls the possible early signs of Williams’ struggles when she worked on her talk show, which ran for 13 seasons from 2008 to 2022.
“You can go back and see the show, and there's really long periods of quietness where she's not speaking,” she says. “And you're thinking ‘What's happening? There were early signs [of something wrong] where you're grasping for words, having a hard time collecting your thoughts and remembering things. Maybe that's what was happening back then.’”
Fox
Wendy Williams on "The Wendy Williams Show"Bass says she has only spoken with Williams a few times since the television personality’s exit from the talk show in 2022. After Williams struggled to “remember things” during their calls, Bass couldn't help but think of her own mother, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.
“The last few times I spoke with Wendy, I remember thinking that she reminded me of my mom," she shares.
“My mom has Alzheimer's," she explains. "Dementia is a form of it in her case. I just remember calling my brother and saying, ‘Oh my God. I just talked to Wendy. She reminds me of Mom.’”
On Thursday, Williams’ medical team announced her primary progressive aphasia and frontotemporal dementia diagnosis in a press release. The two conditions are the same variations that Bruce Willis has previously been diagnosed with.
“Wendy is still able to do many things for herself,” the team said in a statement. “Most importantly she maintains her trademark sense of humor and is receiving the care she requires to make sure she is protected and that her needs are addressed. She is appreciative of the many kind thoughts and good wishes being sent her way.”
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Where Is Wendy Williams? premieres Saturday at 8 p.m. and concludes at the same time the next day on Lifetime.
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