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Sometimes controversial, but always entertaining, talk show host Wendy Williams began her career in radio. It was there she famously got into a blunt conversation about drug use and finances with singer Whitney Houston in 2003. An ex-drug addict herself, Ms. Williams has done other squirm-inducing interviews and made a few enemies along the way. But her success as a radio disk jockey and talk show host led to the syndicated "Wendy Williams" television show.
Clips from the show were a favorite of E Network's "The Soup," a weekly round-up of television hosted by Joel McHale. Last year she was inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame. She lives in New Jersey with her husband Kevin Hunter and son Kevin Jr. The second season of "The Wendy Williams Show" begins today. (Runs 10 a.m. weekdays on WPMY.)
Some of what helped propel you and the show was the not-so-fine-tuned, polished presentation that Joel McHale of "The Soup" loved.
I love it, too. The show is full on Wendy. I am not, you know, a polished journalist. I'm simply a woman with a thirst for pop culture. I love how our show is because it truly embodies me being me!
See the Your show has been picked up into 2012. Are you sticking with the formula that got you here?
Oh, yes, definitely. You know it's the formula I worked with in over 20 years of radio and it's the same formula I am working with on the TV. I've got a terrific staff of people and honestly I could not do it without my staff. They speak to the essence of Wendy. I find that having basic inquisitiveness about people, places and things is how we all are. Sometimes it's awkward, but awkward is good. [laughing]
You have not been shy about broaching uncomfortable subjects with your celebrity guests.
Nah. As long as they are fine with it. We survived the whole first season, and I adored all the different people who came on the show. I appreciate the celebrities coming by so much to promote their product and laugh with us. We laugh, we giggle. It's all in fun.
When things get really awkward, what is going through your head?
Be a lady, be a lady, be a lady. I try to approach everything with that in mind especially, now, being 46. I cannot react to situations the way I would if I was 21 or even 31. You know I'm a wife, I'm a mother, I'm a dutiful daughter, a responsible citizen. I don't like the phrase "role model," but I do know, because we have a lot of activity on the website, and I read all my different comments, that there are a lot of young girls who look to me not just in terms of a fashion thing but also an attitude thing. So I try to maintain my head and be a lady.
What was it that attracted you to broadcast journalism in the first place?
Oh, man, wow, since forever. I graduated from Northeastern University in Boston in 1986, and I went in declaring my major immediately. I majored in communication and minored in journalism. Writing is something we all need to know how to do. I have five books out and I'm a New York Times best-selling author (two of those books). But you know I wanted to be a newscaster at first, but by the end of my freshman year, radio. I was just sideswiped by it. I enjoy speaking with people.
You've said in other interviews that you are "Just a goofy girl from Jersey and you don't take yourself seriously." Do ever get hurt by the critiques?
You know, yes. I would be lying if I said comments don't hurt. I'm human and I do have feelings, but I also understand it is part and parcel of the career that I've chosen. When you put yourself out there in the media you are open. It is fair game. I'm no different than anyone else.
Did you find becoming a mother changed you and the way you approach things.
Yes, yes, absolutely. I was married for about two years prior to becoming a mother. I've been married for 12 years now. As a matter of fact this morning there are the remnants of our son's birthday party. We had a sleep-over last night. There were five boys here. Pop-Tarts, candy the whole bit. When my husband got together with me I was already a very popular radio personality. Now he's my manager and one of the executive producers on the show. So I'm a family business, but we cannot drown who we are as the Hunters -- that's my marital name. I would wilt away if I did not have family or was not close with my family. My mom and dad have been married 53 years. They have been on the show before. I've walked the orange carpet for Nickelodeon with my son. My son has been on the talk show, most recently when they surprised me with a bicycle built for two. My husband is there every single day behind the scenes. But I must protect what is so dear to me, I'm a family woman.
Your son must recognize there is some cachet in what his mom does. Are you going to keep a lid on his using it?
Oh you better believe it. My husband and I are in unison regarding that. All mothers like to toot the horn of their children, but honest to God, Kevin is so well adjusted. He's just a joy.
He is comfortable with what you do.
He loves it. Sometimes I'll get frustrated, you know, with working mother's guilt, and he'll say "Mommy don't quit. Don't quit your job. Keep doing what you do."
So what was the biggest adjustment for you going from radio to television?
Obviously the visual, but I'm fine with that. I'm fine with who I am. Every woman would love to lose 5 or 10 pounds or whatever her wiggle weight is. Sure I would. How I control that, is I told my wardrobe stylist in the beginning, "Listen I know this is not a big deal to you and nobody on this show is telling me to lose weight or gain weight or anything, but to make this easy for us, when you buy me a pencil skirt in a size 6, trust me a year from now I will still be able to fit into that size 6." I insist on not looking at myself when I'm on. I want to focus on entertaining. That's what I'm there for. I've got to tell you something Patricia. There is nothing better than having your own talk show! If I die now I've reached my career pinnacle. I wasn't just any radio personality. I was very popular and they just did a list of the top-rated and grossing radio talk shows of all time, and I'm so proud to say, I was No. 69. I was one of the few women and certainly one of the few blacks. I just love rolling with the boys. So going into television is a big challenge. I still want to be able to get into my truck and drive to Target.
Has it become harder to have a genuine conversation going with the big-name celebrities?
Yeah, there are layers and layers, but what I find is it is a little more difficult for me in terms of interviewing celebrities on my show (and I'm a constant work in progress). When I was on the radio, I had four hours. I could speak with [guests] for a half hour without playing any music. In TV nobody has a half hour anymore. I was interviewing James Brolin a couple of weeks ago and we could have talked forever. I'm chatty and a little long-winded, but I'm working on that. We had a seven- minute interview segment. My God, how do you meet somebody for the first time, extol the virtues of why they're so great, ask about Barbra Streisand and home life, wish him happy birthday (also they've been married for 12 years) and how do you do that and get his new project out and say good-bye and I love you all in seven minutes? That is a challenge for me.
Mackenzie Carpenter's video program, "Omnivore," is available exclusively at PG+, a members-only web site of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Our introduction to PG+ gives you all the details.
