The Wendy Williams Show former co-executive producer Suzanne Bass has a dim view of Wendy Williams’ ability to return to television.
After the former talk show host’s medical team announced Thursday that she was diagnosed with primary progressive aphasia and frontotemporal dementia, Bass tells PEOPLE it’s unlikely Williams will be able to return to the small screen.
“Since Wendy went off the air, there’s been a huge void in both daytime television and pop culture,” she says. “I think there was always a glimmer of hope for her to come back, but with this diagnosis it seems impossible. It makes me very sad.”
“I know it takes time to diagnose these types of conditions,” she adds. “I’m sad about all of that. Because people keep saying, ‘Wouldn’t it be great if Wendy came back?’
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Most of all, she says, “I’m more sad about her health than that she can’t come back. Having a diagnosis like this, there is a certain finality.”
Bass recalls possible early signs of Williams’ problems while working on her talk show, which ran for 13 seasons from 2008 to 2022.
“You can go back and watch the show and there are really long periods of silence where she doesn’t speak,” she says. “And you think ‘What’s going on? There were early signs [of something wrong] where you struggle for words, it’s hard for you to collect your thoughts and remember things. Maybe that’s what was happening back then.’”
Wendy Williams on “The Wendy Williams Show”.
Fox
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Bass says she’s only spoken to Williams a handful of times since the television personality exited 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 talked to Wendy, I remember thinking she reminded me of my mom,” she shares.
“My mom has Alzheimer’s,” she explains. “Dementia in her case is one of the forms. I just remember calling my brother and saying, ‘Oh my God. I just talked to Wendy. She reminds me of my mom.’”
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On Thursday, Williams’ medical team announced the diagnosis of her primary progressive aphasia and frontotemporal dementia in a press release. These two conditions are the same variations that Bruce Willis was previously diagnosed with.
“Wendy can still do many things for herself,” the team said in a statement. “Most importantly, she maintains her trademark sense of humor and receives the care she needs to make sure she is protected and that her needs are addressed. She is grateful for the many kind thoughts and good wishes that have been sent to her.”
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Where is Wendy Williams? premieres Saturday at 8pm and ends at the same time the following day on Lifetime.
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Source: HIS Education