Peacock has greenlit a three-part documentary series about Wendy Williams, the veteran radio personality and longtime syndicated talk show host whose daytime program became a powerhouse in American television. It premieres in 2027. "Clap If You Care: The Wendy Williams Show" marks another expansion of Peacock's documentary slate focused on entertainment industry figures.
Susanne Bass, executive producer of Williams' original talk show throughout its 13-season run, is spearheading the documentary project. According to Variety, Bass brings "invaluable insight and a firsthand account of the show's unique place in pop culture" to the series. EverWonder Studio is producing the project. Additional executive producers include Ian Orefice, Jon Adler, Amanda Spain, Missy Walker, Chris Witherspoon, and Vanessa Golembewski. The documentary will draw from interviews with over 20 former staff members, each providing behind-the-scenes perspectives and memories from their time on the show.
This documentary celebrates Williams' meteoric rise and her show's significant cultural impact. It also examines what Peacock describes as "the complicated truths about the cost of fame" in daytime television. It promises to answer "long-lingering questions surrounding the infamous exit from her own show," which ended in June 2022 after Williams had taken medical leave that began in 2021. In three parts, the series explores both the show's most memorable cultural moments and the behind-the-scenes professional dynamics.
Williams is not involved in the production. She previously executive produced Lifetime's two-part documentary "Where Is Wendy Williams?," which aired in 2023 and focused on her health challenges and guardianship, following 2021's "Wendy Williams: What A Mess," which examined her public divorce and personal upheavals.