Sherri Shepherd, the 56-year-old television personality, has been forced to delay the return of her chat show due to a COVID-19 diagnosis. Shepherd made the announcement in a statement on Wednesday, expressing her disappointment at not being able to host the show as planned. She assured fans that she would come back strong once she received clearance from her doctor.
The production team also released a statement confirming Shepherd’s positive COVID-19 test and explaining their plan moving forward. They emphasized that the health of Shepherd and the entire staff is their top priority. In the meantime, encore episodes from the premiere week will be aired.
Interestingly, Shepherd’s diagnosis comes at a time when other talk show hosts like Drew Barrymore and Bill Maher have decided to postpone their returns due to ongoing strikes by the Writers Guild of America (WGA) and the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA).
At the start of the second season of her show, Shepherd addressed the strikes and clarified that her show is not a WGA show. She explained that talk shows fall under a different union contract code, allowing them to continue production, unlike WGA shows. Shepherd expressed her support for the unions and emphasized the importance of fair residuals for actors.
The strikes primarily aim to negotiate better residuals and address concerns about the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in movies and TV. Shepherd joined her colleagues in marching on picket lines to show solidarity. She highlighted the irreplaceable qualities of human actors and writers, asserting that AI cannot replicate their humor, sass, or personal experiences.
As Shepherd deals with her COVID-19 diagnosis, she remains committed to returning to her show as soon as she is able. Her fans can expect the same fun, laughter, and good times that they have come to enjoy. Until then, they can catch encore episodes of the show. The health and well-being of Shepherd and her team are the top priority, and everyone is hoping for a swift recovery.
In conclusion, Sherri Shepherd has been forced to postpone the return of her chat show due to a COVID-19 diagnosis. Despite addressing the ongoing strikes in the industry, Shepherd’s show is not affected as it falls under a different union contract. She expressed her support for the striking unions and the importance of fair residuals for actors. Fans can look forward to her return once she receives the all-clear from her doctor.
