Debmar-Mercury says it will try to explore alternatives for the program on other platforms.
By Alex Weprin
Another syndicated daytime talk show will end its run after this season.
Debmar-Mercury, the Lionsgate-owned syndicated TV production company, says that it is canceling Sherri, the talker hosted by Sherri Shepherd, after four seasons.
“This decision is driven by the evolving daytime television landscape and does not reflect on the strength of the show, its production — which has found strong creative momentum this season — or the incredibly talented Sherri Shepherd,” said Debmar-Mercury co-presidents Ira Bernstein and Mort Marcus in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter. “We believe in this show and in Sherri and intend to explore alternatives for it on other platforms.”
Production on Sherri’s fourth season will continue as planned, with the final episodes slated to air this fall.
The news of Sherri’s cancellation came just hours after NBCUniversal announced plans to sunset The Kelly Clarkson Show after seven seasons. As the Debmar-Mercury executives noted, the marketplace for daytime talk shows (and frankly, TV talk shows in general) has deteriorated in recent years amid pay-TV declines, a challenging advertising environment, and fierce competition from video podcasts on platforms like YouTube.
While daytime talk show hosts were once some of the most prominent people in all of TV (just ask Oprah Winfrey or Ellen DeGeneres), the market has cooled off in recent years. It is not clear what other platforms the production company could pursue for the show or if it would retain its format.
Sherri debuted in 2022, with the comedian delivering celebrity interviews, pop culture talk, and comedy bits typical of the genre. The show utilized the Fox TV stations as a primary affiliate partner in the major cities, with Nexstar, Hearst, and Sinclair also picking it up in smaller markets.
