Wendy Williams Show producer has lost 'glimmer of hope' that the star will make daytime TV comeback following  dementia diagnosis: 'It makes me sad'

The Wendy Williams Show former co-executive producer Suzanne Bass has lost hope that the media mogul will return to TV following her progressive aphasia and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) diagnosis.

While reflecting on the 'huge void in both daytime TV and pop culture' since Williams' long-running was canceled after 13 seasons in 2022, Bass told People that it seems 'impossible' for the former broadcaster to make a 'comeback' to daytime television.

'It makes me very sad,' she confessed. 'I do know it takes time to diagnose conditions like this... I'm saddened by it all.'

In addition to her own disappointment, she pointed out that 'people are constantly saying, 'Wouldn't it be great if Wendy makes a comeback?''

The Wendy Williams Show former co-executive producer Suzanne Bass has lost hope that the media mogul will return to television following her progressive aphasia and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) diagnosis; seen in 2023

'I'm more sad about her health, not that she can't make a comeback. To have this sort of diagnosis, there's some finality to it,' the Emmy Award-winning producer added.

Bass recalled some instances and early signs that Williams was struggling during her talk show, which ran from 2008 to 2022. 

'You can go back and see the show, and there's really long periods of quietness where she's not speaking,' Bass recalled. 'And you're thinking 'What's happening? There were early signs [of something wrong] where you're grasping for words, having a hard time collecting your thoughts and remembering things. Maybe that's what was happening back then.' 

Since leaving the show, Bass says she has only been in contact with Williams a few times since The Wendy Williams Show ended.

During their most recent conversations, Bass said the best-selling author struggled to 'remember things' during their calls. 

'The last few times I spoke with Wendy, I remember thinking that she reminded me of my mom,' she said. 'My mom has Alzheimer's. Dementia is a form of it in her case.' 

On Friday, Williams broke her silence after her recent health diagnoses for the first time. 

'I want to say I have immense gratitude for the love and kind words I have received after sharing my diagnosis of Aphasia and Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD). Let me say, wow! Your response has been overwhelming,' she shared in a statement released to The Associated Press. 

While reflecting on the 'huge void in both daytime TV and pop culture' since Williams' long-running was canceled after 13 seasons in 2022, Bass told People that it seems 'impossible' for the former broadcaster to back her 'comeback' to daytime TV

'It makes me very sad,' she confessed. 'I do know it takes time to diagnose conditions like this... I'm saddened by it all'

Wendy finalized her statement writing, 'I continue to need personal space and peace to thrive. Please just know that your positivity and encouragement are deeply appreciated.' 

It was confirmed Thursday that Williams has been diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia and primary progressive aphasia.

The care team for the star announced her new diagnosis in a press release.

They said Williams had undergone 'a battery of medical tests' before arriving at the diagnosis, which comes days ahead of the release of her Lifetime documentary Where Is Wendy Williams?, which details her struggles with alcohol abuse and mental health in recent years.

The diagnoses are notably the same as the ones film legend Bruce Willis received in 2022 and 2023.

Bass recalled some instances and early signs that Williams was struggling during her talk show, which ran from 2008 to 2022

During their most recent conversations with Williams, Bass said the best-selling author struggled to 'remember things' during their calls (seen in 

The statement noted that Williams had been diagnosed back in 2023. The talk show host has reportedly been living in a treatment facility since April 2023.

Her statement comes following news that the Lifetime documentary about her is set to be be released on Saturday, despite the star's guardian's lawsuit against the network. 

On Thursday, it was revealed a lawsuit was filed by a guardian for the talk show host against the parent company of Lifetime, A&E Television Networks, amid news that caretakers for the television personality publicly announced she is battling dementia. 

A representative for Lifetime told TMZ on Friday that 'Lifetime appeared in court today and the documentary "Where is Wendy Williams?" will air this weekend as planned.' 

On Friday, Williams broke her silence after her recent health diagnoses for the first time as she thanked fans for the 'immense gratitude for the love and kind words' (seen in 2019)

The guardian, whose name is Sabrina Morrissey, filed the lawsuit under seal (which keeps details in the case protected from the public), according to a report from TMZ, which reviewed court docs in the case.

The focal point of the lawsuit, the outlet reported, was the documentary.

Morrissey asked the court for injunctive relief, the outlet reported, which appears to have been denied - with the judge siding with the network.

The outlet reported that Morrissey has filed new documents to request an appeal, as well as requesting another judge.

The two-part documentary filmed her from August 2022 to April 2023, when Williams entered the treatment facility where she remains to this day.