Wendy Williams Productions joins forces with award-winning de Passe Jones Entertainment on multi-picture venture

LOS ANGELES, June 28, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Wendy Williams Productions announced today that it has forged a major production alliance with industry veterans Suzanne de Passe and Madison Jones' de Passe Jones Entertainment (www.depassejones.com). This strategic partnership is dedicated to producing a continuity of filmed entertainment for television and motion pictures under the WENDY WILLIAMS PRESENTS banner. The projects will target the multi-cultural audience of "THE WENDY WILLIAMS SHOW" and beyond. 

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20111017/LA88331-a)

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20111017/LA88331-b)

"de Passe Jones Entertainment has a proven track record of success as it pertains to television movies and mini-series," said Wendy Williams. "This partnership makes great sense to Wendy Williams Productions and our entry into the world of filmed entertainment. The credentials of Suzanne de Passe and Madison Jones speak for themselves. We are looking forward to a long and fruitful relationship with de Passe Jones Entertainment and adding to their stellar and lengthy string of highly successful films."

"Suzanne and I are thrilled about this partnership with Wendy Williams," said Madison Jones. "The goal of this strategic partnership is to bring the very best movies of every ilk to the general public and greatly enhance the diversity, content and quality of offerings currently available." 

"Wendy's popularity and brand is evidenced by her success in daytime television. We are looking forward to expanding her brand and audience in all areas of filmed and scripted entertainment," said Suzanne de Passe. 

About Wendy Williams
Mother, wife and best-selling author Wendy Williams burst onto the national talk show scene in July 2009 with the launch of the nationally-syndicated weekday program, "The Wendy Williams Show." Called a "breakthrough in daytime" by The New York Times, "The Wendy Williams Show," which airs in 52 countries, and is now in its third season, has just been renewed on Fox through 2014.

"The Wendy Williams Show" is the provocative, must-see daytime talk show. Taped live in New York, viewers delight over Williams' distinctive and entertaining personality, as well as a diverse mix of interviews with celebrity guests from television, film, music and sports. Popular segments include "Ask Wendy," during which she offers real advice to audience members looking for solutions to problems, and "Hot Topics," in which she delivers her own unpredictable, honest, authentic and opinionated take on the juiciest headlines.

"The Wendy Williams Show" is a reflection of its star and host; the vibrant colors and upbeat soundtrack matches Williams' own personality and energetic sense of humor, and the show's focus on entertainment and pop culture reflects Williams' passion for those topics. When she interviews the countless A-list celebrity guests for her show, it's from the perspective of a fan, as she asks the questions that her audience wants to hear. A lover of classic television, Williams' TV idols growing up were Dinah Shore and Merv Griffin.

Prior to achieving success in daytime television, Williams built a devoted audience of fans throughout an enormously successful 23-year career in radio. "The Wendy Williams Experience" was Williams' top-rated daily radio show. Syndicated nationally, it aired on WBLS in New York and was listened to by an audience of more than 12 million people. One of the most popular personalities in radio, Williams was inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame in November of 2009—one of only a handful of women with that honor. 

Williams competed on Season 12 of ABC's smash hit dancing competition "Dancing With The Stars," has hosted Game Show Network's original series "Love Triangle," and has appeared as a featured guest on ABC's "One Life to Live" and Lifetime's "Drop Dead Diva." Williams made her major motion picture debut in Steve Harvey's April 2012 release of "Think Like A Man," and recently launched an accessories line with QVC titled "Adorn by Wendy Williams." A shoe line of the same name is set for release in the fall of 2012. 

Williams is the author of  the New York Times best-seller The Wendy Williams Experience (Dutton Books), as well as several novels including Ritz Harper Goes to Hollywood. She contributes a weekly celebrity hot topics column to the entertainment magazine Life & Style Weekly.

Williams earned a Bachelor's Degree in Communications with a minor degree in Journalism at Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts. Both of her parents were university professors and Williams remains an advocate for education at all levels. Williams credits the start of her career with her decision to take an internship at a radio station on St. Croix, Virgin Islands immediately following her graduation from college.

Williams grew up in Ocean Township, New Jersey and currently lives in Northern New Jersey with her husband Kevin and their 11 year-old son Kevin, Jr.

About de Passe Jones Entertainment
de Passe Jones Entertainment (www.depassejones.com) is an entertainment and media company led by industry veterans Suzanne de Passe and Madison Jones that sources, develops, acquires and produces a variety of high quality television, motion picture, internet/new media, theater, and print content.

de Passe Jones currently has a major first look production deal with Universal Pictures and is producing the definitive film on the life of Martin Luther King, Jr. with Steven Spielberg at DreamWorks.

Suzanne and Madison have vast experience, a track record of success, strong industry relationships, and a clear unique vision that has enabled the company to address a critical need in the market for content. de Passe Jones produces commercially driven projects in the following genres: drama, comedy, romantic comedy, action/ thriller, science fiction, horror, music-driven, reality, web-based, animation, and theater.

A veteran of over three decades in Hollywood, Ms. de Passe's productions have garnered two Emmy's and received over 30 Emmy nominations. She won a Golden Globe, five NAACP Image Awards, and is the only African American female to be nominated for an Academy Award for screenwriting. Ms. de Passe received the Revlon Business Woman of the Year honor, was chosen by Black Enterprise Magazine as one of the Top 50 Hollywood Power Brokers, recipient of the prestigious Producers Guild Award, Directors Guild Award, and Prism Award, and has been the subject of two Harvard Business School case studies.

Co-Chairman of de Passe Jones Entertainment Group, Madison Jones is a film and television executive, producer, and writer. Madison Executive Produced President Obama's Commander-in-Chief's Inaugural Ball, and is producing a motion picture based on the life of Martin Luther King, Jr. with his partner, Suzanne de Passe, and Steven Spielberg for DreamWorks Pictures. He is the founder of Revenger Comics and Revenger Studios (www.revenger.com) which produces Comic-Con genre projects in sci-fi, action, comic book, graphic novel, and web-based. He and his partner Suzanne de Passe are producing a new dramatic series for VH-1 based on Star Jones' best-selling novel, Satan's Sisters.

SOURCE de Passe Jones Entertainment