What really happened behind the scenes during the final days of The Wendy Williams Show?

In this episode of Awf The Record, Jeannette Reyes and Mona Kosar Abdi sit down with former Wendy Williams producer Norman Baker for an inside look at one of daytime television’s most unforgettable cultural eras. Norman opens up about moving to New York with $100, getting his start as a receptionist, earning Wendy’s trust on and off camera, and watching the show become a place where pop culture, gossip, shade, and Black womanhood collided in real time.

Norman also reflects on the final seasons of the show, the limbo the staff experienced when Wendy was no longer able to return, and why he has chosen not to participate in certain documentaries about her. From protecting Wendy’s legacy to the shift from Wendy to Sherri, the art of shade, and the future of daytime TV, this conversation is a funny, honest, and surprisingly tender tribute to the show that changed how we talked about celebrity culture.

KEYPOINTS:

00:00 - Introduction

02:31 - Norman broke into TV with $100 and no industry connections

03:16 - Wendy turned Norman into an on-camera personality

04:20 - Norman explains the cultural void Wendy left behind

05:12 - Norman describes the final years as a “long, slow descent”

11:15 - Norman explains why he is cautious about the Wendy documentaries

18:12 - The Wendy team never got real closure

20:33 - Norman reflects on transitioning from Wendy to Sherri

47:24 - Norman shares how he wants Wendy to be remembered

QUOTES:

“In the end this shows that what fascinates people the most is other people doing the things that they swear they never do.” – Jeannette Reyes

“I feel like no one's been able to fill the void that she and, should I say, we created.” – Norman Baker

“I feel like that show got closure, quote unquote, but it still like it struck a chord with a lot of people.” – Mona Kosar Abdi

“We were in limbo. We're like, what are we gonna do? What is this show gonna be? Is she ever gonna come back?” – Norman Baker

GUEST RESOURCES:

Norman Baker

IG | @thenormanbaker

RESOURCES:

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Instagram: @awftherecordpodcast

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Mona Kosar Abdi

IG | @monakabdi

Jeannette Reyes

IG | @msnewslady

Keep in touch with Awf The Record:
Watch on Youtube: @AwfTheRecord
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This episode originally aired on 04/16/2026

What are celebrities actually getting done… and why does everyone suddenly look younger?

In this episode of Awf The Record, top Beverly Hills facial plastic surgeon Dr. Carl Truesdale pulls back the curtain on modern plastic surgery, from facelifts and fillers to the “undetectable” glow ups taking over Hollywood.

He breaks down the biggest misconceptions about plastic surgery, why natural results are now the gold standard, and how today’s techniques are creating transformations that look subtle, not obvious. From celebrity trends to the rise of men getting work done, Dr. Truesdale shares what people are really asking for behind closed doors.

The conversation also dives into the psychology behind plastic surgery, why some people should not get it, and how to know if you’re choosing the right surgeon. Plus, he reveals the red flags most people completely miss, the real cost of facial rejuvenation, and why bad work is often easier to spot than good work.

If you’ve ever wondered what actually works, what’s overhyped, and how to approach plastic surgery the right way, this episode is a must-listen.

KEY POINTS

- 0:00 Introduction

- 1:57 The Biggest Myth About Plastic Surgery and Black Patients

- 5:43 What Actually Makes Someone Attractive

- 8:42 The Psychology Behind Plastic Surgery

- 10:35 Most Requested Procedures Right Now

- 12:20 Why Hollywood Results Look More Natural Today

- 14:05 Who Dr. Truesdale refuses to Operate On

- 16:43 Fillers vs Facelifts: What Actually Works

- 19:13 Black People and Plastic Surgery

- 27:07 The Real Cost of Looking Younger

- 32:10 The Biggest Red Flags When Choosing a Surgeon

- 36:52 The Future of Plastic Surgery

- 42:33 What Are The Men Getting In Plastic Surgery?

QUOTES

“What I do is candy. It's sugar. It will improve your quality of life, but you don't need to do it.” - Dr. Carl Truesdale

“The hardest part of what I do is literally fulfilling the happiness piece, not related to surgery. It's a mental, psychological thing.” - Dr. Carl Truesdale

“Perfect symmetry is not actually the goal. We want things to be more symmetric, but keeping a little bit of asymmetry is the thing that makes your face, your face.” - Dr. Carl Truesdale

RESOURCES:

Dr. Carl Truesdale

Website | www.doctortruesdale.com

IG | Doctor.Truesdale

Keep in touch with Awf The Record:

Youtube: @AwfTheRecord

Instagram: @awftherecordpodcast

TikTok: @AwfTheRecord

Mona Kosar Abdi

IG | @monakabdi

Jeannette Reyes

IG | @msnewslady

Keep in touch with Awf The Record:
Watch on Youtube: @AwfTheRecord
Follow us on Instagram: @awftherecordpodcast
Follow us on TikTok: @AwfTheRecord
Visit our website: www.AwfTheRecord.com

Follow Mona on TikTok and IG
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Astrology may feel like a Gen Z obsession, but celebrity astrologer Aliza Kelly says the conversation has been happening for generations. In this segment of Awf The Record, Jeannette Reyes and Mona Kosar Abdi talk with Aliza about how astrology evolved from sun sign horoscopes and ’60s compatibility culture into today’s birth chart readings, apps, and celebrity astrology. Aliza shares how technology helped people go beyond “What’s your sign?”, how her own astrology dating app helped launch her career, and why 2016 marked a major cultural shift in how people turned to the stars for answers. She also breaks down what celebrity birth charts can reveal, why public personas do not always match private realities, and the most surprising chart she has seen: Rachel Dratch’s Pisces-heavy birth chart. It’s a fun, curious conversation about astrology, pop culture, identity, and why your sign might only be the beginning of the story.

GUEST RESOURCES:

Aliza Kelly

Website | www.alizakelly.com

IG | @alizakelly

RESOURCES:

Keep in touch with Awf The Record:

Youtube: @AwfTheRecord

Instagram: @awftherecordpodcast

TikTok: @AwfTheRecord

Mona Kosar Abdi

IG | @monakabdi

Jeannette Reyes

IG | @msnewslady

Keep in touch with Awf The Record:
Watch on Youtube: @AwfTheRecord
Follow us on Instagram: @awftherecordpodcast
Follow us on TikTok: @AwfTheRecord
Visit our website: www.AwfTheRecord.com

Follow Mona on TikTok and IG
Follow Jeannette on TikTok and IG