Hip-hop icon and celebrated movie star Queen Latifah is no stranger to daytime talk. In the late 1990s, Latifah hosted The Queen Latifah Show on daytime television. It ran from September 1999 to August 2001. Like may daytime programs, the talk show featured the then 30-year-old host interviewing celebrities and newsmakers while discussing topics of the day. Queen Latifah is coming back to daytime TV with New Talk Show opening Sept. 16.2013.

Queen Latifah says her new daytime talk show is calling on A-list friends for support, including musicians Alicia Keys and Lenny Kravitz. Producer Corin Nelson said "The Queen Latifah Show" will be light on politics. But Latifah already has two big Washington guests in mind: During a White House visit, the actress and rapper extended an invitation to President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama.

Latifah spoke to members of the Television Critics Association visiting her Los Angeles-area Sony Studios set Wednesday.

Now, almost 15 years later, Queen Latifah returns to daytime television with a new talk show, also titled The Queen Latifah Show, and featuring a more mature, comfortable host with experience in front of and behind the camera, on stage, behind a mic and leading successful business and philanthropic endeavors.

The new show is co-produced by one of the biggest names in entertainment, Will Smith, through his production company Overbrook Entertainment. It will feature the usual celebrity interviews, hot topics and pop culture tropes, as well as top tier musical acts. The production is expected to play off Latifah's affable nature, comedic talent and immense musical abilities.

And it is already causing a stir. Though the show is still eight months away from its premiere episode, the program has already planted a flag online at the show's official website,QueenLatifah.com. The website features a countdown clock (259 days, 13 hours, 10 minutes and 53 seconds at this writing) and connections to Queen Latifah's world in social media. Fans can find her on Twitter at @IamQueenLatifah and Facebook.

Fans can also sign-up at the website to receive updates on the program. Fill in your name, date of birth and email address, and the show will send you information leading up to the program's launch.

Reading early speculation about the show casts two distinct opinions about the program.

  • The first is that, because Queen Latifah was unsuccessful in her first go as a daytime host, she has a high mountain to climb with her new program.
  • The second is that because she is older, wiser, experienced and successful, she's poised to become the new Queen of daytime television.

"I really don't know how to be anyone else, and whenever I try to be anyone else, I fail miserably. Or I disappoint myself. It doesn't build my self-esteem, and it doesn't help me grow me at all."~Queen Latifah"

It will be interesting to watch the contrast between the two programs. We have only a few more months to wait to find out! Till then keep waiting !

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