It was almost exactly 1 1/2 years ago today when it was announced that Will Smith, his Overbrook Entertainment cohorts, and Queen Latifah were teaming up with Sony Pictures TV to produce a syndicated daytime talk show for the Queen to host.

Details were scarce, except that the program was scheduled to debut in 2013, and, after some competitive bidding between networks, CBS landed what will be called The Queen Latifah Show (recall the Queen once hosted a talk show, also titled The Queen Latifah Show, which had a rather short run, from 1999 to 2001. Expectations for this upcoming new program are probably higher).

The show – which will feature celebrity interviews, human interest stories, comedy, pop culture and musical performances, and showcasing Queen Latifah’s talents, blending comedy and music into her hosting duties, is set to officially premiere on Monday, September 16, 2013. Previously, an 11am start time was slotted, but it looks like that might change, since no time-slot is currently listed on all marketing materials I’ve laid eyes on.

Assuming it will still air at 11am on weekdays, Latifah will be going up directly against the women of The View on ABC, which also comes on at 11am daily. 

Latifah will join what is already a crowded daytime talk show market,
although none of the current crop of new shows has produced what we’d call a breakout
hit, which might give a high-profile show like Latifah’s the opportunity
to fill in a gap left vacant by Oprah Winfrey’s departure. 

She’ll be joining Wendy Williams (on Fox, although it’s syndicated), Steve Harvey (NBC), Trisha Goddard (also on NBC), Live on ABC, The Talk, The View, and others.

Latifah definitely stays busy (via her Flavor Unit production house, along with partner Shakim Compere), both in front of and behind the camera, on TV and in film.

I look forward to seeing what she brings to today’s daytime TV lineup.

In the meantime, here are 3 sneak peeks: