The Montel Williams Show (also known as Montel) is an American syndicated tabloid talk show, hosted by Montel Williams, which ran from 1991 to 2008.^[1][2][3]

On January 30, 2008, the end of production of new episodes of The Montel Williams Show at the end of the 2007–2008 television season was announced.^[4] A rerun package offered by Montel's distributor, CBS Television Distribution, was sold into syndication for the 2008–2009 season, and reruns also aired on Black Entertainment Television (BET).

The series premiered July 8, 1991, with a thirteen-week trial run in select American markets.^[3] Based on its initial performance, the program entered national syndication beginning with its 14th broadcast week. In its early years, Montel was similar to most tabloid talk shows especially The Jerry Springer Show.^[5][6] As time went on, however, the genre became less popular, and toward the end of the show's run, Montel usually focused on inspirational stories and less controversial subjects. Common themes seen on Montel include finding lost loves, reuniting mothers who gave their children up for adoption, or stories of strong women who faced certain danger (such as rape or attempted murder) and fought their way out.^[7] Multiple sclerosis was also a frequent topic, as Williams suffers from the disease.^[8][9]

Most Wednesdays (and sometimes on Fridays as well during the summer), self-proclaimed psychic Sylvia Browne was Montel's guest, and performed psychic readings of guests as well as discussing her ideas about spirituality and the afterlife. Her predictions have been the target for much criticism, and her psychic abilities explained as cold reading by critics such as Robert S. Lancaster.^[10] She refused to partake in the One Million Dollar Paranormal Challenge from James Randi, a prominent skeptic.^[11]

During its final week on the air, Montel's television talk show aired a series of clip shows known as "Finale Week" looking back on the show's past 17 seasons, including past guests and Browne's past appearances on the show.

It was reported in Variety that CBS TV Distribution terminated the show when key Fox-owned stations chose not to renew it for the 2008–2009 season.^[13] The final episode aired in most markets on May 16, 2008, with some markets airing it at a later date (one week later).^[14][15]

Wikinews has related news:

• Montel Williams Show breached standards with 'psychic' Sylvia Browne

In June 2008, Ofcom of the UK ruled that ITV2 (which aired the show during its run) "breached standards with a repeat of the Montel Williams Show in which a 'desperate' couple were told by self-professed psychic Sylvia Browne that their missing son, Shawn Hornbeck was dead - even though he turned up alive the previous year."^[16] The ruling concerned "breaching rule 2.1 of the Broadcasting Code, which relates to protecting viewers against offensive material."^[16]