The View's Sherri Shepherd lost 41 pounds and gained the cover of OK! Magazine. In an exclusive interview and photo shoot, Shepherd talks about what she went through to achieve her goal of appearing on The View in a swimsuit.

“I lost weight last year and started gaining it back because I wasn’t exercising,” Sherri explains in the new issue of OK!. “I said to my producer, ‘Why don’t we do something where I tell people ‘Let’s do it together!’ and maybe [up the ante with] a bathing suit.'"

Visit OK! Magazine for more about Sherri's weight loss and images from the photo shoot.

Get ready to see twice as much of The View's Sherri Shepherd. Today Lifetime announced Shepherd's self-titled comedy series, Sherri, will premiere Oct. 5 at 7pm ET. The series revolves around Shepherd's character, a recently-divorced mom, who works as a paralegal by day, while moonlighting as a part-time comic/actress. She will also be trying to get back out into the dating world, with the help of her girlfriends. Shepherd will executive produce Sherri. Former The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air star James Avery is slated to make guest appearances as Shepherd's character;s onscreen dad. The Cosby Show's Malcolm-Jamal Warner will portray her ex-husband.

Sherri Shepherd went in for her first bikini wax and recorded it for all to see as she prepares to appear in a swimsuit on The View, Thursday August sixth.

You have to give bladder man Brian Frons credit for the cross promotions on ABC Daytime. On The View, All My Children stars, Susan Lucci (Erica) and Cameron Mathison (Ryan) strolled on through to discuss the latest storyline of Lucci's Erica taking a younger lover Ala Mrs. Robinson with her daughter's baby daddy, Ryan. Check the two out at the 5:22 mark.

The View co-host Sherri Shepherd just got a pick up. Her comedy, Sherri, for the cable network Lifetime was recently picked up for 12 episodes. According to Variety, the show will tape in New York allowing Shepherd to continue on at The View.

"Sherri," in which Shepherd's character will juggle being a single mom, paralegal and actress, will mark the first self-owned comedy to air on the cabler. Series reteams Shepherd with exec producers Terri Minsky, Nina Wass and Gene Stein, all of whom worked together on "Less Than Perfect."

The View's Sherri Shepherd dropped by the WWE Friday Night Smackdown and did her thing. Take your best Caption This shot at the above image or the one after the jump.  READ MORE