Queen Latifah, Arsenio Hall and Bethenny Frankel join the syndication race

It's not the barrage of new talk shows that vied for attention last fall after Oprah Winfrey's departure from syndication, but there are a few notable contenders entering the field:

"Bethenny": The polarizing Bethenny Frankel will have to prove she can do more than chat about sex and cocktails to capture a significant audience. Early guests: Nick Cannon, fitness guru Mario Godiva and chef Sharone Hakman. (3 p.m. weekdays, KMSP, Ch. 9.)

"Arsenio": He was once the cool cat on the block, but Arsenio Hall may now be too old to pump his fist without spraining his wrist. Early guests: Lisa Kudrow, Chris Tucker and Magic Johnson. (10 p.m. weeknights, WUCW, Ch. 23.)

"The Queen Latifah Show": This is the Oscar-nominated actress' second foray into daytime talk, but this time she has powerhouse couple Will and Jada Pinkett Smith as executive producers. For an inside look, check out next Monday's Variety section. Early guests: John Travolta, Sharon Stone and Jamie Foxx. (9 a.m. weekdays starting Sept. 16, WCCO, Ch. 4.)

"Who Wants to Be a Millionaire": It's not a new show, but it should have a slightly more irreverent tone as Cedric the Entertainer takes over hosting duties from Meredith Vieira, who's prepping a talker of her own for fall 2014. (1:30 p.m. weekdays, KSTC, Ch. 45; 4 p.m. weekdays, KSTP, Ch. 5.)

Neal Justin