The show was a conglomeration of "9 Broadcast Plaza" (also a WWOR show) and "People are Talking." The show set the stage for "crap TV" (also known as "trash TV") It was extremely graphic (meaning hard R-rated, not moderate R-rated, and was likely an 18 in the UK), with fights (of the nastiest type), graphic language, sex. It was a cornerstone of the UPN/Warner Bros./WB (which comprises of UPN of the past incarnation, Adam G's planned UPN revival and WB, a real Warner Bros. network unlike Tribune's network starting with a "The" before "WB"). Matt Lauer was the original host of the original incarnation. Circa 1990 - 1992 is when the show took it's well-known form, "Richard Bey Show." As a result the show lasted 9 long years.
As "9 Broadcast Plaza," the show was a far more family-friendly show that was the epitome of class and envy of the TV stations (WWOR stomped WPIX in the ratings much like how UPN always stomped The WB in the ratings). There were singing performances, classical appearances by opera greats, Nuyorican/Italian high line cuisine moments. It was an also an innovator in combining the local news with leisure.
Ironically, from class came the transition to "c--p TV." The initial transition into hard R-rated territory began gradually. Circa, 1989 - 1990, Bey took over hosting, and become a common guest host. Around 1990, he became the de-facto host, and while his early episodes were classy, he starting airing more R-rated content. Initally it was R-rated subject matter that you're not allowed to air on TV - some involved bestiality (one episode was about sex with dogs). It was hard R (18 by BBFC and Schengen Area standards). It would be TV-MA alone (as the extra letters only come with an abundance, and the show didn't have objectionable materials, that would be when WWOR officially renamed it to "The Richard Bey Show"). Circa 1990 - 1992, in the waning years of the "9 Broadcast Plaza" name, before the official WWOR renaming, the show was already being referred to as "The Richard Bey Show."