Someone hand Sandman his broom: Fox has picked up “Showtime at the Apollo” as a one-hour weekly series for next season, and Steve Harvey will stick around to host.
“We all had such a blast on the two specials that aired earlier this season, that we thought it really deserved being a weekly event,” Harvey said. “But our mission is a little different this time around. Instead of just putting on a great show, we’re going to do that and find the next great comic and the next big music star. That’s what the Apollo is all about. My roots are on that stage and I can’t wait to be there every week, looking for great talent. Who said you can’t go back home again?”
The Apollo Theater’s legendary Amateur Night is now in its 82nd year. The stage launched the careers of James Brown, Stevie Wonder, Lauryn Hill, Michael Jackson, D’Angelo and others.
Fox aired two “Showtime at the Apollo” specials this season, which were hosted by Harvey. Neither episodes’ Nielsen numbers proved particularly impressive.
John Legend, Ashanti, Ja Rule, Busta Rhymes, Doug E. Fresh, Chaka Khan, Anderson .Paak, Flo Rida, Rakim, T.I., Meek Mill, Bell Biv Devoe, En Vogue, Jodeci, Anthony Anderson, Chris Rock, Tracy Morgan, George Lopez, Jay Pharoah, Mike Epps and Gabriel Iglesias stopped by for those test runs.