Steve Harvey Make America Great Again

The last time Steve Harvey called Los Angeles home, he was in what he calls the "pick me" phase of his career. "Back then, I was trying to brand it," he says, fiddling with a cigar on the table. "I was trying to become picked. 'Promise I become on this.' 'Hope I become on that.' This trip back is very different." Indeed, the 60-year-old Harvey, who has lived in Chicago for the last v years, is here in Hollywood to add a new daytime talk evidence to a vast empire that includes five game shows, 4 books, a clothing line, a foundation and a pop syndicated radio show. In the last year alone, the married father of seven hauled in $42.v million, according to Forbes.

Harvey'southward new midday entry, Steve, rolled out via IMG and NBC distribution Sept. v and promises to bring "tardily dark to daytime" — which is to say it's comedy-based and will lean on glory guests. (Atop his wish list: Beyonce and Jay Z.) Even with its highly bankable star, however, Steve isn't without hurdles. Not only is the daytime landscape increasingly fractured — his concluding daytime plan, which recently wrapped after v seasons, was a superlative-five bear witness with just i.8 million viewers — but Harvey, who is the majority stakeholder, besides is notwithstanding dealing with fallout from the leak of a scorching memo he sent to his one-time staff. Information technology showed a side of the homo that was distinctly at odds with his amiable public persona. Sample line: "IF YOU OPEN MY DOOR, EXPECT TO BE REMOVED."

On an afternoon in tardily Baronial, he opened up most the blowback from that memo as well as the barriers black talent faces in Hollywood, the advice Oprah offered and what came of his infamous meeting with Donald Trump.

With at to the lowest degree six shows already, why proceed calculation more?

I was homeless once, and I approximate I'm running from that. I just don't desire any one person to be able to say, "You're fired," so it'southward all ruined for me. So now if i of them says, "You lot're fired," I'm all the same OK. If 2 of them say I'yard fired, I'yard OK. If three of them say I'g fired, I'g OK.

[promo:1026687]

When does that end?

I'd dearest to build one of the greatest media empires of all time. Oprah'due south washed it. Dick Clark, Ryan Seacrest; Tyler Perry simply sold his bargain for several hundred one thousand thousand dollars. So, I've got a lot of targets to shoot for, and I'm getting closer considering a lot of my shows I accept ownership in. That's what Oprah taught me. She said, "Steve, no affair what, go 51 percent ownership." So, when I was approaching the end of my deal with NBC [for The Steve Harvey Evidence], IMG came forth and said, "Hey, we want to play in the sandbox with you, but we'll let you own the bulk of it," I called Oprah.

And said what?

"Oprah, does this make sense to you?" She called Ari [Emanuel] at WME-IMG and said, "Is this real?" And they laughed. Of course, they laugh differently. I call information technology the billionaire'southward chuckle. And then Oprah called me back and said, "Steve, the cardinal to your success is ownership." She'southward taught me a lot about business.

What else?

She talks to me about organization and what to look out for and what not to mind. She said she and Dr. Phil were calling each other every mean solar day talking nigh, "Hey, I'm on the comprehend of the Enquirer today." "I got you lot." She said, "Never mind that. You do not have time to address information technology, and so only keep moving." That'due south much easier said than done considering I have relatives who are in the grocery store. My aunt calls and goes, "Lord, we're going to pray for you. You're trafficking drugs. Are y'all going to have to practice fourth dimension?" And I'm sitting there going, "No, Aunt, I'm not going to take to exercise time. It'southward not truthful." "Well, they're saying it." "You're in the grocery store. If information technology's on CNN, your picayune nephew's got some issues. If it'southward in the grocery store next to the candy, I'm going to be OK."

When you launched your last daytime show, you were adamant that y'all didn't want to practise a celebrity show. What inverse?

I was in Chicago! No need to crave celebrities when I know they're non going to be at that place. And so I made the focus everyday people. But daytime Goggle box has inverse. The [focus] used to be "takeaway" — the woman who'due south at home wants to larn things. Well, digital has become so big, no adult female has to sit down there and wait on you lot to talk about coupon clipping or making linguine or how to change your dresser into a fancy forepart, because they have YouTube for that. So, the value of takeaway in daytime is gone, and I was maxim information technology and nobody was listening. And afterward you endeavor to fix the world's worst dater 10 times, you've done it. And I'yard not Dr. Phil or Dr. Oz. I'm non Oprah. I have a unique sense of humour, and sometimes that sense of humor wasn't allowed to play out considering of the discipline affair. I'thousand sitting there in my head writing 100 jokes, merely I tin can't say any of them.

Any examples come up to mind?

A woman comes on the show with a 15-year-sometime daughter who's calumniating to her and her mother. She's hit them, spitting on them, and I've got a daytime show, and then I've got to take counselors and offer therapy. But on the commercial interruption, the female parent's crying and she says, "Steve, I don't know how to get her to cease." And I merely said, "Have you ever thought about kicking her ass?" She said to me, "I don't believe in hitting." I said, "Yeah, but she do." Everyone'south screaming, laughing but it'southward the commercial break. And so we come back and I'm sitting at that place thinking, "Homo, I'g not helping this woman at all because I don't have the skillset to assist her. I come up from a commonsense background, I don't take an education, I tin can't attach a survey or study to this like Phil can…

So this time y'all'll focus on celebrity and comedy, much equally Ellen DeGeneres has washed?

Yes, but I have a different brand of one-act. Ellen'south very entertaining, very likable. I like to say stuff a little bit over there past the edge. Ellen don't go by the edge. I similar the edge. I want to say something that "Well, have you thought about kicking her ass?" Ellen won't do that.

Has that edge moved in today's climate?

Oh, yeah. Jerry Seinfeld was correct when he said political correctness is killing comedy. You can't practise anything anymore. Dr. Phil said to me, "Steve, information technology's only a shame that everybody'south looking for a reason to get their feelings injure." And so, it's going to exist a balancing act. I've got to find the manner to do it. I may have to put everything in the form of a question, equally opposed to statements. "Do you think Donald Trump is crazy?" (Laughs.)

[promo:1002966]

How political practice you intend to exist on your show?

My last bear witness was evergreen. I would tape a evidence and it would air two and a half weeks later. Now, when I tape the evidence, information technology airs tomorrow. And then the advantage for me is I get to be current. I would talk about [the recent violence in] Charlottesville. I mean, how tin you not? Just I'd practice it in the Steve Harvey way.

What would that have looked like?

It's, "Look, I'm OK with you loving the Confederate flag. I'grand OK with you loving them statues. Maybe people had neat grandfathers who fought in the Civil War and they want to continue to accolade them. Well, that's great. But see, I pay taxes, and I don't desire to pay taxes to enhance the flag every morning and then cut the grass around it and wipe the dove poop off the statue. And so take all them statues and that flag and put it in your own museum. Then all the hillbillies can go in that location and cry in front of the flag at the feet of General Lee and howl and just have a great fourth dimension. But information technology tin't exist at the park. You can't have the Confederate flag waving when I'm outside trying to have a picnic." And you handle it that way because I'thousand OK with people preserving history, for whatever their reason. Information technology may not exist the right reason for me, but if it's right for them, cool. But put it in a museum. Black people got museums. Jewish people got a museum. Become your ass a museum.

What'due south yet on the bucket listing? Belatedly nighttime?

Man, I've e'er wanted to do belatedly night. Jay Leno said years ago, why you are not doing late nighttime is a mystery to me. [Jimmy] Fallon has said that to me. Comedians know. Somebody's got to greenlight information technology. And let me tell you how good information technology would be. I could really accept the gloves off. Oh human being, it would exist funny. Chris Rock did a joke nigh this, though. What'due south a black man got to do to get a tardily-night show effectually hither? It's like trying to play golf at the Wilshire Country Club.

You once said that Hollywood is more racist than America. Still truthful?

(Nods his head.) 'Cause they don't get information technology. And information technology's not that they're racist. It's that they, the people who greenlight shows, sit in an role in Beverly Hills, Burbank, Studio Urban center, and they make decisions well-nigh America and none of them alive there. And they've got to put everything in a category. "Blacks would like this. This is a black bear witness." I think Black-ish is the first black show that hasn't had to put a white grapheme on information technology. It's amazing how they recall out here. And America'due south non that mode at all.

Then how do yous change it?

Blackness-ish has got to exist successful at information technology. The Carmichaels have got to get and be successful at it. There was The Cosby Testify, but the problem at that place was that they could never find another Bill, a guy that was that likable on TV. Now they're knocking statues down, peeling names off of walls. They're doing everything merely giving coin dorsum. They're not giving no coin back. (Laughs.)

Do you yet talk to Cosby?

I haven't talked to him in a few months, but when I'm your friend, I'm your friend. And Bill Cosby helped my sons at Morehouse [Higher], and he tought me how to exercise this business concern. He didn't even know me and he taught me how to do this business. When I heard all the trouble he was in, I called and asked him how he was doing. You know what he says to me? "Hey man, I appreciate y'all calling, but merely stay abroad from me right at present. You don't need none of this on y'all. You're doing skillful. Whatever happens to me, happens to me, just don't you lot get none of this on y'all." That's an amazing thing for a guy to say.

[promo:964206]

Earlier this year, you met with then President-elect Donald Trump. (Contorts his face.) Why are y'all making that face?

I didn't see that coming. Jesus.

Run into what coming?

The backfire. Information technology was so brutal that it really threw me. I was beingness called names that I've never been called: Uncle Tom. A coon. A sellout. Considering I went to see this man?! Which simply happened because my business organisation partner got a telephone call from the Obama transition team, who said that the Trump transition team would like to prepare up a meeting. The Obama team said they thought information technology would be a skilful idea because the president is encouraging dialogue. And I have a relationship with Obama. We're friends. So I say, "OK, cool." At present, here'south the crazy affair: I'm supposed to be on a boat for my 60th birthday, so my wife says, "Steve, just take off [and skip the meeting]. You lot'll see with him another fourth dimension." God, I should've listened.

What did yous and Trump discuss?

We talked about golf for twenty minutes. And and then I told him, "Mr. President, I'yard going to be honest with yous, I didn't vote for yous. I campaigned very hard for Hillary Clinton." And I said, "The problem was that we fabricated a lot of mistakes in the campaign. We were playing checkers and y'all was playing chess. But now that you're hither, you're the 45th president and I'thou going to help y'all." He wants to know how, so I say, "You've appointed Ben Carson as the head of Housing and Urban Development, and I've got keys to a lot of cities around this country from the years of performing that I've done. I can get an ear to them actually quick and notice out what their real needs are. Y'all keep closing schools in the cities. Why don't we take those schools that are closing, put some HUD money in them, and reopen them as vision centers and teach STEM and computers and coding? If you lot connect me with Ben Carson, I can help him with that." A few minutes afterward, he had Ben Carson on the phone.

Annihilation come up of it?

I've been to HUD twice. I've met with Dr. Carson and we're actually trying to get it started. Nosotros've had meetings, and now nosotros're but waiting on the final notes. We accept several teams in place. Hopefully earlier the year goes out, we'll exist making the announcement most the first vision centre.

Have you kept in touch with Trump?

No, I haven't talked to him since.

It seemed equally though the backfire to the leaked memo you wrote threw you, too. Off-white?

Aye. (Laughs.) I've got vi shows! My time is consumed. For iv years, I tried to be congenial. I'll talk to people. "Hey, how yous doing?" But I started watching them take advantage of me, so now I come onstage, hither they are. I go to my dressing room, here they are. I get downwards the hallway, in that location they are. I'1000 sitting in my makeup chair getting makeup done. "Y'all didn't hear me knock. Can I talk to you?" Boom, they're in my dressing room. I put doorbells up. They quit ringing the doorbells. I put signs on my door, "Knock before you enter." "Yous didn't hear the knock, and then I came on in." So I said, "Expect a minute, man. Let me send a memo out at the beginning of the year so in year five I can merely walk from backstage to my dressing room." 'Cause other celebrities, trust and believe, yous can't bother them. You better non even be in the hallway when they're walking. So, I sent the memo at the beginning of the year. Then the year is over, we're about to practise the wrap party, and one very angry guy — and he'due south aroused because my new producer came upward there and interviewed some people and he wasn't one that was picked — sends it to [media author] Robert Feder in Chicago. I was OK with it until I saw information technology on CNN.

That's non the grocery shop …

No, that ain't the grocery store. (Laughs.) Now we're in trouble. This is way bigger. And I got a call from Gayle King, "Would y'all come up on CBS and explain the memo?" And I said, "I'1000 going to text y'all my statement," and I did. And so she said, "Don't you want to repent to somebody? Because it just seems so mean." That's when I stopped texting because I'm non going to repent because I wasn't being hateful. I did learn that I don't know how to write.

What does that hateful?

I write similar I talk. So hell, obviously that ain't good. And I didn't know if you put it in upper-case letter letters that meant you were hollering at people. My kids told me that after they got the memo. "Dad, why were you lot yelling at them?" I said, "What are you talking about?" My kids are going, "What they're mad about, Dad, is y'all yelled at them." I said, "I was putting emphasis on it. I wasn't yelling in no damn type." My kids were just laughing. And so the memo, it just got out of hand.

Exercise you worry it's damaged your reputation?

Absolutely you go concerned. That's only human being. I'll practise jokes about it on the show. Expect, if you never plow around and confront the trouble, it swells and becomes this large, uncontrollable monster. So equally soon as something happens to me, I immediately go, "Allow's dance with it a little fleck and see what it actually is." Similar the Miss Universe thing [where Harvey announced the wrong winner].

When Warren Beatty had his mix-up at the Oscars, you leaned in and tweeted, "Telephone call me."

He was shell-shocked. He'southward old Hollywood. He don't practice negativity. Social media is not in his world. He couldn't believe the backlash. So I go, "Come up here, boy. I tin get you through this thing. Matter of fact, if you handle it right, yous can get a Super Bowl commercial out the deal like I did. And they'll pay yous enough money where you'll go and say the wrong damn moving picture next yr, too." (Laughs.)

A version of this story first appeared in the Sept. 6 issue of The Hollywood Reporter mag. To receive the magazine, click hither to subscribe.

wilsonreate1989.blogspot.com

Source: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/steve-harvey-unleashed-a-new-show-his-private-trump-sitdown-infamous-leaked-memo-1034591/

Share this post