Someone polish Sandman’s tap shoes, stat: Fox has ordered a two-hour “Showtime at the Apollo” special, which will be hosted by Steve Harvey.
The event is set for Dec. 5 at 8 o’clock ET/PT. An additional 60-minute special, also hosted by Harvey, will air in early 2017. Here’s hoping he doesn’t announce the wrong winner.
Harvey, like many others, launched his career at the famous Harlem, N.Y. theater. And he won’t be the only star returning to its hallowed grounds — Fox promised that “some of the biggest stars in comedy and music” will be right by Harvey’s side for this thing.
Also to be featured in the special are elements from the Apollo’s legendary Amateur Night, the long-running, live talent competition is now in its 82nd year.
The Apollo audience is widely regarded as one of entertainment’s most boisterous and brutally honest, as Fox put it. It’s not uncommon for a participant to be booed off stage, and literally swept off by dancing clown Sandman.
The every-Wednesday Amateur Night at the Apollo also launched the careers of James Brown, Stevie Wonder, Lauryn Hill, Michael Jackson and The Jackson Five, and D’Angelo, among plenty others.
“I’m excited to be going back home to the Apollo to celebrate the history of this great theater,” said Harvey. “I have great memories from my time there, and this is going to be a homecoming party that you won’t want to miss.”
“Since its inception in 1934, the world’s original talent competition – Amateur Night at the Apollo – was, and continues to be, a primary source for discovering new talent and spotlighting up-and-coming artists. That tradition was continued with the successful 21-year run of the ‘Showtime at the Apollo’ television program,” added Jonelle Procope,pPresident and CEO of the Apollo Theater and an executive producer of the special. “We’re proud to continue to produce our live, weekly show, and are equally excited to be partnering with Fox to produce this ‘Showtime at the Apollo’ special and to bring the Apollo experience back to television!”
“The Apollo Theater played a crucial role in so many of this nation’s most talented artists, including Steve, and we couldn’t be happier to have him lead us back to this legendary venue,” said David Madden, president, Entertainment, Fox Broadcasting Company. “We’re sure this will be a fantastic night of entertainment.”