Steve Harvey got some bad news this week when NBC cancelled his talk show and also replaced him as host of “Little Big Shots” with Melissa McCarthy.
NBC executives are reportedly hoping that McCarthy, a two-time Oscar nominee who is also a mother of two, will bring a new energy to the show.
“Melissa’s just an incredible performer and incredible comedian, and she’ll bring a really fresh perspective to it,” said Paul Telegdy, NBC’s co-chairman of entertainment. “Melissa is a strong creative force with her own ideas. Changes will be apparent.”
“God has already lined up all the people in your path to get you to your dreams and your visions; all you have to do is get rid of the wrong ones,” Harvey tweeted immediately after the announcement was made.
This came days after Harvey’s daytime talk show was cancelled, with his time slot being taken by singer Kelly Clarkson, who has been given a variety show of her own. Harvey said that he was upset that he learned that Clarkson was replacing him from the press instead of from NBC personally.
“I’m an honorable guy and I’m just an old school guy and I just thought that you’re supposed to talk to people and go, ‘Look, you’ve been good business for us,” Harvey said. “This is what we’re thinking of doing. Are you okay with that?’ No, you don’t just put something in the paper and say, ‘I’m gonna make this move right here’ because it’s crazy. You look at the numbers on my show and it’s No. 4 in daytime television — it’s holding right there. I got a hit, so somebody’s gonna recognize that.”
Rumor has it that Harvey’s show was cancelled because of a tiff between NBC Universal and Endeavor’s Original Content over the latter’s takeover of the show two seasons ago. Harvey can still be seen as host of the game shows “Family Feud” and “Celebrity Family Feud” on ABC.
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