African-American comedian and TV host Steve Harvey is in South Africa for a few months to film a season of his popular U.S. game show, “Family Feud”.
Filming will be done during the last few months of 2019, according to TheCitizen. The show is expected to air in the first quarter of 2020. Harvey is also expected to film a Ghanaian version of the show.
In the show, families compete to name the most popular responses to survey questions in order to win cash and prizes. “Family Feud” is one of the longest-running and top-rated TV game shows and has a global audience in 70 international markets.
Harvey, 62, says that the format will remain the same but the length of the show will be extended from the usual half-hour to an hour.
“Family Feud” has been broadcast since 1976. When Harvey took over as host in 2010, the show’s ratings increased nearly fivefold in seven years with the popular comedian at the helm.
The show will be produced in partnership with U.S.-based TV company Fremantle and South African production firm Rapid Blue. Part of BBC, Rapid Blue has made localized African versions of other global hit formats including “Dancing With the Stars,” “X-Factor,” “Got Talent,” “Shark Tank” and “Project Runway,” Yahoo reports.
A radio personality and author, Harvey says it has been his aim to work in Africa for the last eight years or so, and he finally has the opportunity to do that.
“I wanted to come home and do something in my homeland. Yes, America is my home and I have a great family there, great friends and great relationships. That’s home but it’s not my homeland. Africa is my homeland,” Harvey said in an interview with IOL.
“I’ve always wanted to come here and own land. Do something meaningful. And since ‘Family Feud’ was so popular, I thought, you know what would be great? ‘If African families played against African families and I hosted that’.”
Harvey said his long-term objective is to expand the show with families participating from across the continent.
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“Eventually my goal is to have South Africa play against Ghana, Joburg against Durban… My goal is to have it that way. And to have it so massive, almost like a soccer game,” he added.
Harvey’s beloved daytime talk show, “Steve,” was canceled in May after seven years on the air. The final show aired in June.
There was speculation the cancellation was a casualty of animosity from IMG Original Content taking over the show from NBCUniversal two years ago.
In 2017, Harvey agreed on a new deal for his daytime talk show that shifted ownership from Endemol Shine North America and NBCUniversal to IMG Original Content and Harvey.
Harvey was also replaced as the host of kids talent competition “Little Big Shots” on NBC, with actress Melissa McCarthy named as the new host in May.
