Set Against a Spirited School Setting, “The
Steve Harvey Show” - Starring the Popular Comic - Brings Crack-Ups,
Coolness and Crazy Antics to Another Off-Net Season
Mixing it up with laugh-out-loud comedy, youthful appeal and a likable
namesake lead, The Steve Harvey Show crackles with high
school hijinks and teacher entanglements in a hip urban setting. The series’
successes as a multiple NAACP Image Award winner and as one of The WB’s
hit flagship series underscore its enduring longevity, immense popularity
and far-reaching influence.
In the series, former R&B star Steve Hightower (Harvey) gives up his
wild times for school ties, becoming an inner-city Chicago music teacher
– and eventually a vice principal – with a ragtag bunch of
classroom charges. Headlining the Hi-Tops soul group – who opened
for the likes of Gladys Knight and the Pips – Hightower’s
touring career never quite hit the high note he expected. Down on his
luck, and totally out of money, he decides to let go of his carefree lifestyle
and pin down a “real” job. With an assist from his longtime
friend and eventual roommate, the gym coach with the insatiable appetite
Cedric Robinson (Cedric the Entertainer), Steve enrolls in a new type
of performing and makes a classroom at Washington High School his stage.
Initially grappling with the students’ penchant for baggy clothes,
bad attitudes and baffling slang, Steve soon realizes that a compassionate
spin will help him tone down his shock and contend with the kids’
problems… be they hard knocks or humorous woes.
Steve’s also initially stunned by his boss, no-nonsense Principal
Regina Grier (Wendy Raquel Robinson). Once the overweight butt of Steve’s
practical jokes when they were classmates years ago, Regina has no intention
of letting him forget his place now – at least most of the time.
But her newly-svelte persona wows Steve, and they actually dance around
each other in a love/hate cha-cha-cha. Cedric has his own love subject,
falling for Grier’s new, overtly outspoken assistant Lovita (Terri
J. Vaughn), who also takes outlandish opportunities to rattle Steve.
Office romances aside, Steve tries reining in a class headed by Romeo
(Merlin Santana), a fast-talking ladies’ teen who takes his name
seriously; Stanley “Bullethead” Kuznocki (William Lee Scott),
a street-savvy tough guy whose brawn outweighs his brain; the group’s
honors student Lydia (Lori Beth Denberg) who, despite knowing she’s
smarter than them all, gets pulled into crazy schemes hoping to cash in
on some coolness; and Sophia (Tracy Vilar) and Sara (Nefta Perry) who
each fall for Romeo’s seemingly-indestructible charm.
During the series’ six-season run, The Steve Harvey Show
won 13 NAACP Image Awards for the show as well as stars Steve Harvey,
Cedric the Entertainer and Terri J. Vaughn.
The Steve Harvey Show is executive produced by Bernie
Brillstein and Brad Grey (Just Shoot Me, “The Larry
Sanders Show”), series creator Winifred Hervey (“The Cosby
Show,” The Golden Girls,” “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air”),
director Stan Lathan (“Moesha,” “Roc,” “South
Central”) and Jeff Duteil (“Sister, Sister,” “Hangin’
with Mr. Cooper”). Walter Bennett, Jr. (“In The House”)
is co-executive producer. The series is from Brillstein-Grey Communications,
Winifred Hervey Productions and Stan Lathan TV. |
