The Steve Harvey Show

infobox television
show_name = The Steve Harvey Show


caption = Opening title sequence for "The Steve Harvey Show"
format = Sitcom
camera = Single-camera
runtime = 30 minutes (approx. 22 min)
creator = Winifred Hervey
director = Stan Lathan
starring = Steve Harvey
Cedric the Entertainer
Merlin Santana
William Lee Scott
Wendy Raquel Robinson
Terri J. Vaughn
Lori Beth Denberg
Tracy Vilar
Netfa Perry
Ariyan Johnson
country = flagcountry|United States
company = Brillstein-Grey Entertainment
Stan Lathan TV
Universal TV (1999-2001)
Winifred Hervey Productions
network = The WB
first_aired = August 25, 1996
last_aired = February 24, 2002
num_episodes = 123
num_seasons = 6
website = http://www.sonypictures.com/tv/shows/steveharvey/home.html
imdb_id = 0115372

"The Steve Harvey Show" (also known as "Steve Harvey" in syndication) is an American sitcom that aired for six seasons from August 25, 1996 to February 24, 2002 on The WB Television Network. It was directed by Stan Lathan.

ynopsis

Steve Hightower (Steve Harvey) is a has-been 1970's Rythm and Blues singer who is now a music teacher/Vice-principal at Booker T. Washington High in Chicago. Budget cutbacks meant Steve also had to teach drama and art, unbeknownst to him. Cedric Robinson (Cedric the Entertainer) is a coach at the high school, and Steve's long-time best friend. The principal of Booker T. Washington High is Steve's former classmate, Regina Greer (Wendy Raquel Robinson), who Steve affectionately calls "Piggy", due to the fact that she was overweight as an adolescent.

Steve seemingly meets his match in a pair of his students: Romeo Santana (Merlin Santana), a stylish, self-absorbed ladies' man, and the equally vacuous Stanley Kuznocki, nicknamed Bullethead (William Lee Scott).

In 1997, the show introduced a new character, a secretary named Lovita Jenkins (Terri J. Vaughn), a woman who is fundamentally good in nature, but nonetheless, considerably unrefined in terms of disposition. Cedric and Lovita begin dating, and eventually elope and produce a child. The show also featured a succession of young actresses who served as female foils to Romeo and Bullethead; the longest-lasting of these was Lori Beth Denberg as the overachieving, socially inept Lydia Gutman. Rapper The Lady of Rage also had a recurring role as Coretta Cox, a physically massive, brutish teenaged girl in romantic pursuit of Romeo.

Steve was part of a fictional singing group called "Steve Hightower and the Hi-Tops," who would temporarily reunite to perform on occasion. The members consisted of Steve, T-Bone (played by T.K. Carter, later by Don 'D.C.' Curry), Pretty Tony (played by Ronald Isley of The Isley Brothers), and Clyde (played by Jonathan Slocumb). Two of their signature songs (performed several times on the show) were "When the Funk Hits the Fan," and "Break Me Off a Piece of That Funk." Though Cedric was not an original member of the group, he usually sang with them on several events.

A few other recurring characters throughout the series included Cedric's grandmother named "Grandma Puddin'" (played by Cedric the Entertainer) and Regina's boyfriend, Warrington Steele (played by Dorien Wilson). Kenan Thompson and Kel Mitchell appeared in several episodes as "Junior" and "Vincent."

Running Gags

There were a few recurrent gags throughout the series. For instance, Lovita had several relatives named after products or items (her brother's name was Duracell; she had cousins named "Bruschetta," "Clinique," and "Camay"). Cedric's love for decking out his Hyundai, which was never seen in the show, was another running gag. Steve's topical humor of popular culture was also another recurring gag. One example of these jokes: "When I see that woman, I'm like Shaq doing Shakespeare- I just don't know how to act!". In addition, the romantic tension between Steve and Regina eventually blossomed into a relationship, but they never actually kissed on the show.

Cast

*Steve Harvey as Steve Hightower
*Cedric the Entertainer as Cedric Jackie Robinson
*Merlin Santana as Romeo Santana
*William Lee Scott as Stanley 'Bullethead' Kuznocki
*Wendy Raquel Robinson as Principal Regina Grier-Maddox
*Terri J. Vaughn as Lovita Alizay Jenkins-Robinson (1997-2002)
*Tracy Vilar as Sophia Ortiz (1996-97)
*Netfa Perry as Sara (1996-97)
*Ariyan A. Johnson as Aisha (1997-98)
*Lori Beth Denberg as Lydia Liza Guttman (1998-2002)

eries end

In 2002, Harvey decided to end the series to pursue other projects. [cite news|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1355/is_13_101/ai_84184937?tag=content;col1|title=`The Steve Harvey Show' ends after six seasons|date=2002-03-18|publisher="Jet"|accessdate=2008-08-18]

The series ended with Regina mulling over a job offer to be a principal at a private school in California. Steve, who doesn't want Regina to go, acts supportive despite his feelings. Regina ends up taking the job and with encouragement from Lydia, Bullethead, and Romeo, Steve decides to go after her to reveal his true feelings. Meanwhile, Cedric and Lovita win the lottery and Lovita goes into labor (during the final season, the real-life pregnancy of actress Terri J. Vaughn had been incorporated into the storyline).

yndication and DVD release

In 2003, Sony Pictures released "The Best of the Steve Harvey Show, Vol. 1", on Region 1 DVD. The disc features five episodes of the series. [cite web|url=http://www.amazon.com/Best-Steve-Harvey-Show-Vol/dp/B000095WW5|title="The Best of the Steve Harvey Show, Vol. 1"|publisher=Amazon.com|accessdate=2008-08-18]

The series is currently syndicated on TBS, BET, ION Television, UK Channel Trouble and various local stations (such as WCIU and MeTV in Chicago).

The show's title is shortened to "Steve Harvey" in syndication.

Awards and nominations

References

External links

* [http://www.steveharveytv.com Official web site] from Sony Pictures Television
*imdb title|id=0115372|title=The Steve Harvey Show
*Tv.com show|id=257|title=The Steve Harvey Show