Two prolific TV industry players — Steve Harvey and Mark Burnett — have teamed for an ABC reality series that will hand out seed funding to entrepreneurs.
The untitled project will revolve around entrepreneurs pitching their ideas for new businesses in front of a studio audience. After the audience votes, Harvey will dole out seed money to the winner.
“My dream has been to work with Steve, and this is the perfect project for us to do together,” said exec producer Burnett, who is also head of MGM Television. “He is an amazing talent and has an enormous heart for entrepreneurs, some of whom will get their business jump-started because of him.”
ABC said the series has a 13-episode order and would premiere sometime this year. MGM is producing and handling international distribution rights.
“I’m thrilled to have another passion project on the ABC schedule. This is just the type of show that gives folks a vehicle to breathe life into their dreams,” Harvey said.
ABC is already in business with Burnett on “Shark Tank,” another business-centric unscripted series, and its companion “Beyond the Tank,” as well as the quiz show “500 Questions.” Harvey is ubiquitous across the dial as the host of ABC’s primetime game show “Celebrity Family Feud” and NBC’s hot new kid talent showcase “Little Big Shots.” He’s also busy in daytime as host of the syndicated “Steve Harvey Show” talker and the syndie iteration of “Family Feud.” On top of all that, he also hosts a weekday morning radio program syndicated by IHeartMedia’s Premiere Networks.
Harvey, repped by WME, made headlines late last year when he flubbed the announcement of the winner while hosting Fox’s “Miss Universe” pageant. But his humility about the error has only enhanced his standing with fans, and he’s expected to return as host of this year’s pageant.
Source; Variety
