Steve Harvey is moving his daytime talk show to Los Angeles this fall, but his new staff may not want to expect a sunny welcome from the host — at least, if his past communication is any indication of his attitude toward his staffers.
A memo that was sent from Harvey to his staff surfaced earlier today on Robert Feder’s Chicago media blog telling employees not to approach him. “Do not come to my dressing room unless invited….Do not approach me while I’m in the makeup chair unless I ask to speak with you directly,” read the memo. “Do not take offense to the new way of doing business. It is for the good of my personal life and enjoyment.”
Sources tell Variety the memo was sent to his staff in Chicago before the start of the fifth season of his former daytime talk show, “Steve Harvey,” which ran for five seasons in national syndication. Starting this fall, the revamped show will tape in Los Angeles at Harvey’s request, with a new crew. Sources say the memo may have been leaked by a former staff member, who may not have been invited to work on the new LA-based show.
Last year, Harvey set a new deal with NBCUniversal and IMG to launch a revamped syndicated show that would give him an ownership stake and control over the production. The past five seasons of his show were produced by Endemol Shine North America and distributed by NBCUniversal Domestic Television. With the move from Chicago to L.A., producers of the new show have noted that more celebrity guests will appear on the show, given that more talent is based in Southern California than the Midwest.
More from: Variety
