This isn’t so much news as it is the inevitable finally coming to fruition: NBC has given Neil Patrick Harris his very own variety show. So get ready because there’s a lot more magic and music-number sass a-comin’ to your TV screens tout de suite!
The variety show is an adaptation of the ITV series in the United Kingdom called Saturday Night Takeaway, and NBC was crowned the winner for the Harris-fronted project after an apparent bidding war (because who’s not going to pony up for anything NPH does, amirite?). The series already has an on-air, ten-episode order for it, and trust us when we say: NPH and his new show did not come cheap.
Though it will not keep the title or the day of the week on which the original aired — clearly then turning it into some sort of SNL competitor/lead-in — Harris has planned for the whole affair to film in New York City, where he and his family now reside since the ending of How I Met Your Mother.
As far as other solidified details, all we know is that it’s slated to air sometime in 2015, and Harris is really, really excited about it (because of course he is — if you read his book you’d know this was one of his dreams).
“As I watched the show, I couldn’t stop smiling. Now that I’ve seen many seasons, my face hurts. It’s a game changer,†explained Harris. “Nothing like this has been done before, and it’s unique structure fits right into my random skill set. I can’t wait to roll up my sleeves and have some fun!”
How do you think the perma-host-with-the-most will handle his very own variety show? Let us know in the comments!
HT: Vulture
Image: CBS
The ITV original is largely led by the charisma and ‘up for anything’ attitude of its hosts (who win all the TV awards!), guests and audience participation.
If NPH can recreate that for US tastes, and he has the personality to do it, then it could be a winner! I see it as a rival to the talent shows, a different format for family entertainment and audience engagement than has possibly been done in the US for a long a time.
I think maybe NBC should rethink the idea of not putting it on Saturday… This might make that SNL time slot appealing again.