Cedric the Entertainer To Host ‘Millionaire’

Cedric the Entertainer is replacing Meredith Vieira as host of Disney-ABC’s Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? this fall as first reported by TVNewsCheck at the NATPE conference in January. Cedric, who co-starred in Steve Harvey’s old sitcom, joins Harvey in broadcast syndication. Harvey is now generating strong ratings as host of his NBCUniversal daytime talk show and Debmar-Mercury’s game show Family Feud.

“We are thrilled to announce that Cedric ‘The Entertainer’ will be at the helm as our new host of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire,” said Janice Marinelli, president, Disney-ABC Domestic Television in a statement. “With his deep roots as a successful stand-up comedian and actor, Cedric will bring his fresh approach and unpredictable fun to the show.”

“Cedric ‘The Entertainer’ is the perfect person to take the Millionaire franchise to the next level,” added Vicki Dummer, executive vice president, Times Square Studios. “An immensely talented performer with widespread appeal, Cedric will no doubt infuse his gregarious personality and humor into the show.”

“I’m truly looking forward to hosting Millionaire,” Cedric stated. “The show is a modern day game show giant, and the team at Disney-ABC has been great at putting the right elements together over 11 seasons. I’m excited to entertain all those who watch and play as season 12 launches. It’s going to be a good time every day.”

Cedric replaces Meredith Vieira, who launched the weekday version of the game show in 2002 and remained host for 11 seasons, through 2013.

Cedric The Entertainer is perhaps most widely known for his work on the record-breaking Kings of Comedy tour with Steve Harvey, the late Bernie Mac, and D.L. Hughley.

Cedric’s first televised stand-up comedy appearance was in 1987 on It’s Showtime at the Apollo, which led to appearances on HBO’s Def Comedy Jam and BET’s ComicView in the early ‘90s, and eventually to his own headlining comedy special on HBO in 2006, Cedric The Entertainer: Taking You Higher.

He transitioned from stand-up comedian to television actor in 1996, making his acting debut on The WB’s The Steve Harvey Show. Cedric co-starred on the show alongside fellow comedian Steve Harvey for six seasons and won four consecutive NAACP Image Awards for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series for his portrayal of Coach Cedric Robinson.

Currently Cedric can be seen in the TV Land sitcom which he co-created entitled The Soul Man, starring as Reverend Boyce “The Voice” Ballentine, a spin-off character that originated from a guest appearance on Hot In Cleveland.