Steve Harvey sounds a bit tired — not surprising for a guy who hosts a nationally syndicated daily radio show, a top-rated daytime game show (“Family Feud,” back Sept. 14 on Ch. 9) and “Steve Harvey,” his daytime talk show launching its fourth season Sept. 8 (3 p.m. on WNBC/Ch. 4) with a two-parter called “What Men Think: The Event!”
Oh, and let’s not forget he’s also a best-selling author: Harvey’s book, “Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man,” was turned into the big-screen movie “Think Like a Man” and birthed a sequel, “Think Like a Man, Too.”
Harvey will also host an NBC comedy/variety show, “Little Big Shots,” which he’s producing with Ellen DeGeneres, and expects to return to host “Celebrity Family Feud,” a summer hit for ABC.
Harvey, 58, took a few minutes out of his busy shooting schedule to talk to The Post about the scope of his TV work (and a few other things).
Q: You were very confident back in 2012 when “Steve Harvey” premiered. Did you think the show would be as successful as it’s become?
A: The only thing I was really confident about was that I would have a different voice in daytime that wasn’t there before … and about the fact I know I’m funny, and funny works when all else fails. Did I know I would be successful? I wish I did — I would’ve charged [producer Endemol Shine North America] a lot more money!
How much longer can you keep all of this going?
I’ve been thinking about that. I’m 58 and I gotta think about this stuff, how long I want to do this. I will do “Steve Harvey” a minimum of seven to eight years, God willing, and then we’ll see how they feel about me. I’ll be 65 by then and that’s a good enough ride for me. I’ll have to assess it all around that time.
The ratings for “Family Feud” have risen dramatically since you started hosting “Steve Harvey.” Do you think both shows feed off each other?
I don’t know if they really feed off each other. I wish I had the same numbers for my daytime show that I have on “Family Feud” — I would be so rich. But I don’t. I think my overall brand has been good … and it all feeds on each other in a way. I try really hard to do good TV — I try to be really entertaining –– so when people put me on whatever format I try to put a smile on your face. And it’s been working for me.
Any changes for this season of “Steve Harvey”?
One of the big changes is we’re calling it “A Season of Surprises,” but instead of sending viewers to our Web site [to see how the surprises turn out], we’re going to bring everybody [we surprise] back onto the show so you’re really gonna hear what happened on that date, for instance. There’s more of a takeaway for people. And I won’t be so committed to doing four to five topics every show. Some topics deserve more than one or two segments.
Are you working on any other books?
I’m working on a book right now. It’s more of a faith-based book — how my faith relates to my success, which is important to a lot of people. There are a lot of people who need to hear that it’s OK to have faith. But I’m going to phrase this book in … my own unique way of phrasing things, which will be far more different than my last book.
What about movies?
I’m done with that. Maybe “Think Like a Man” becomes a sitcom.
Is that an exclusive?
Absolutely. I just gave it to you ’cause you’re my buddy.