Cedric the Entertainer to become new host of Who Wants to be a Millionaire
TVAfter it was announced last month that daytime vet Meredith Viera would be exiting as host of Who Wants to be a Millionaire, reports say that actor/comedian Cedric the Entertainer has closed a deal to host the show! Cedric is expected to take over in September.
Details:
Following some chatter during NATPElast week, I have learned that Cedric The Entertainer has closed a three-year deal to replace Meredith Vieiraas host the syndicated version of quiz show Who Wants To Be A Millionaire. I hear the multi-million pact will pay Cedric close to what Vieira was making in the final years of her 11-season stint on the Disney-ABC show, which she’s hosted from its launch in 2002. Millionaire, which tapes in advance, will continue to air Vieira-hosted originals through May and repeats through the summer, with Cedric expected to take over in September. The Millionaire gig won’t interfere with the actor-comedian’s TV Land comedy series Soul Man, which is slated to begin filming its second season in March. Cedric will shoot his first season of Millionaire in September. CAA-repped Cedric is the second member of The Original Kings Of Comedy standup troupe to be recruited to host a syndicated game show, joining Steve Harvey who has been on Family Feud since 2010.
This is interesting on a number of fronts as I never would have expected Ced to be a pick & even more interesting as his pal, former co-star, and fellow King of Comedy, Steve Harvey is over at Family Feud.
Photo: WENN
