Neil Patrick Harris is realizing another dream.
The “How I Met Your Mother” star and 2015 Oscar host has been set to headline a Stateside version of the U.K. variety series “Saturday Night Takeaway” for NBC. the network announced today. The show (which will not be called “Saturday Night Takeway” in the U.S.) was reportedly bid on by a variety of networks before NBC nabbed it from U.K. broadcaster ITV, which requested a ten-episode commitment from potential buyers. The series will feature a mix of “comedy sketches, musical numbers, mini game shows, hidden camera pranks on celebrities and appearances by A-list stars”
“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,” said Harris in a statement. “Nothing like this has been done before, and its unique structure fits right into my random skill set. I can't wait to roll up my sleeves and have some fun!”
“All of us here at NBC have been dying to work with Neil, as we”ve watched him brilliantly host the Tonys and Emmys,” added NBC Alternative and Late Night Programming President Paul Telegdy. “This series will suit his extraordinary talents perfectly. He is a versatile and thrilling talent for us to welcome into the NBC family.”
As noted by Vulture, Harris has previously voiced his desire to host a variety series, telling Howard Stern in May: “I think if it's weekly, and people really want to see it, and you trust that there's a lot of really great shit on there, then you're gonna get the guests to want to come on there…A weekly thing, you'd have more time to prep for stuff, you could pretape stuff that would be really exciting, you could flesh it out more.”
To put it mildly, NPH has been having a pretty good year: in addition to winning a Tony for his performance in “Hedwig and the Angry Inch” on Broadway, he also took home an Emmy for hosting the this year's Tonys and has received acclaim for his supporting role in David Fincher's “Gone Girl,” which has grossed more than $240 million worldwide since its debut earlier this month.
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