While Nelly [click to read] has done well for himself, putting out multi-platinum albums, buying a stake in the Charlotte Bobcats, creating the Apple Bottoms clothing brand, and earning himself a few Grammys, the St. Louis rapper is now planning to take a crack at prime time television. Currently, he is in talks with the creators of “The Biggest Loser,” “The Daily Show,” and “Steve Harvey’s Big Time Challenge,” to produce his own television show.
According to news that broke this morning, the upcoming show is being pitched as a weekly variety program called “Nelly’s Night in Vegas.” Similar to old-school variety segments such as “The Ed Sullivan Show,” which featured skits and high-profile musical acts like Elvis and The Beatles, “Vegas” will include Nelly performing and interacting with other celebs.
“I was thinking about what was missing on TV, and when this idea came about, it made sense for me,”Nelly explained about why he’s decided to produce the show. “We do have talk shows, but no one’s speaking from the pop culture perspective. Let’s get a little more pop, a little more edge, a little bit younger, and not look like you’re sitting in the principal’s office. As a performer, that’s the type of show you look forward to going on.”
According to the release, the show would look like a cross between a talk show and a variety show, complete with a sidekick, a house band, guests, and performances. Because it will be shot in Vegas, there may also be an in-studio gaming element. Producers have already made a deal with Planet Hollywood to shoot the weekly series at its Las Vegas hotel.
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Producers are optimistic, although recent attempts at the variety show, including Rosie O’Donnell’s “Rosie Live” have ultimately failed. Nelly is not the only celeb attempting the variety genre: John Mayer and the Osbournes are also planning to star in their own variety shows as well.
There is no word yet on when the show will be scheduled to air, or which networks are looking to pick it up.
