FOX 5 goes behind the scenes with Steve Harvey - Atlanta News, Weather, Traffic, and Sports | FOX 5

From comedian to talk show host, Steve Harvey has brought his own brand of humor and straight talk to daytime television.

Just months into its first season, "Steve Harvey" is a hit with critics and viewers alike.

"I enjoy smiling and laughing. I think that's an important part of your day.  You know when you smile, it releases endorphins. You feel better and that's been my gift of making people laugh," said Harvey.

Like so many other standup comics, Harvey originally envisioned hosting a late-night talk show. However,  a series of life-changing events in recent years -- marriage to his wife Marjorie, authoring two successful relationship books and signing on as the host of "Family Feud" -- changed his life.

"I started looking at daytime television a little different because I wasn't the person I used to be.  I don't have to be edgy to be funny. You know, I don't have to talk about people or be risque at night to be funny.  This platform allows me to be funny, but I know how to be funny and be clean," said Harvey.

Show audience producer Sherry Mcadoo-Champion greets enthusiastic fans in the lobby. List in hand she goes down the line, confirming they've made online reservations required to attend the show before sending them  to the  studio.

"I have the fun job of getting everybody together in the audience and then making sure they come excited and that they're dressed brightly so that we can put them in the perfect camera shots and then after that we are just having a party, having a good time," said Mcadoo-Champion.

Harvey will shoot six shows a week over the course of  three days before a couple hundred very excited fans.

Harvey already enjoyed a successful career as an entertainer, actor and radio show host when he added author to his title, introducing him to the mainstream public and catapulting him to the daytime television, where he dishes his own brand of straight talk, delivered with humor.

"You know, when people think you're funny, they want you to just come on and be funny, make us laugh. But if you sit down and listen to me, I've got an interesting life because I've had the full -- the full gamut has happened to me," Harvey said.

While laughter fills the studio for most of the show, Harvey isn't afraid to tackle serious issues on his show.

"I'm a man. I'm a father. I'm somebody's husband, you know, and that's bigger than being a comedian, and that's more to talk about, more to share," Harvey said.

On the day FOX 5's Deidra Dukes visited, he devoted a lot of time to the topic of bullying, sharing his own personal experiences both as a child and parent.

"Look, I make my living sharing my story.  God gave me this story. You know we are all the sum total of our past. All the mistakes I made, I had to make all them mistakes in the exact order. I needed everything to happen in that exact order so I could be the person I am today," Harvey said.

While Harvey has enjoyed much success he looks forward to taking on new projects in coming years. He says he plans to become one of the top motivational speakers in the country.

"Steve Harvey" airs on FOX 5 every weekday at 1 p.m.