Showtime at the Apollo

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Showtime at the Apollo ranks 5,434 out of the 18,228 shows on TV.com.

The 17 users who count themselves as Showtime at the Apollo fans have written a total of 3 reviews.

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It's Showtime at the Apollo (now simply Showtime at the Apollo) is a syndicated music television show, first broadcast in 1987, and produced by Apollo. It features live performances from both professional and up-and-coming artists, and also features the Amateur Night competition made popular at the famous Apollo... more »

It's Showtime at the Apollo (now simply Showtime at the Apollo) is a syndicated music television show, first broadcast in 1987, and produced by Apollo. It features live performances from both professional and up-and-coming artists, and also features the Amateur Night competition made popular at the famous Apollo Theater in Harlem, New York, where the show is recorded.

Although tapings happen on Wednesdays, the show usually airs on weekends, often immediately following Saturday Night Live when aired on NBC affiliates. Various famous R&B, soul, and hip hop performers have appeared on the show, which has had a number of hosts, including Rick Aviles, Sinbad, Mark Curry, Steve Harvey, Mo'nique, and Christopher Reid. Kiki Sheppard served as co-host from 1987 until 2002.

From 1989-1991, Sinbad served as the permanent host. After Sinbad left, the show reverted back to a series of special guest hosts. In 1994, Steve Harvey began a seven year stint as the permanent host. At the start of the 1998-1999 season, Harvey and Kiki Sheppard hosted a series of "Best of..." episodes until late October because production was delayed due to a labor dispute. After Harvey left in 2000, he was replaced by Rudy Rush. Rush was joined by new comedic dancer C. P. Lacey, who replaced Howard "Sandman" Simms.

After a dispute with the Apollo Theater Fundation in 2002, the original producers (as well as talent) left to start a rival show called Showtime in Harlem. Showtime in Harlem was produced at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. It's Showtime at the Apollo is currently produced by de Passe Entertainment.

Weekly reruns of select episodes from the show's first 15 seasons (unrelated to the latest version) are syndicated to TV stations across the country, while about a few dozen episodes from seasons one through ten currently air Monday through Friday on TV One.less «

From the Forums

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  4.5 Poor

  Fine tuning meaning tuning out the host!! hide « show »

  I would love to give this show a higher rating but due to the racial comments made by the host of the show I can not allow myself to do so. I would give the show an 8.5 but I will give the host a 3. Comments like real women are usually black women don't sit to well with me as a real caucasion woman. I rate hime higher than I should considering the fact he may just be an ignorant man with double standards when it comes to racial related views. It's unfair for me to not fully be able to enjoy a show I like because of the deaf ear people tend the have when racial comments are coming from the other direction.

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  nikkip37 Added Feb 25, 2008 All my reviews
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  8.5 Great

  Black Entertainment culture...live and uncut, on stage. hide « show »

  Is it any wonder that this show began televising in 1987? The dawn of the New Jack Era? It makes sense and completely figures. It is great that TV One has added this show to its lineup in a syndicated fashion, however it should seriously consider making this available via DVD instead. Some amazing performances are available on this show...which are always live. It would be great to see the New Kids On The Block perform here, as it was great to see Jodeci, Guy, Al B. Sure and LL Cool J rock this stage during the New Jack Era. Vanessa Williams, Sinbad, Steve Harvey, and others have all had hosting duties. This is Black Entertainment culture...the African-American variety, on stage. Live and uncut.

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  Knyte77 Added Oct 8, 2006 All my reviews
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  0 Appalling

  A show where Hispanic and black teens on the last week of July competeted against each other in respective dance numbers. hide « show »

  Having an abstract hip hop act follow a gutteral, intensely high energy latin dance act was vicious act against black children and an abomination in cynical political hatred.
  
  It was ahead of its time in political racist hot winds.
  
  What made your evil intentions so apparent was that artistically speaking, the cultural gap was the equivalent of having a competition between a ballet troupe and tapdancers.
  
  I'd rethink the name of your show to gangsta' rumble recruiting night by scummy producers and media outlet.

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  Mattson25 Added Aug 1, 2005 All my reviews