Steve Harvey is back again as host for Miss Universe, and the competition is closer to home than ever in Atlanta.
“My home is here, my children are here, my family is here,” Harvey said in an interview.
Harvey is hosting the pageant for the fifth consecutive year, and it’s being held at Atlanta’s Tyler Perry Studios for the first time. The pageant will be held on the Oprah Winfrey Soundstage, where less than a month ago a Democratic presidential debate was staged. The massive studio complex on the grounds of Fort McPherson opened just weeks ago, and Harvey is impressed.
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"I've shot on every lot in LA, and this Tyler Perry Studios is the best lot I've ever seen," Harvey said. "I've never seen a lot this gorgeous."
Perry had previously given Harvey a tour of the new studio complex, and Harvey attended the star-studded opening gala. On Saturday morning, Harvey was still hoping to get Perry to attend the pageant and "create a moment" thanking him for making the studios a reality. Perry is not expected to be in Atlanta this weekend, though, Harvey said, making an appearance unlikely.
With multiple Miss Universe hosting gigs under his belt, Harvey said he knows how to prepare for Sunday’s pageant.
“I’m a pretty prepared guy, but it’s live, so you cannot make a mistake,” Harvey said. “It makes you a little bit more on the edge of your seat. A little more pressure is added.”
Watch Harvey and the 90 women competing for the crown in the Miss Universe pageant at 7 p.m. Sunday on Fox and Telemundo.
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