The temporary home of the Steve Harvey Show is currently at The Ocean Club at the Fairmont Southampton.

On entering, you are struck by a sight of about 40 to 50 people laughing at the live comedy act that on Wednesday morning saw the comedian interviewing the O'Jays.

There was the best jambalaya ever available for noshing, provided by Chef Juan Motier, a chef who lists celebrities as his clients.

Along with the live interview, Steve Harvey had a singing competition running for the public. This spurred more laughter as one hopeful was told that he needed a keyboard player for each of the keys that he sang in.

Other entrants revealed that they were truck drivers, and in true Steve Harvey fashion, he quipped: "Is there anyone out there who is not a truck driver? It's just me and my brother and we have a truck."

A backwater sounding truck driver said he had written a book called, 'How to Treat a Real Man', to which Mr. Harvey blatantly asked: "Are you gay?" When he attempted to sing, his effort was mocked and laughter filled the place.

After a very bad rendition of an unknown song, another advised that it was important for him to sing a song, of which the panel would be acquainted with. "I think you have a decent voice, but here's the problem and I have said this to people before, when you call in on a national show, we already don't know you, we cannot not know the song as well," Mr. Harvey advised him. "We can't even hum along with you — we don't even know if you are singing it right!"

Then he broke into song: "So please baby!"

However, this comedian doesn't spend all his time laughing — he is a bit of a force to be reckoned with!

He is a television and film star, a syndicated morning radio host and a clothing designer. His films include 'You Got Served' and the 'Johnson Family Vacation'.

The Warner Brother's 'Steve Harvey's Big Time Challenge', was something else gave him bragging rights. This was followed by his latest blockbuster animated live action family film, 'Racing Stripes'. It hit theatres in January and featured the voices of Dustin Hoffman, Whoopi Goldberg, and David Spade.

Today, his radio show is syndicated by Premiere Radio Networks and airs in 18 markets including New York, Dallas, Washington DC, Chicago, Detroit, Charlotte, Kansas City, and Philadelphia from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. ET.

Locals and visitors alike are welcome to attend the tapings while in Bermuda between 7 and 11 a.m. at the Ocean Club, formerly the Whaler Inn.

During the interview with The Royal Gazette, Mr. Harvey talked about his passions, how he started, and his views on Christians and comedy.

When asked how he got into radio, he replied: "Radio is just something that just came about — it's a microphone — you can hang it on a boom mic and I'll do it on TV, you can stand it up on stage and put it in a stick — it is a microphone.

"I've just been fortunate enough to talk into it and make money.

"That is really how it came about."

When asked whether Christians are ever offended by his comedy, he said: "Some people can be uptight at times, but I found for the most part, Christians are people who like to have a good time, as long as it is clean.

"They don't want to be talked to in an abusive fashion — Christians have a good sense of humour like anybody else. They laugh at certain things they see and do, so I don't really have a problem with it. I've gotten really comfortable with it, I used to be a little nervous.

"I mean, I am a Christian and I may not be the kind of Christian that you are, and you may not be the kind of Christian that I am, but I am not up for you to judge me.

"This is my relationship between me and God and it is nothing to do with you! I probably don't belong to the denomination that you in, or see it your way, but it is cool, because my relationship is with God. I don't care how you feel about it!"

So how does the Original King of Comedy come up with his content?

"I just wake up everyday, I don't do show preps, I just come in and they give me my head set and I make it up as I go. It is just what I do. It is hard to explain, but it is truly a gift. I try to lighten stuff, be fair to everybody, but I come in to try and lighten a situation."

His was not a overnight success, however, once he found the business his talent soon shone.

"You know, I've had about 11 jobs and I've been fired about 11 times — I can't hold a job, I'm not a good employee," he said.

"I was never a class clown, but I always dreamed of being on stage, but I didn't know how to get there. I didn't get started until I was 28 — I didn't know how to do it.

"The moment I went to a comedy club to watch these guys that I had heard about, they had a cancellation and they asked me to come up. I had nothing — but I started telling a couple of stories that I knew and I won amateur night that night.

"And the next day I went to work and I quit my job. I was selling life insurance.

"That was it and that is how I started. I started off very poor and very slow, $25 a night. I just kept grinding and grinding and working and writing and writing and getting better and better, till I started getting recognised.

"I just never stopped and I haven't stopped now."

Asked his advice for aspiring Bermudian comedians, he said: "You have to hear your name announced 1,500 times before you could begin to know what you are talking about, getting your stage presence — and then you have to get out of Bermuda.

"There's not enough people for you to become rich at comedy. Leave Bermuda and go out there.

"But you have to be certain that that is what you want to do, because it is a very, very difficult life and very few comedians make it. You have to know what you are doing."

Radio listeners can tune into the Steve Harvey Show by visiting www.steveharvey.com or see him at the Ocean Club during showtimes, until Saturday morning.