March 21, 2007 @ 12:33 pm

Steve Harvey: He's So Sincere (Part Two)

Shauna Barbosa

Wendy Raquel Robinson speaks on Steve Harvey: Read Harvey's original interview in VIBE's April issue

Don't get it twisted; Steve Harvey is not corny, he's country. Take it from Wendy Raquel Robinson, who worked alongside the comedian for six years. Having taped on the set of The Steve Harvey Show from 1996 to 2002, Robinson has profound memories and closeness to a motivated individual whose candid, spontaneous personality bestowed pleasure amongst those he worked with. "Principal Regina 'Piggy' Grier" was fortunate to get to know the 'teddy bear' beneath the act, behind the voice, and before the jokes. The Steve Harvey Show was a huge success. What was Steve like on a day-to-day set?
[Laughs] Out of control. He speaks his mind, unashamedly and unapologetically. You definitely know where he's coming from at all times. You never knew what each day was going to be like. It was very unpredictable. He had the balls, but he also had the integrity to speak out without being beat up on. Not many people can do that especially in TV. It's a genre where they will get rid of you and they'll be like 'Next!' From your time working with him, what's something no one else knows about his personality?
How endearing he is and how much his family really means to him. I was there when he suffered the loss of his mom, as well as his father. I witnessed how hard he really took it and still he showed up for work. He came with a smile on his face when there was just so much pain behind it. He put aside emotions and just kept it moving for the sake of the show and production. And I think that's one of the authentic things that I know, like even when we suffer the lost of Merlin Santana (who played Romeo Santana on the show). So many times, with comedians, they make us laugh all the time and wear the masks. Steve is emotional and compassionate when it comes to his family, as well as his friends. What do you think makes Harvey excel at all he's involved in?
Steve is dedicated, and he perseveres. He knows what he wants to do. He's focused and he's not afraid of doing the work. A lot of people, we want so many things but we don't want to put in the work and the time, the energy and the effort.And here's this man who stands behind all that, and he'll do what it takes to get it done. So I applaud that and I think he more than deserves for everything he's gotten and everything he's going to get. Despite the fact that he has a very successful syndicated radio show, do you want him to go back to TV?
Of course. There are so many people that identify with his style of comedy. There's definitely a void in our audiences. Especially for the age and the demographics that he covered. A lot of things he says give a lot of young people direction. He was out there on the streets. He's not afraid to roll up his hands talk to these youngins' like they need to be talked to. Has victory changed Steve?
He's still the same Steve that I knew back then. Still treats me with the same amount of respect that he did the first day that he met me. When I see him now, he makes me feel like little Wendy. Big Daddy, Uncle Steve is going to clown you. So if you come around, you better be on point. That's why every time you see him; he's never in jeans. He's never in sweats. I've seen him in jeans, like maybe three times. Out of seven years. And he looked so uncomfortable. Poor thing. Aside from his character, what is he like as a man?
He's classy, down to earth and a hard worker. That's one of the things that I admire about him most. The cast would be going home to chill out but Steve was already off to his third and forth job. He's a dedicated artist who loves what he does. He's a hustler all the way around. He once told me, "It's all about the ABC: Always Be Closing the deal." Wendy Raquel Robinson has been featured in several television series, including "The Steve Harvey Show," "All of Us," "The Parkers" and "NYPD Blue." She's also starred in the motion pictures Two Can Play That Game (2001) Miss Congeniality (2000). She currently appears on CW 11's "The Game."

Article tags: Steve, Harvey, He's, So, Sincere, Part, Two 

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