Astrid Stawiarz/Getty ImagesNeil Patrick Harris is bringing the variety show back to NBC. The How I Met Your Mother star will host a version of Saturday Night Takeaway, the popular UK variety show, Harris' rep confirms to E! News.
"As I watched [Saturday Night Takeaway], I couldn't stop smiling. Now that I've seen many seasons, my face hurts. It's a game changer," Harris said in a statement. "Nothing like this has been done before, and its unique structure fits right into my random skill set. I can't wait to roll up my sleeves and have some fun!"
Set to be filmed in front of a live episode, Harris' 10-episode series has yet to receive an official title or release date.
Harris, who is currently on the big screen in Gone Girl and recently completed a stint as the lead in Hedwig and the Angry Itch on Broadway, has not been shy about voicing his variety show desires. In May, reports surfaced that he pitched CBS a late-night variety show.
"I think if it's weekly, and people really want to see it, and you trust that there's a lot of really great s--- on there, then you're gonna get the guests to want to come on there," Harris told Howard Stern in May. "A weekly thing, you'd have more time to prep for stuff, you could pretape stuff that would be really exciting, you could flesh it out more."
"All of us here at NBC have been dying to work with Neil, as we've watched him brilliantly host the Tonys and Emmys," Paul Telegdy, NBC Entertainment's president of alternative and late night rrogramming, said in a statement. "This series will suit his extraordinary talents perfectly. He is a versatile and thrilling talent for us to welcome into the NBC family."
Vulture first reported the Harris' NBC deal.
Saturday Night Takeaway has been broadcast by ITV since 2002, with a hiatus from 2010-2013. It has since returned. Similar to the original series, Harris' vairty show will feature comedy sketches, musical numbers, mini game shows, hidden camera pranks on celebrities and appearances by big stars.
Next up for Harris: the Oscars. He'll host the 2015 ceremony having already helmed the Tony Awards and the Emmys.
NBC took a stab at reviving the variety show format with Saturday Night Live veteran Maya Rudolph. The Maya Rudolph Show premiered in May to decent numbers. At the 2014 Television Critics Association press tour, NBC's Paul Telegdy said the network was mulling more episodes of the special.