Showrunner explains why ABC’s ‘Judge Steve Harvey’ works as a prime-time hit

ATLANTA — With streaming ascendant and TV production budgets tighter than ever, broadcast networks have had to get creative to keep their prime-time lineups viable.

ABC’s “Judge Steve Harvey” is the perfect option. Harvey has been on TV for decades as a sitcom star, talk show host and game show emcee. He is a bestselling author of relationship advice books. The show airs Wednesdays at 10 p.m.

We spoke with showrunner Myeshia Mizuno.

AJC: With his radio morning show and “Family Feud,” people seem to want to spend a lot of time with Steve Harvey. He now is the arbiter of legal authority.

Mizuno: The arbiter of common sense, at least. It started with the radio and his talk show. He’s done a lot of relationship counseling.

AJC: He found that lane without any particular training to counsel people.

Mizuno: It’s his wheelhouse of telling people what they should do.

AJC: There are millions of people like that but they don’t have TV shows. Or aren’t that funny.

Mizuno: Exactly, with that humor.

AJC: I get a sense he enjoys this. I don’t think this is the hardest job he’s ever done.

Mizuno: ABC initially came to him to do a sitcom again. He told them, “I want to be a judge.” Who doesn’t want to sit up there in a custom-made black suit and tell people what they think about their stories and on top of that, give them some money? It’s fantastic.