Harvey wearying of sensationalism online, in tabloids

any TV networks, but I’m not a grudge-type of person. I happen to be a talent. I think people recognize that. Whatever happens with the show moving forward, I’ll be just fine."

Assuming that it can keep his show going, IMG Original Content, producer of "Steve," will shop it to other stations in affected markets such as Philadelphia, Dallas, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C.

Nationally, "Steve" rates in the middle among syndicated talk shows — comparable to the ratings for "The Rachael Ray Show" and "The Wendy Williams Show." ("Dr. Phil," "Ellen" and "Live With Kelly and Ryan" draw higher numbers.)

Harvey said he will give away more money during sweeps this month and has plans for celebrities such as Boris Kodjoe and Kevin Hart to make appearances.

He looks different this season, having grown a gray beard for the first time.

"I’m 61 years old," he said. "I’ve got five grandkids now. To be honest, I got tired of dyeing my mustache. What happened every year was I was getting a little grayer there. Last year, I thought about it, but I wasn’t quite there. I had only 10 gray strands. It just looked like threads hanging off my mustache."

During the summer, he let it go.

"My wife liked it," he said. "I just think it’s time to change it up every 10 years."

Harvey, who moved to Los Angeles full time last year for the first time in a long while, said he enjoys the placid weather over the chilly winters of Chicago. The downside: the ridiculously high real-estate prices in Los Angeles.

"I don’t know who told them that this stuff out here was worth this much money," he said, "but it ain’t!"