Ken Jeong.Photo:Jason Davis/Getty Images for Bentonville Film Festival
Jason Davis/Getty Images for Bentonville Film Festival
The actor and comedian, 54, is developing a syndicated talk show with Lionsgate’s Debmar-Mercury which is slated to premiere in 2024, according toThe Hollywood Reporter.
Jeong also will executive produce the show together with Jim Biederman, who has worked on a variety of talk and sketch comedy shows includingKids in the HallandThe Andy Dick Show.
Debmar-Mercury co-presidents Mort Marcus and Ira Bernstein said Jeong — who has appeared as a judge onThe Masked Singersince the singing competition series launched in 2019 — has “what it takes to succeed” in the crowded and competitive talk show space.
Ken Jeong.Getty Images
“Audiences connect with Ken on many levels — not only because is he so talented, entertaining and unapologetically hilarious but their sense that he is sincere, compassionate, fearless, friendly, just genuinely nice — all essential ingredients that make for long-term success as a talk show host," they said in a statement.
“He is also a talent capable of conquering any time period with his mix of comedy, Hollywood celebrity friends and ability to bring viewers,” they added.
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Before launching his entertainment career, Jeong worked as a practicing physician. He opened up about his surprising career change in a June interview withLos Angeles Magazineafter being honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
“I just quit being a physician back in 2006-2007 in the hopes of being a character actor and I thought it was behind me to be a known entity,” he told the outlet. “I just love acting, I love comedy. I just wanted to do that full-time. I wanted to see if I could just do that as a living."
“I just wanted to be, ‘Oh, that guy that you recognize in that thing,’ and that’s great,” he continued. “I just wanted steady work, so as I’m speaking to you, saying it out loud, as I’m talking right now, this is nothing I’ve ever anticipated in my life and I’m still alive. I’m just so grateful.”
source: people.com
