<P> Showtime at the Apollo (formerly It's Showtime at the Apollo and Apollo Live) is a syndicated music television show, first broadcast on September 12, 1987 to May 24, 2008 with 1093 episodes, and is produced by the Apollo Theater . In 2018, the series returned on Fox with Steve Harvey hosting . The show features live performances from both professional and up - and - coming artists, and also features the Amateur Night competition made popular at the famous Apollo Theater in the Harlem neighborhood of Manhattan in New York City, where the show is recorded . The series was rebooted as Apollo Live and hosted by comedian Tony Rock . In many cities such as New York (where it aired on WNBC), it often aired after Saturday Night Live on early Sunday mornings, and was often paired with the similarly - syndicated Soul Train . </P> <P> While there is also a live version of the show every Wednesday (which is the original Apollo Amateur Night competition that has been running for over 70 years), the taped version of the show for television usually airs on weekends . </P> <P> Many famous R&B, soul, and hip hop performers have appeared on the show, which has had a number of hosts, including Whoopi Goldberg, Rick Aviles, Martin Lawrence, Sinbad, Mark Curry, Steve Harvey, Mo'Nique, Christopher "Kid" Reid, and Anthony Anderson . Kiki Shepard served as co-host from 1987 until 2002 . </P> <P> From 1989 to 1991, Sinbad served as the permanent host . After Sinbad left, the show reverted to a series of special guest hosts . In 1993, Steve Harvey began a seven - year stint as the permanent host . At the start of the 1998--99 season, Harvey and Kiki Sheppard hosted a series of "Best of ..." episodes until late October because production was delayed due to a labor dispute . After Harvey left in 2000, he was replaced by Rudy Rush . Rush was joined by new comedic dancer C.P. Lacey, who replaced Howard "Sandman" Sims, who had died . Steve Harvey has hosted the Fox revival of Showtime at the Apollo beginning on March 1, 2018 . </P>

Who was the original host of the apollo
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