Popular speaker and author Bishop T.D. Jakes is gearing up to host new daytime talk show, which will focus on a variety of hot-button issues and strive to help people "work through tight places in in their lives."
The Hollywood Reporter announced on Thursday that the one-hour show, which is set to run between Aug. 17 and Sept. 11 of this year, will deviate from the Dallas pastor's spiritual programming of the past, instead focusing on "mainstream, headline-driven" content.
Speaking to local news station 11Alive, Jakes said viewers can expect a "Dr. Phil meets Oprah sort of thing," when describing what his show will be about.
"I'm absolutely excited about it," he said. "We're going to deal with everything; some of the pitfalls we get into, but more importantly, how do we get out of them? It's an opportunity to reach a lot of people with hope and encouragement and excitement. And it's fun for me to be able to be on a platform where I can talk about everything."
The trial run of the show will air in Atlanta, Minneapolis, Cleveland and Jakes' native Dallas, and will be produced by distributor Debmar-Mercury, TEGNA Media, 44 Blue Productions and Jakes' production company, TDJ Enterprises.
"T.D. Jakes has a fresh and distinctive voice and will make a great daytime talk show host," said TEGNA Media senior vp programming Bob Sullivan. "A charismatic leader, visionary, provocative thinker and entrepreneur with a strong, established and trusted point of view, he will be able to take on compelling topics in a thought-provoking, uplifting, hopeful and compassionate way, empowering his audience."
Jakes is no stranger to the world of film and television. In the past year alone, his company produced the massively successful faith-based film Heaven is for Real, grossing $101 million at the box office. A second project, Miracles from Heaven, is currently in the works. He has also received Grammy and Dove Award nominations for Gospel album "Live at The Potter's House."
The pastor has found great ministerial success as well; his non-denominational Dallas church The Potter's House boasts a membership of 30,000, and he serves as the host of MegaFest, one of the largest faith-based multi-day festivals in the United States. In 2013, the festival attracted over 75,000 and is expected to this year reach over 1 million people worldwide.
The pastor also oversees several charitable organizations, including the T.D. Jakes School of Leadership. According to news outlet Broadcasting & Cable, Jakes "will use his own TV, radio, social and digital media platforms, as well as Tegna's large social media footprint, to drive awareness of the show."
"In order to achieve success in daytime talk, you need to have a unique voice that lets you stand out in a crowded field as well as great built-in brand awareness. T.D. Jakes has volumes of both, with the strong potential to eventually break out and attract many new national viewers to network affiliates who are hungry for something different," said Debmar-Mercury co-presidents Mort Marcus and Ira Bernstein in a statement.
"I'm excited for this challenge," Jakes added. "I have the opportunity to do something new, fresh and exciting by breaking boundaries, talking about everything, enjoying life and having a lot of fun. This show provides a great platform to expand conversations, to be encouraging, positive, uplifting and help people work through tight places in their lives."
