Based on the U.K.’s award-winning Saturday Night Takeaway, Best Time Ever with Neil Patrick Harris is coming to NBC this fall, bringing a variety format to the network’s live TV strategy. Harris attended NBC’s TCA day on Thursday afternoon to talk about the next live series coming to the network.

The show is going to be almost entirely live, but in order to get an idea of what the show may look like, Harris guest-hosted Saturday Night Takeaway, which has had 12 seasons on air and inspired Harris, according to the performer.

“I love variety,” he said. “The two tenets I hold in my life most dear are creativity and authenticity and I love when those two can combine.”

Executive Producer Siobhan Greene says one of the biggest concerns about bringing the U.K. format to the states was the host.

“But now we know we’re putting the snow with the best driver in the whole world,” she said.

While most of it will be live, several segments are pre-taped, such as a stunt Harris pulls going undercover at The Voice.

“We’re holding a lot of cards close to our vest because that’s what’s going to make it fun to watch live,” Harris said. “I hope it will be fun and a little bit game changing.”

Harris is a seasoned stage performer and award show host, but admits he wasn’t prepared for the intensity of the show (he likens it to producing six shows at once), which will air eight episodes starting this fall before deciding its fate for the future.

“I think something like this deserves to be a little bit of an event,” said Harris. “If Cirque Du Soleil came to town all year long, you’d be less inclined to go to the circus.”

Greene said that while many shows pitch themselves as one to watch live, this actually is one that makes it well worth it.

“It’s about the viewers,” said Siobhan. “If you’re seeing it at home, there’s every chance that you could be a part of this show.”

And she means it. One segment of Best Time Ever is an at-home karaoke challenge where unsuspecting viewers might get surprised with a microphone for the chance to win cash.

“That’s a good pitch – if you watch the show from home you might win $1,000,” said Harris.

In bringing the British format to American audiences, Harris said that he wanted the show to be clever and funny for a new audience.

“The demographic I’m most interested in is the Sarah Silverman, Louis CK kind of crowd,” he said. “I want to make sure we have an American sensibility and sense of humor.”

He also plans on echoing his awards show hosting gigs in that he has no plans to embarrass anyone on the show – it’s meant to be positive, good-humored comedy.

“I’ve been very conscious in the live comedy I’ve done to not be mean spirited,” said Harris. “I just don’t think it’s fun.”

Best Time Ever will include celebrities with a new guest announcer each week, which Harris said he is very excited about but can’t announce just yet.

“I’m not going to say who it is but it rhymes with Peace MitherTroon…”

Best Time Ever with Neil Patrick Harris premieres Sept. 15 after the finale of America’s Got Talent.

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