EXCLUSIVE: Steve Harvey Wishes Kanye West the 'Best' After Hospitalization, Jokes He Might Follow His Lead

Harvey is known for his comedic timing, but the funnyman had no jokes for us when it came to discussing West's recent hospitalization.

Steve Harvey is known for his comedic timing, but the funnyman showed a more sincere side when it came to discussing Kanye West's recent hospitalization.

"I love Kanye," Harvey told ET. "I've met him personally. He's a cool guy to me. I just wish him the best."

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West was released from the hospital earlier this week after spending nine days at UCLA Medical Center. Harvey even had advice for the embattled star, saying, "Just surround yourself with well-meaning people -- people who care about you."

On a lighter note, the comedian teased that West might have found a good way of taking a break from the showbiz grind.

"I think I'm going to take a page from him," Harvey joked. "I think I'm going to just snap and go off, and go lay down for a month. I think that's how I'm going to get out of TV this year. I'm going to go on stage and cuss someone out."

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The 59-year-old Hollywood veteran actually could use a break, as he is currently at the helm of eight shows, which include Family Feud, Celebrity Family Feud, Steve Harvey's Funderdome, Little Big Shots, Little Big Shots: Forever Young, The Steve Harvey Morning Show, and the Steve Harvey talk show.

ET caught up with Harvey on Thursday as he prepped to host Fox's Showtime at the Apollo two-hour special.

The famous New York theater is where Harvey launched his career in 1993 and he says its sharp audience is as honest now as it was then.

"Luther Vandross was booed here," Harvey recalled. "The very first night I performed here, I was on stage with Jamie Foxx. I didn't even know who Jamie Foxx was. He didn't know who I was. We were just two comedians, trying to get on TV. Jamie Foxx got booed that night. I was standing there with him."

Harvey explained why the Apollo audience can be more exacting than other crowds.

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"They expect you to do well or else you should not have had the nerve to walk out on this stage," he said. "Go somewhere else and work it out, but you cannot come to the world famous Apollo Theater and not have it together. We don't care. That has never changed."

From 1987 to 2008, Showtime at the Apollo aired as a syndicated television show, which featured the Amateur Night competition as well as performances by established stars. Harvey hosted the show from 1993 to 2000.

Now that it's returning for two specials (one this month and one early next year), Harvey said he would like to see the show turn into a regular occurrence, but for him to be a part of it would require the right salary.

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"I'll go out and sand blast the Empire State Building if the check is right," he joked. "I'll go out here and clean the Hudson. I'll go out there and dive for dead fish for you if the check is right. I don't know what number that is."

Showtime at the Apollo airs Monday at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Fox.

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