Meet our Judges

Shirley Strawberry is co-host of the nationally syndicated Steve Harvey Morning Show. Heard on nearly 90 radio stations by approximately six million weekly listeners, it’s the number-one syndicated morning show in America.

Steve Harvey and Shirley started their morning show relationship in Los Angeles. From 2000 to 2005, Shirley was the co-host of Harvey’s popular LA-based morning show and it was Harvey himself who dubbed her: “The Best Voice in Radio.”

Their program went on to become the #1 morning show in Los Angeles and one of the most talked about in LA radio for their tireless community efforts - from helping students get desperately needed books, to honoring women and teachers, as well as feeding and helping the underprivileged all over the city.

On May 23, 2005, Harvey, Shirley and the rest of the morning show aired their final broadcast in Los Angeles. It was a sad and historic day in LA that left a lasting impact on the Southern California radio dial.

In October of 2005, The Steve Harvey Morning Show was launched into national syndication by Premiere Networks and Shirley joined the show as co-host. The top-rated program recently celebrated its 10th anniversary in national syndication. For her work on the program, Shirley has been recognized numerous times by Radio Ink as one of the “Most Influential Women in Radio.”

On April 5, 2011, Shirley released her first book, The Strawberry Letter: Real Talk, Real Advice, Because Bitterness Isn't Sexy. Based on the popular Strawberry Letter segment on The Steve Harvey Morning Show, she delivers more of the no-nonsense woman-to-woman straight talk her listeners have come to love. Shirley tells it like it is from the heart. Whether the topic is cheating boyfriends, crazy mother-in-laws, job troubles or money problems, Shirley’s girlfriend-next-door honesty has made the Strawberry Letter segments of the show a huge hit. Now, in this uplifting motivational guide, she brings her vivacious, inspirational, and down-to-earth message to women everywhere: Get up, get out, and be the best you can be!

Kier "Junior" Spates, a native of Houston, Texas, is a gifted comedian and entertainer whose impressive resume boasts notable roles across a variety of media platforms.

As co-host of the nationally syndicated Steve Harvey Morning Show, Spates is known for his hilarious and high-energy commentary. Airing weekdays from 6-10 AM on more than 70 radio stations, the program is heard by approximately 6 million weekly listeners and is the #1 syndicated morning radio show in America.

Prior to joining the program, Spates performed on stages across the globe with such greats as Aretha Franklin, Lyfe Jennings, Musiq Soulchild, Maze and Frankie Beverly, Gerald LeVert, Anita Baker and Anthony Hamilton. In 2012, he appeared as the opening act on Steve Harvey’s Grand Stand-Up Finale comedy tour, with numerous critics dubbing him “The next big thing in stand-up comedy.” Spates also lent his talents to USO Tours in Japan and Bahrain, and was one of the primary acts on the popular Rickey Smiley and Friends Show Tour.

In addition to receiving wide acclaim on the improv circuit all over the United States, Spates’ standup has been embraced on college campuses as well. He’s performed to sold-out crowds at the University of Southern Los Angeles, Texas A&M, University of Houston, University of North Texas and Texas Southern University.

st 2005, the weekend that Hurricane Katrina devastated the city of New Orleans and the Gulf Coast, Ferrell joined The Steve Harvey Morning Show as program director. Ferrell worked to create morning drive entertainment featuring music, compelling content, sidesplitting humor, current events, topical stories, and community issues. Shortly after, Ferrell was asked to join the show on air as a co-host as well.

Broadcasting live each day from 6 -10 a.m. EST, The Steve Harvey Morning Show is heard on nearly 90 radio stations by approximately six million weekly listeners. Launched nationally by Premiere Networks in 2005, it’s the #1 syndicated morning show in America.

Radio host, actor, comedian, producer, entrepreneur Thomas Miles, aka "Nephew Tommy", is making his mark on the world of entertainment. As co-host of the nationally syndicated Steve Harvey Morning Show, which airs weekdays from 6-10 AM on 70 radio stations, Tommy entertains more than 6 million weekly listeners.  The program, which combines heart, humor, music and celebrities from the world of sports and entertainment, is the #1 syndicated morning show in America. Tommy’s prank phone calls, which are a fan favorite of the radio program, have been compiled to create top-selling CDs; Nephew Tommy’s Prank Phone Calls Volume IV was released in November 2010. That same month, Steve Harvey Morning Show debuted on the Centric Channel.  The hour-long program, The Steve Harvey Project, aired nightly Monday – Friday presenting the best of the morning show, and was filmed daily with bits by fan favorites like Sister O’Dell, Eugene, the Pastors, and many others.

A multi-faceted entertainer and comedian, Tommy hosted the 2010 Essence Music Festival, and recorded a one-hour comedy special in the famed Motor City Casino in Detroit, Michigan. Currently, Tommy continues to keep 'em laughing as he tours nationally in his sold-out stand-up comedy shows. He once toured the U.S. for nearly three years as the exclusive opening act for the late, great Luther Vandross. “I had the choice of hundreds of comics to choose from, but in the end I choose Thomas Miles. His
skill as an actor and comedian fits in perfectly with the classy and entertaining show I believe in presenting,” said Vandross.

Though he enjoys a successful career as an entertainer, Tommy has also set his sights on the creation of a broader empire. Listeners of The Steve Harvey Morning Show often hear Tommy refer to his affinity for curvaceous women. With an eye on designing clothes to make plus-size women feel sexy, comfortable and confident, he launched a fashion line called Big Luv Denim catering exclusively to full-figured women, which hit stores this spring.

At the center of Tommy’s body of entertainment works and business ventures beats the heart of a gifted thespian. With years of experience starring in over a dozen stage plays and independent films, earning a Theater Arts degree, and working with the Royal Shakespeare Company of London, Tommy has honed his craft as an actor on both stage and screen. He is currently at work on material for an original stage play, and he executive produced and starred in a pilot for the sketch comedy show, Alley Cats. In 2010, Tommy appeared in movie theaters across the country in the feature film N-Secure and co-starred in the one-hour spec pilot Boulevard West.

Whether it is for radio, television, stage, big screen or stores, "Nephew" Thomas Miles continues to demonstrate his remarkable talent and exquisite taste to the delight and pleasure of audiences worldwide.

Born in Chicago, Ill., and raised in Houston, Texas, Carla Ferrell began her career in radio at KMJQ-FM in Houston, where she served as the morning show producer and co-host, before being promoted to assistant program director. She then moved back to Chicago and joined WGCI-FM and WVAZ-FM as assistant program director. During this time, Ferrell contributed to all three radio stations reaching number one in their respective demos.

In 2002, Ferrell moved to New Orleans, La., where she served as operations manager for WQUE-FM, WYLD-AM/FM and KSTE-FM, and helped lead the stations to top rankings. In August 2005, the weekend that Hurricane Katrina devastated the city of New Orleans and the Gulf Coast, Ferrell joined The Steve Harvey Morning Show as program director. Ferrell worked to create morning drive entertainment featuring music, compelling content, sidesplitting humor, current events, topical stories, and community issues. Shortly after, Ferrell was asked to join the show on air as a co-host as well.

Broadcasting live each day from 6 -10 a.m. EST, The Steve Harvey Morning Show is heard on nearly 90 radio stations by approximately six million weekly listeners. Launched nationally by Premiere Networks in 2005, it’s the #1 syndicated morning show in America.

Premiere Networks and multi-media powerhouse Steve Harvey are proud to announce the addition of actor, comedian and veteran radio personality J. Anthony Brown as a daily contributor to The Steve Harvey Morning Show.  Harvey and his radio co-hosts Shirley Strawberry, Nephew Tommy, Carla Ferrell and Junior are welcoming Brown to the top-rated, award-winning radio program today, April 24.

Based in Los Angeles, Brown brings his comedic stylings and hilarious cast of on-air characters to The Steve Harvey Morning Show, which can be heard on nearly 100 stations by nearly 7 million weekly listeners.  Celebrating 12 year in syndication in 2017, it’s the #1 syndicated morning show in America and #1 with African American radio listeners.
Brown shared, “I'm cooking up a brand new funny to bring to The Steve Harvey Morning Show while I kick it with the crew, and of course, a couple of your favorites from me. Watch out deh now!”

"I’ve known J since my very first comedy gig outside of Cleveland, and it’s my joy to be reunited with the man who taught me real comedy," shared Harvey. "Get ready folks – we’re ‘bout to turn the funny meter up 10 notches. Having J join Shirley, Nephew Tommy, Carla, Junior and myself is going to create bend over, stop the car, spit on your computer, spray your drink, gut-busting laugher. We’ve also got lots of new stuff planned, so hang on, this is the best ride in all of radio."

Prior to joining Premiere, Brown was a member of The Tom Joyner Morning Show for more than 20 years.  The tailor-turned-comedian launched his comedy career in a gong show contest in Atlanta. Brown moved to Los Angeles to work in television, quickly finding a job as a writer on the late-night talk show The Arsenio Hall Show, and later, such sitcoms as The Parenthood and Me and The Boys.  Brown hosted two consecutive seasons of BET’s top-rated Comic View, and has performed on Vibe, Def Comedy Jam, It’s Showtime at the Apollo, An Evening at the Improv and The Oprah Winfrey Show.  As an actor, he’s had recurring roles on Moesha, Living Single and The Parenthood, as well as guest spots on The Parkers and Sparks.  His work in film includes roles in Def Jam’s How to Be a Player, Pay the Price, Drumline and Mr. 3000. The NAACP Image Award and Peabody Award winner is the owner of the J. Anthony Brown Collection, The J. Spot Clothing Store, and The J. Anthony Brown Comedy Store in Los Angeles, California.